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Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! This really clears things up. I'm definitely going to wait until August to apply, well after I reach my FRA in June. And I'll look into the tax implications of those payouts too - that's something I hadn't considered. Is there anything special I need to do when I apply to make sure SSA understands my situation correctly? I've heard their representatives sometimes give inconsistent information.
When you apply online or in person, there's a section where you report your expected earnings for the year. Since you'll be past your FRA when benefits start, you could technically put any amount there without affecting your benefits. But to avoid confusion, I recommend being specific: list your expected earnings through June 2025, and note that you'll have no earnings after you retire at the end of June. Also specify that you're applying for benefits as of August 2025, after reaching your FRA. If you apply online, there's usually a remarks section where you can add this clarification. If in person or by phone, just make sure the representative notes your FRA date and benefit start date clearly.
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I was hoping to apply for my retirement benefits online too, but then I realized I might qualify for spousal benefits from my ex-husband who I was married to for 12 years. We've been divorced for 15 years. Does anyone know if I can still do that online or do I need to go in? We haven't spoken in years so I don't want to have to contact him about this.
You can still apply for ex-spouse benefits online. As long as you were married for at least 10 years, have been divorced for at least 2 years, and aren't remarried, you might qualify. The best part is that your ex-husband won't be notified - SSA doesn't contact him about your claim. The online application has sections where you can enter all this information.
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my freind tole me that SS benefits have a maximum amount maybe u both hit the max?
There is a maximum benefit, but it's much higher than $2,876 for someone who reached full retirement age in 2025. For someone claiming at exactly FRA this year, the maximum would be approximately $3,900. So while this is a good thought, it's not the explanation in this case.
After looking at all the responses, I think this is just one of those strange coincidences that can happen with the complex Social Security formula. Since multiple SSA representatives have confirmed your amounts are correct, and others here have experienced similar situations, I wouldn't worry about it. If it gives you peace of mind, you could schedule an in-person appointment at your local SSA office where they can pull up both records and show you the detailed calculations side by side. But it sounds like everything is working as intended, just with an unusual outcome!
Thank you all for the helpful responses! I think you're right - just a weird coincidence. I'll still try to get an in-person appointment to see the calculations side by side, but I'm feeling much better about it now. It's reassuring to hear others have experienced this too!
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just make sure u dont get scammed my uncle got a reverse mortgage and the company was shady af they took advantage of him being old. get your kids or someone younger to look over all the paperwork!!
That's good advice. My daughter is actually helping me research companies and will review all the paperwork with me. She even set up a meeting with a HUD-approved housing counselor next week, which I understand is required before getting a reverse mortgage. I'm definitely being careful!
One more important thing! The reverse mortgage company will require you to stay current on property taxes, homeowners insurance, and home maintenance. If you don't, they can foreclose. Make sure you budget for these ongoing expenses with your SS benefits. That's where some seniors get into trouble with reverse mortgages.
Yes, I'm aware of those requirements. Thankfully I've never missed a property tax payment, and I keep up with my insurance. The home maintenance is actually why I need some of this money - to take care of the roof and bathroom now so they don't become bigger problems later. I have a monthly budget worked out that includes all these expenses from my regular income.
This is excellent advice. I've seen clients lose their homes because they couldn't keep up with taxes or insurance after getting a reverse mortgage. OP, since you're planning ahead and budgeting for these expenses, you're already avoiding the most common pitfalls.
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my aunt thought the same thing and was only working like 10 hrs a week because she was scared of losing her ss money! when i told her there was no limit she was so mad shed been turning down extra shifts for like a year lol
There's so much misinformation out there about Social Security! I've heard similar stories from friends who unnecessarily limited their work hours. The SSA really needs to do a better job educating people about the rules.
Thank you all for the helpful responses! This forum has given me more useful information than weeks of researching online. Just to summarize what I've learned: 1) After FRA, there is NO earnings limit that would reduce my Social Security benefits 2) I can work part-time or even full-time if I want without penalty 3) Depending on my total income, a portion of my SS benefits may be subject to federal income tax (up to 85%) I feel much more confident now about my retirement plan. I'll continue working part-time after claiming at FRA, which will give me a nice combination of earned income plus my full Social Security benefit.
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hey just remembered something important - make sure your wife's name on her green card EXACTLY matches her SS card and marriage certificate. my wife's middle name was abbreviated on one document and SSA made us fix that before proceeding. what a headache!
