my cousins frend tried 2 do this and they told him no way. its all about ur birthday like they said above. the gov changed rules and screwed us!!

Well, I guess I'll just keep working a few more years and plan to file at 67. Thanks everyone for helping me understand this. So disappointed they changed these rules, but at least I know the real story now instead of making a costly mistake.

One more important thing to know - even if some of your benefits are withheld due to the earnings test, it's not completely lost money. Once you reach full retirement age, SSA will recalculate your benefit amount to give you credit for the months when benefits were withheld. So your monthly benefit amount will increase slightly at that point. Also, make sure when you call back that you're clear about the type of income you're discussing. Sometimes representatives hear "increased income" and immediately think of pensions or other retirement income rather than wages.

does anyone no if the earnings limit changes every year? my nephew is on disabilty and his wife works, they told them theres a limit for her to.

Ugh I've been on SSDI for 3 years and I still get confused about this stuff lol. My social worker told me to just basically assume each month is separate and don't worry about annual totals. That's what I do and it's been fine so far. Good luck with everything!!

One final note - make sure you're reporting your earnings to SSA consistently. Even if you're under the limit, you need to report when you start working. This helps avoid overpayments which can be a nightmare to resolve later. You can report wages through your my Social Security account online, the SSA mobile wage reporting app, or by calling/visiting your local office. Keep pay stubs and any documentation of work accommodations or disability-related work expenses. If there's ever a question about your benefits, having this documentation ready will make the process much smoother.

my frend had same problem she went 2 congressman office and they fixed everything in 2 weeks!! try that maybe?

Thank you everyone for the suggestions! I'm going to try using the specific terminology that was recommended when I call next time - "Medicare Beneficiary Statement" and "Special Notice Flag" seem like the magic words I need. If I can't get through on the phone, I'll try that Claimyr service someone mentioned. As a last resort, I like the idea of contacting my congressman's office - I hadn't thought of that. It's somewhat comforting to know I'm not the only one dealing with this WEP/GPO communication black hole. I'll update here if I make progress!

wait i thought IRA was better than individual 401k for most people? my brother in law said individual 401ks have more paperwork and fees. did your advisor explain why he recommended that instead?

Thanks to everyone for the helpful responses! This community is amazing. To summarize what I learned: 1. 401k rollovers don't affect SS benefit calculations in any way 2. Social Security only cares about my earnings record where I paid FICA/self-employment tax 3. I need to be careful about self-employment tax reporting to keep building my SS record 4. I'll need to file Form 5500-EZ once my individual 401k exceeds $250k 5. Retirement account withdrawals can affect how my SS benefits are taxed in retirement This gives me a lot more confidence moving forward with my rollover plan. I'll be creating an account on ssa.gov to check my earnings history too. Thanks again!

she said it was a NIGHTMARE with all the paperwork they wanted!! took her months to get it all together

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! Based on your advice, I'm thinking I should:1. Separate the house sale and my Social Security start date into different tax years if possible2. Keep detailed records of all home improvements for calculating my adjusted basis3. Prepare for potentially higher Medicare premiums for 2 years after the sale4. Remember that Form SSA-44 might help reduce those premiums if my income drops significantly5. Be aware that more of my Social Security could be taxable in the year I sellI'll definitely consult with my financial advisor about the optimal timing between these events. This community has been incredibly helpful!

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST US!!! They purposely make these rules complicated so people don't get what they deserve! My husband and I missed out on this strategy by FIVE MONTHS because he was born in May 1954. FIVE MONTHS cost us thousands of dollars!!! And now they're practically impossible to reach by phone when you need help. The whole system needs to be torn down and rebuilt!!

Just wanted to update everyone - I successfully filed my restricted application yesterday! I used some of the advice here (especially bringing a printout of the POMS section) and was very explicit about wanting ONLY spousal benefits while my own continue to grow until 70. The representative initially seemed confused but after I showed the documentation, they understood. I double-checked the application before signing to make sure it only showed spousal benefits. It'll mean about $1,250/month for the next four years while my own benefit grows to about $3,400/month at age 70. Thanks everyone for your help! Hopefully this thread helps others in my generation who still qualify for this strategy.

Wait isn't the earnings limit going up for 2025? I thought I saw somewhere it was going to be more than $22,340?

dont forget they also look at how many months before u reach FRA... the earnings limit is different in the year u reach full retirement age too

I know this is slightly off-topic, but make sure you're coordinating your Social Security claiming strategy with your Medicare enrollment. If you're turning 65 soon or already have, you should have enrolled in Medicare already, even if you're delaying Social Security. They're separate programs with different enrollment timelines.

Just to share what I learned after meeting with a financial planner specializing in retirement - those tiny reductions for being so close to FRA aren't really significant in the grand scheme. What matters more is: 1) Do you need the money now? 2) Are you still working? and 3) What's your life expectancy based on your health and family history? With just 2 months' difference, this is more of a personal preference decision than a major financial one. Either choice is reasonable! Best of luck with your retirement - sounds like you've planned well!

My mom kept working til 67 (past her widows FRA) and SSA gave her RETROACTIVE benefits for 6 months!!! Did u know u can get up to 6 months of back pay if u file after your FRA? They dont advertise this!!

To summarize what appears to be causing confusion: 1. You WILL receive any DRCs your husband earned between his FRA and his death at 66. 2. You will NOT receive additional DRCs he might have earned had he lived longer (up to age 70). 3. Since you mentioned he died at 66, which was likely very close to his FRA, there may be very few DRCs involved (possibly just a few months' worth). 4. Given your still-working status and the fact that your own benefit at 70 would be less than the widow's benefit, waiting until your widow's FRA (66+8mo) appears to be the optimal strategy in your case. 5. Once you stop working or reach your FRA, don't forget to inquire about the possible 6 months of retroactive benefits that may be available if you file after your FRA.