This is such valuable information for those of us navigating work after FRA! I'm 68 and have been working part-time since starting my benefits. One thing I'd add is that you can also create an account at ssa.gov to track your earnings record and see how your benefits are calculated. It's really helpful to understand which years might get replaced by your current earnings. The portal shows your complete earnings history and you can estimate potential increases. Also, don't forget that you'll still pay Social Security taxes on your current earnings even though you're collecting benefits - but as everyone mentioned, those contributions can increase your future payments through the automatic recalculation. Keep working if you enjoy it and can handle it - the financial and health benefits are worth it!

This is such a helpful discussion! I'm 65 and planning to start benefits at my FRA next year while continuing to work. One question I haven't seen addressed - does the type of work matter for the AERO calculation? I'm considering switching from full-time W-2 employment to consulting work (1099). Would both types of earnings be treated the same way in the automatic recalculation, or are there any differences in how Social Security processes W-2 vs 1099 income for benefit adjustments? I want to make sure I understand this before making the transition. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - this gives me much more confidence about my retirement planning!

To summarize the key points that might help you decide: 1. Filing at 62 means a permanent 30% reduction to your retirement benefit 2. Later, when your husband files, you'll be eligible for spousal benefits equal to the greater of: - Your own reduced benefit, OR - A reduced spousal benefit 3. The reduced spousal benefit would be calculated as: [50% of your husband's PIA - 100% of your PIA] plus a reduction factor based on your age when you first filed (62) 4. Since your husband's benefit is about twice yours, you'll likely get some additional amount when he files, but it won't be the full difference between your benefit and 50% of his If possible, I'd recommend setting up an appointment with an SSA claims specialist who can run the exact numbers for your situation.

I'm in a somewhat similar situation and wanted to add a perspective on the health factor you mentioned. I had to make this decision last year due to a chronic condition that made full-time work difficult. While it's true that filing at 62 permanently reduces your benefits, sometimes the financial security of having that income stream outweighs the optimization calculations. The stress of not having income while dealing with health issues can be significant. One thing that helped me was calculating the "break-even" point - how many years I'd need to live to make up for the money I'd lose by not taking benefits early. Given your husband's higher benefit, you'll still get some boost when he files later, even though it won't be the full spousal amount. Have you looked into whether you might qualify for SSDI based on your health issues? Sometimes people overlook that option, and SSDI isn't subject to the early retirement reductions.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the system really failed your family when they didn't automatically transition her to DAC benefits at 18. As someone who's helped others navigate this maze, I'd add a couple things to the excellent advice already given: When you call SSA tomorrow, ask to speak with a supervisor if the first person doesn't seem knowledgeable about DAC benefits - not all representatives are familiar with these cases. Also, if your daughter has been without health insurance during this 6-year gap, mention that too since Medicaid eligibility often comes with disability benefits. The retroactive payment potential here is significant given the length of time, so definitely don't let them discourage you from pursuing this. You're being a great advocate for your daughter - keep pushing!

I'm a newcomer here but wanted to share that my sister went through something very similar. The key thing that helped us was documenting EVERYTHING - every phone call, every piece of mail, every submission. When we finally got to the hearing level, having that paper trail showing SSA's failures (like not reviewing submitted evidence) really helped our case. Also, when you call tomorrow, ask them to put notes in your daughter's file about the missing DAC review at age 18 - get the representative's name and ID number. That creates an official record of the system failure. One more tip: if they try to tell you it's "too late" for DAC benefits, that's not true - there's no time limit for filing if the review never happened in the first place. You've got this!

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.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation - turning 67 in August and trying to figure out the timing. One thing I wanted to add that helped me understand this better: the SSA has a really good publication called "How Work Affects Your Benefits" (Publication No. 05-10069) that breaks down all these scenarios with examples. What really clicked for me was realizing that the earnings test is designed to be temporary - it's not a permanent penalty. Like someone mentioned above, they actually recalculate your benefit at FRA to give you credit for any months they withheld benefits due to earnings. So even if you do go over the limit in the months before your FRA, you're not permanently losing that money. For anyone still confused about the timing, I found it helpful to think of it this way: There are basically three "zones" - before FRA year (strict rules), FRA year but before FRA month (generous rules), and FRA month onward (no rules). The key is figuring out which zone you're in for any given month.

One last thing to consider: since you're 68 and already past your Full Retirement Age, when you do eventually qualify for spousal benefits, you won't face any reductions for early filing on your end. You'll be eligible for the maximum spousal benefit (up to 50% of your husband's Primary Insurance Amount). However, since it sounds like your own benefit is already established, you'll only receive the difference if the spousal amount is higher. I'd recommend scheduling an appointment with SSA when your husband gets closer to 62 to review all your options at that time.

I just wanted to add one more perspective as someone who worked in Social Security disability advocacy for years. While everyone here is correct about the basic rules, I'd strongly suggest you consider consulting with a Social Security attorney or certified representative before making any major decisions about divorce vs. staying married. The financial implications can be complex - for example, if your husband has a much higher earnings record, staying married might eventually give you better survivor benefits if he passes away first (you'd get 100% of his benefit instead of the 50% spousal rate). An attorney can run the numbers on both scenarios and help you make the most financially beneficial choice for your specific situation. Many offer free consultations for Social Security matters.