u should also think about taxes if u take ss and work parttime. my friend did that and got hit with a huge tax bill she wasnt expecting

Thank you all for the helpful advice! I've decided to talk to my employer about reducing my hours first before completely retiring. If that doesn't work out, I'll go ahead with retirement knowing what to expect with the benefit reduction and making sure I handle the Medicare enrollment correctly. I'm also going to check my earnings record on my.ssa.gov to see if working longer would significantly improve my benefit calculation. I really appreciate all your insights!

The WHOLE system is designed to CONFUSE people and then PUNISH them for honest mistakes!!! I reported my earnings EXACTLY as my accountant told me to, and STILL got an overpayment notice. When I finally got someone on the phone after WEEKS of trying, they couldn't even explain WHY I had an overpayment!!! The government WANTS us to fail!

Thanks everyone for the helpful information! It sounds like I need to: 1. Track income by when I EARN it, not when I'm paid 2. Keep detailed records of when I work each day/hour 3. Stay well under the $1,950 monthly limit to be safe 4. Consider getting professional help with planning my work schedule I really appreciate all the advice. This community has been way more helpful than my HR department or the SSA website!

What about the earnings test? Doesnt that come into play here?

The earnings test only applies if you're collecting benefits BEFORE your Full Retirement Age while still working. Once you reach your FRA, the earnings test no longer applies - you can earn any amount without it affecting your Social Security benefits. Since the original poster is planning to claim AFTER their FRA, the earnings test isn't relevant in their situation.

my mom started her SS at 67 last year while dad was still working part time at 64. her check wasnt affected by his work at all, but they did have to plan for taxes. they set aside about 15% of her SS check just to be safe. also they found out that when dad does retire she can switch to a spousal benefit if its higher than her own which was news to them! good luck with everything

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I'm going to go ahead and file for my benefits at FRA next month. I'll set aside some money for potential taxes, and we'll look at whether spousal benefits make sense when my husband is closer to retirement. I managed to get through to SSA using that service someone mentioned above - the agent confirmed everything you all told me and helped me understand our specific situation. Really appreciate this community!

One more important point - if you're self-employed, the rules are a bit different. They count your net earnings from self-employment (after business expenses but before taxes). They also consider how much work you put into the business, not just your income from it. But from your post, it sounds like you have a W-2 job, so you'll need to watch that gross income number carefully.

has anyone had SSA actually contact their employer to verify earnings? or do they just wait till tax time to check everything?

Wait don't u need to provide proof of age?? I had to send in my birth certificate when I applied. Maybe that's just if u don't have the mysocialsecurity account already set up?

Update: I just finished applying! Took about 25 minutes total. They definitely ask for bank info for direct deposit. The site says they'll process my application and send me a letter with their decision. Fingers crossed I'll get March benefits since I applied before the end of the month! The reduction amount works out to about $160 less per month than if I waited until November, but that's fine with me. I'd rather have 8 months of slightly reduced payments than no payments at all during that time. Thanks everyone for your help!

So I'm going through a similar situation with my elderly father, and I've spent weeks researching this! Here's what I've found: 1) Having no Rep Payee is GOOD - means she's independent 2) Social Security MUST be notified within 30 days of death to stop benefits 3) Yes, executor has legal authority (bring death cert + executor papers) 4) Benefits received for month of death must be returned (they're very strict about this!) 5) Funeral homes usually report death but don't handle benefit questions 6) $255 death benefit available to eligible spouse/dependent 7) Direct deposit accounts should be monitored as SSA will withdraw overpayments One thing I learned - if your mom ever gets to where she can't manage her benefits while still living, THAT'S when you'd apply to become Rep Payee. But it's a whole separate process from estate matters.

Thank you all SO much for this helpful information! I feel much more prepared now. I'll make sure to: - Talk to mom about setting up a separate account for her SS deposits - Be ready with certified death certificate copies when the time comes - Ask about her work history to check for possible GPO/WEP issues - Be prepared for SSA to reclaim the month of death payment - Contact SSA promptly (and maybe use that Claimyr service to avoid the wait) It's such a relief to know that being executor will give me the authority I need. Mom has always been so independent that I wasn't sure how to approach these topics, but this gives me a good framework for a sensitive conversation. Thank you all again!

One thing nobody's mentioned - what about the boyfriend's family? My SIL changed her facebook name to her boyfriend's last name and his family started introducing her as his wife even though they weren't married! Created all kinds of drama and misunderstandings. Just something else to consider before you make the change...

To summarize what everyone has said: 1. Your children's survivor benefits continue until they turn 18 (or 19 if still in high school) regardless of YOUR marital status 2. SSA doesn't monitor social media platforms 3. Cohabitation without legal marriage has no effect on benefits 4. Only legal remarriage would affect any widow's benefits YOU might receive (not the children's) So go ahead and use whatever name you want on social media without worrying about it affecting benefits.

To add some clarity on the specific 2025 limits (these change annually with COLA adjustments): - If you're under FRA for the entire year: $22,320 annual limit - In the year you reach FRA: $59,520 limit, but only counting earnings before the month you reach FRA - Month of FRA and beyond: No earnings limit For every $2 you earn over the limit if you're under FRA all year, $1 is withheld from benefits. In the year you reach FRA, it's $1 withheld for every $3 over the limit. Since you reach FRA in July 2025, you can earn up to $59,520 from January-June with no impact. Any amount over that would reduce benefits by $1 for every $3 of excess earnings. From July onward, earn as much as you want with no reduction.

also dont forget about TAXES on SS! even if you dont hit the earnings limts you might have to pay taxes on like 85% of your benefits if your total income is high enough!! thats a whole OTHER thing to worry about!!

The WHOLE SYSTEM is designed to confuse us!!! Different rules for withdrawal vs suspension, deadlines we don't know about, and impossible to get answers!!! Why make it so COMPLICATED???

Based on what you've shared, it sounds like you likely did properly withdraw your application. The fact that you remember submitting the SSA-521 form and repaying benefits is very encouraging. When you apply at your FRA, your benefit should be calculated as if you never claimed early at all. One suggestion: when you apply again, be sure to mention your previous withdrawal in the remarks section of the application. This helps ensure the claims specialist handling your case looks for that information in your record. While their system should show the withdrawal, it never hurts to flag it explicitly.