Great point! I'll check all her documents tonight. Her name was spelled slightly differently on some older documents so we might need to address that.
One final recommendation - when you make the appointment for your wife, specifically ask for someone who specializes in non-citizen benefit claims. Not all SSA representatives are equally familiar with these rules, and seeing a specialist can save you a lot of time and confusion. Also, if your wife has ever used other names (maiden name, different spellings, etc.), bring documentation showing the name progression. SSA needs to establish a clear identity trail.
Thank you so much for all this advice! I'm going to file my application online tonight and then we'll call to schedule her appointment tomorrow. I feel much better prepared now.
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To answer your follow-up question about the reduced benefit: Yes, unfortunately, since you're claiming at 62, any survivor benefits would be based on this reduced amount. Specifically, if you were to pass away, your husband would be eligible for a survivor benefit equal to the higher of:1. The actual benefit amount you were receiving at death, or2. 82.5% of your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA, which is what you would have received at full retirement age)Regarding application procedures, as others have mentioned, he can apply through the Federal Benefits Unit at the US Embassy or Consulate in Germany. He doesn't need to travel to the US. The FBU would help process his application and serve as his point of contact with SSA.I also want to clarify that while the US-Germany totalization agreement helps with qualifying for benefits by combining work credits, your husband's eligibility for survivor benefits is based entirely on your US work record, so the agreement mainly helps with the administrative aspects in this case.
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u know somethin else to think about? if ur finances are real tight can u apply for ssi while waiting for survivor benefits? might help during those 8 months.
This isn't accurate advice. SSI (Supplemental Security Income) has strict income and resource limits. If the original poster will qualify for survivor benefits at FRA, they likely have too many resources to qualify for SSI. Additionally, SSI applications take several months to process, often longer than survivor benefit applications. A better approach would be to apply for survivor benefits as soon as possible (up to 4 months before FRA) to ensure timely processing.
Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I'm going to apply next week and will definitely specify March as my start month. I'll make sure to bring all the documentation mentioned and be very clear that I'm applying for survivor benefits. Hopefully the process goes smoothly!
Good luck!!! Hope it goes better for you than it did for me! Let us know how it turns out!
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EVERYONE HERE IS WRONG!!!! The earnings limit DOES include your benefit amount! I know because my brother-in-law had his benefits reduced when he earned too much. The SSA counts ALL your income including your benefits!!! You need to be careful or they'll make you pay it ALL back like they did to him. He had to repay thousands!!!
Well MAYBE my brother-in-law was confused then but he DEFINITELY had to pay back money when he was working part time!! The whole system is designed to confuse people!!!
Your brother-in-law likely exceeded the earnings limit from his work income, which is separate from his benefit amount. When you exceed the earnings limit, SSA can withhold entire monthly payments until the overpayment is recovered, which might explain why it seemed like his benefits were being counted - but I assure you, benefit payments are not counted toward the earnings test limit.
Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I think I understand now - the $1,950 monthly limit only applies to what I earn from working, not my SS benefit amount. My benefit check is completely separate from that limit. So I can receive my $1,400 SS benefit AND earn up to $1,950 from my part-time job without any reduction. That's a big relief and makes planning my retirement budget much easier. I'm definitely going to be careful not to exceed that monthly limit during my first year of retirement. After reading your experiences, I'll be tracking my earnings closely to avoid any surprises!
Aidan Percy
has anyone else noticed the SS calculator on there website gives different amounts every time u use it?? i tried 3 times and got 3 different amounts
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Nalani Liu
•The calculator results can vary depending on what information you input each time. Small differences in your earnings estimates or retirement age can change the result. For the most accurate estimate, create a my Social Security account and view your personalized statement, which uses your actual earnings record.
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Thais Soares
Thank you all for the helpful responses! I've learned there's no "magic month" to file that increases benefits, but I should apply now for March benefits to give SSA enough processing time. I'm going to check my earnings record first, then submit my application. I appreciate the tip about Claimyr too - might use that if I run into problems reaching someone at SSA. I'll update once I get everything submitted!
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Axel Bourke
•Good plan! One last tip - after you apply, you can check the status of your application through your my Social Security account. It's much faster than calling. Best of luck with your application and your recovery from the knee replacements!
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