As someone who went through a similar earnings limit situation last year, I want to reassure you that this is more common than you think and SSA has processes in place to handle it. The key is persistence and documentation. A few practical suggestions: Try calling the SSA number at exactly 8:00 AM when they open - I found Tuesday and Wednesday mornings tend to have slightly lower call volumes. If you still can't get through, consider sending a certified letter to your local office with your SSN, explanation of the situation, and copies of your pay stubs showing the increased earnings. You mentioned setting aside benefit payments - that's actually smart. While they likely won't demand everything back at once, having some funds available gives you peace of mind. Based on your $5,800 overage, expect roughly a $241/month reduction in future benefits rather than a complete stoppage. Most importantly, the fact that you're proactively trying to report this works heavily in your favor. SSA agents appreciate when beneficiaries are upfront about changes rather than waiting for them to discover it during their annual wage matching process. Keep that documentation log you're creating - it will be invaluable if any issues arise later!

I went through something very similar last year when my part-time work income unexpectedly increased. The anxiety is completely understandable, but try not to panic! A few things that helped me: First, I had success getting through to SSA by calling right at 8:00 AM on a Tuesday - the wait was still about 45 minutes but much better than the 2+ hours later in the day. Second, while waiting to get through, I documented everything - dates I called, screenshots of my online messages, copies of my pay stubs showing the increased earnings. When I finally spoke to an agent, they were actually very helpful and understanding. They calculated that my benefits would be reduced by about $200/month for the remainder of the year rather than stopping them completely. Since you're $5,800 over the $23,400 limit, your situation sounds very similar to mine. The agent also told me that proactive reporting (which you're doing) always works in your favor if there are any complications later. Keep trying to reach them, but know that this is a manageable situation that happens to thousands of people every year. You're doing everything right by trying to report it promptly!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Selena. I went through this exact situation 3 years ago when my ex-husband passed away. You absolutely need to contact SSA immediately - they will NOT automatically switch your benefits, even though you're already in their system as his ex-spouse. I was receiving about $1,100/month in divorced spouse benefits, and after applying for survivor benefits, it increased to $1,750/month. The process took about 5 weeks once I submitted all the paperwork. Make sure you have his death certificate, your marriage certificate, and divorce decree ready when you call. Most importantly, document the exact date you first report his death to SSA - they backdate the increased payments to that date, not when they finish processing your application. Don't delay on this - every month you wait potentially means losing money you're entitled to. The 22-year marriage definitely qualifies you, and the survivor benefit should be significantly higher than your current payment even with the early filing reduction.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Selena. I went through this exact situation when my ex-husband passed away in 2021. You definitely need to contact SSA immediately - they won't automatically switch your benefits even though you're already receiving divorced spouse benefits on his record. When I called to report his death and apply for survivor benefits, my monthly payment increased from about $1,300 to $2,100. The process took roughly 6 weeks, but they backdated the increase to the month I first reported his death. Make sure you have his death certificate (certified copy is fine), your marriage certificate, and divorce decree ready when you call. Document the exact date you contact them about his death - this is crucial for the backdating. Since you were married for 22 years, you definitely qualify for survivor benefits. Even with the reduction for taking benefits early at 62, the survivor benefit should still be substantially higher than your current divorced spouse benefit. Don't wait - call them as soon as possible to start the process!

Perfect, thanks again! I feel much better understanding how this works now. I appreciate everyone taking time to explain.

One thing that might help your ex-wife plan ahead is knowing that she can get an estimate of her potential benefits through her my Social Security account on ssa.gov. The system will show her both her own retirement benefit estimate and what she could potentially receive as a divorced spouse benefit based on your record (once you're eligible). This can help her make an informed decision about when to claim. Also, if she does remarry in the future, she would lose the ability to claim on your record, but she could then potentially claim on her new spouse's record instead if that marriage lasts at least 10 years.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely stunned by this discussion! I'm 69 and have been working part-time consulting while putting off my Social Security application because I thought I was being financially responsible by not "taking" benefits while still earning income. Reading through everyone's experiences here - especially hearing from the retired SSA employee who confirmed the 70 cutoff rule - has been a complete game-changer for my understanding. I had no idea that delayed retirement credits stop at 70 or about the 6-month retroactive limit. Like so many others here, I genuinely believed the benefits would keep growing as long as I waited, similar to how they increase from full retirement age to 70. This thread has potentially saved me from a very expensive mistake! It's remarkable how many newcomers to this community are all discovering the same critical information. Thank you all for sharing your real-world experiences and expertise!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful for this discussion! I'm 68 and was planning to wait until I fully retire at 71 to apply for Social Security, thinking it would be smarter to let the benefits keep growing. Reading through everyone's experiences here - especially the confirmation from the retired SSA employee about the age 70 cutoff - has been a complete revelation. I had no idea that delayed retirement credits stop at 70 or that there's only a 6-month retroactive window. Like so many others who've commented, I genuinely thought you applied when you were "ready" to stop working, not based on these critical age milestones. It's alarming how many people seem to fall into this same expensive trap! This community is already proving invaluable for getting real-world insights that aren't clearly communicated in official sources. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and potentially saving me from a very costly mistake - I'll be applying right away!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm finding this thread incredibly valuable! I'm 64 and currently receiving SSDI after a back injury two years ago. My situation is a bit different - I'm unmarried and don't have survivor benefits to consider, but I'm also working part-time (carefully staying under the SGA limit after reading these comments!). What I'm wondering is: since my disability will automatically convert to retirement benefits at my FRA (67), should I be doing anything now to prepare for that transition? Will the amount stay exactly the same, or could there be changes? Also, for those who mentioned the Trial Work Period - does SSA track those months automatically, or do I need to keep my own records? I've been reporting my earnings through their app, but I want to make sure I'm not accidentally using up TWP months without realizing it. The advice about requesting a Technical Expert appointment is gold - I've been getting the runaround from regular representatives too. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and expertise!

As someone who's also new to navigating Social Security complexities, I want to thank everyone for this incredibly informative discussion! I'm in a somewhat similar situation - 63 years old, receiving SSDI for the past two years due to chronic health issues, and also receiving reduced survivor benefits from my late spouse. Reading through all these responses has been eye-opening, especially learning about the importance of requesting a Technical Expert rather than just any representative. I had no idea that SSA won't automatically give you the highest benefit - that's crucial information! I'm particularly concerned about the work income limits after seeing the discussion about SGA. I've been doing some freelance work to supplement my benefits, and now I'm worried I might be close to that $1,550 threshold. The advice about Trial Work Period months is something I definitely need to look into. One question for the community: has anyone had success getting clear information about their TWP status during a phone call, or is this something that really requires an in-person appointment? Also, for those who've worked with Technical Experts, how far in advance do you typically need to schedule those appointments? My local office has been just as backed up as the original poster mentioned. Thanks again to everyone sharing their experiences - this community is a lifesaver for those of us trying to make sense of this complex system!