To your original question - you're absolutely right that you need 40 quarters (10 years) of Social Security-covered employment to qualify for retirement benefits. If you're at 22 quarters now, you'd need 18 more, which means about 4.5 more years of work where you pay into Social Security. If you do get those 40 quarters and qualify, your benefit would still be reduced by WEP because of your state pension. The reduction is most severe if you have under 20 years of substantial earnings. Each year of substantial earnings you have between 20-30 years reduces the WEP penalty gradually. Since you said you have 23 years in state government, I'm assuming most or all of that was non-covered employment (not paying into Social Security). So you'd need to figure out how many years of substantial earnings under Social Security you actually have.

Something else to consider - even if you get your 40 quarters and qualify for Social Security retirement benefits (reduced by WEP), you should also check if the Government Pension Offset (GPO) might affect any potential spousal or survivor benefits you might be eligible for. GPO is separate from WEP and reduces spousal/survivor benefits by 2/3 of your government pension amount. These provisions can be quite complex, so it might be worth consulting with a financial advisor who specializes in federal benefits before finalizing your retirement plans. The SSA's WEP calculator can also help you estimate the impact: https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/anyPiaWepjs04.html

This whole STUPID system with these complicated rules just proves how BROKEN the Social Security Administration is!! Why can't they just make it SIMPLE??? Why should we be PUNISHED for working??? I paid into the system my WHOLE LIFE and now I have to deal with all these ridiculous calculations and limits!!! RIDICULOUS!!!!

I went through this exact situation last year when I turned my FRA. Here's what I learned after multiple calls with SSA: 1. They do count your earnings ONLY until the month before your FRA month 2. If you're over the limit, they'll reduce your benefits throughout the year based on your ESTIMATE of earnings 3. They'll adjust after the fact once they get your actual W-2 4. If they withheld too much, you'll get it back 5. If they didn't withhold enough, you'll need to pay it back My advice: If you're going to be close to the limit, provide SSA with a detailed monthly breakdown of your expected earnings for the year. That way they can apply the earnings test more accurately.

I had a similar situation 2 years ago. Bad health, income dropped, worried about SS calculation. What I found is that Social Security replaces more of your income if you're a lower earner (it's progressive). So the calculation isn't strictly proportional. Someone earning $30k doesn't get exactly half the benefit of someone earning $60k. The lower earner actually gets more than half.

After reading all this advice, what are you thinking you'll do? It's good to get different perspectives, but ultimately it's a personal decision based on your unique circumstances.

Has anyone considered just working under the table to avoid this whole mess? My cousin does odd jobs for cash and doesn't report it. Just saying...

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I feel much better knowing I don't have to worry about my January check being withheld. I think I'll call SSA (using that Claimyr service if needed) to report my estimated earnings for 2025 so there are no surprises later. I might also see if I can keep my hours just low enough to stay under the annual limit. One more question - does the limit increase each year with inflation?

My aunt got hit with an overpayment notice too and we filled out that form. Took almost 7 weeks to get a response but then they rejected it for some stupid reason. Had to file an appeal after that which took another 2 months. The whole system is broken honestly.

To address your follow-up question: The most common reasons SSA rejects Form SSA-1724 reconsiderations are: 1. Missing supporting documentation (bank statements, evidence of expenses, etc.) 2. Incorrect completion of the form (missing signatures, dates, etc.) 3. Filing past the 60-day deadline 4. Inconsistencies between the form and other information in their system If your reconsideration is denied, you can request a hearing with an Administrative Law Judge, which is the next level of appeal. But that process can take several months to schedule.

This is incorrect. There's no special tax filing for retirement months. Your W-2 for the year will show your earnings, and your 1099-SSA will show any SS benefits paid. The month you retire doesn't create any special tax situation beyond the normal reporting of income received.

Thanks everyone for your help! Just to summarize what I've learned:1) I can stop working anytime in March 2025 without penalty since that's my FRA month2) I should apply about 3 months before (Dec 2024)3) I'll get my first payment in April 2025 for March benefits4) I need to be aware of earnings limits for Jan-Feb 2025 but I'll be fine with my salaryThis community has been SO much more helpful than my HR department! 😊

ANYBODY dealing with SS should know they ALWAYS mess up family maximum calculations!!!! I had to fight them for 6 months and finally got backpay for my kids of over $7000 because they calculated wrong from the beginning!!!! KEEP FIGHTING!!

To summarize the key points for anyone else with a similar family maximum question: 1. When you receive benefits on your own work record plus a spousal top-up, only the spousal portion counts against the family maximum on your spouse's record 2. At FRA, you can file for your own retirement first, then apply for the spousal benefit if it would result in a higher total benefit 3. The SSA will not automatically recalculate other family members' benefits when your benefit source changes - you must request this recalculation 4. Consider the long-term impact of claiming strategies - maximizing benefits now might reduce lifetime benefits if delaying until 70 would be more advantageous 5. Document all conversations with SSA representatives and get explanations in writing when possible 6. If WEP potentially applies due to non-covered employment, that adds another layer of complexity requiring specialized assistance

i heard we're supposed to get ALL the money back not just some of it??? my neighbor said her financial guy told her it could be like $40k for some people who've been retired a long time with WEP

Thank you all for the helpful information! I'm going to wait until the bill actually passes before making any decisions. In the meantime, I'll try to get through to SSA using that Claimyr service someone mentioned to get official guidance on my specific situation. I've been losing sleep over potentially making the wrong decision, but I feel much better now understanding that I should be eligible for both the retroactive payment AND potentially switching to spousal benefits afterward.

just make sure ur looking at SURVIVORS chart not RETIREMENT chart those are totally different!!! my aunt made that mistake and was surprised when she went in

One more thing to consider - if you're eligible for both your own retirement benefit AND survivor benefits, you have additional options. You could take your own reduced retirement benefit at 62 and then switch to the full survivor benefit at your survivor FRA (66+8mo). Or take the reduced survivor benefit early and switch to your own benefit at 70 if it would be higher with delayed retirement credits. This is one of the few remaining ways to use a "claim now, claim more later" strategy since the 2015 law changes.

Used that Claimyr service I mentioned and FINALLY got through to SSA today. The rep confirmed what others here are saying - you CAN'T get both benefits at the same time. BUT there's a strategy where you can switch between them to maximize. For me, it made sense to take my own benefit at 62 (already did) and then switch to survivor benefits at my FRA. For you it might be different - you need to talk to them about YOUR specific numbers because it's all based on your work history, when your husband died, his benefit amount, etc. SO many factors!

Glad you got the information you needed! Just to summarize for anyone else reading this thread: 1. You cannot receive both your own and widow's benefits simultaneously 2. You can strategically switch between them at different ages to maximize your total lifetime payout 3. The optimal strategy depends on your specific earnings record, your age, and your deceased spouse's benefit amount 4. Always consult directly with SSA about your specific situation rather than relying on what worked for someone else This is why it's so important to get personalized advice from SSA rather than going by what neighbors or friends tell you about their situations.