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Dont forget to look at other benefits too! My mom got widows benefits that were higher than her own SS check after my dad passed. They automatically should give you the higher amount but sometimes they miss things.
That's good to know - I'm widowed actually, but my husband didn't work much in later years because of his disability. I'll definitely ask about that when I speak with them. Thanks for mentioning it!
I'm sorry you're going through this confusion, Zoe. It's unfortunately very common for people to feel overwhelmed by the Social Security system after they've already made their filing decision. One thing I'd like to add that others haven't mentioned yet - since you mentioned you're widowed, you should definitely explore survivor benefits from your late husband's record. Even if he had reduced earnings in his later years, his earlier work history might still provide you with a higher monthly benefit than what you're currently receiving on your own record. Also, regarding the earnings limit that Santiago's sister experienced - that's only temporary while you're under your FRA (which for you is 66 and 10 months). Once you reach your FRA, you can earn as much as you want without any reduction to your Social Security benefits. So if you're considering part-time work, it might be worth waiting until after you reach your FRA next year to avoid the earnings test penalty. The system really could be explained more clearly upfront, but don't beat yourself up too much about the early filing decision. Many people in similar health and financial situations make the same choice, and having that income for the past few years may have been exactly what you needed at the time.
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Thank you all for the helpful responses! I'll go ahead and apply in October for my January start date. It's a relief to know that SSA will automatically recalculate and make adjustments once my 2024 earnings are processed. I appreciate everyone sharing their personal experiences too - it makes navigating this whole process much less stressful!
Just wanted to add one more consideration - make sure you understand the timing of when your benefits actually start vs when you apply. Since your FRA is November 2024, you can start receiving full benefits then if you want, or delay until January 2025 as you mentioned. But remember that each month you delay past your FRA (up until age 70), you earn delayed retirement credits that increase your benefit by about 0.67% per month. So if you delay from November 2024 to January 2025, that's 2 months of delayed credits which would permanently increase your monthly benefit by about 1.33%. Just something to factor into your decision along with the automatic recomputation for your 2024 earnings!
That's a really good point about delayed retirement credits that I hadn't fully considered! So if I understand correctly, by waiting those extra 2 months from November to January, I'd get a permanent 1.33% increase to my monthly benefit amount? That could actually add up to quite a bit over time. I was planning to start in January mainly for convenience and to have a clean start to the new year, but now I'm wondering if I should reconsider and start right at my FRA in November. Do you happen to know if those delayed credits apply on top of any automatic recomputation from my 2024 earnings?
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I'm in a very similar situation - turning 62 in late November and trying to figure out the exact timing for my first payment! This thread has been incredibly helpful. One thing I wanted to ask about that I haven't seen mentioned yet - does the SSA send any kind of notification or confirmation letter when your first payment is processed? I know they'll send the payment itself, but I'm wondering if there's any advance notice so I know it's actually been approved and scheduled. Also, for those who have been through this process, how long after submitting your application did you actually receive confirmation that you were approved? I submitted mine about 3 weeks ago and haven't heard anything yet, which is making me a bit nervous about the timing. I want to make sure everything goes through smoothly so I'm not left scrambling financially in that gap month everyone mentioned.
Great question about the notification process! Yes, SSA does send confirmation when your application is approved. You'll typically receive an award letter in the mail that shows your benefit amount, start date, and first payment date. This usually comes 2-4 weeks after approval. You can also check the status of your application online through your my Social Security account - it will show if it's still pending, approved, or if they need additional information. Three weeks without hearing anything isn't unusual, especially if they're reviewing your work history or need to verify information. The whole process can take 3-6 weeks from submission to first payment. If you're getting anxious, you can always call SSA to check on the status, though as others mentioned, getting through can be challenging. The online account is usually your best bet for real-time updates!
I just want to emphasize something that might help with your planning - make sure you understand the earnings test if you're planning to continue working after claiming benefits at 62. For 2024, if you earn more than $22,320 while receiving Social Security benefits before your full retirement age, they'll withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above that limit. This could affect your payment amounts in those early months, so factor this into your budgeting if work income is part of your financial picture. Also, don't forget that your Social Security benefits may be subject to federal income tax depending on your total income level - this caught me off guard my first year! The combination of reduced benefits from claiming early, potential earnings test withholding, and taxes can make that first payment quite a bit different from what you might initially expect.
This is such an important point that often gets overlooked! I'm planning to do some part-time consulting work after I start collecting benefits, so the earnings test is definitely something I need to factor in. I had no idea about the $22,320 threshold - that's really helpful to know upfront rather than being surprised later. And you're absolutely right about the tax implications too. It sounds like that first year of benefits can be quite complex with all these different factors potentially affecting the actual amount you receive. Do you happen to know if the earnings test is based on annual income or if they monitor it monthly? I'm trying to figure out if I need to be careful about timing when I take on any consulting projects in relation to when my benefits start.
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my mom died last year too and i had same problem!! waited forever for her ss-1099 then gave up and did taxes without it. big mistake!! got a letter from irs 6 months later saying we underpaid taxes bc didn't report all her income!! had to file amended return and pay penalty and interest!! dont do what i did lol. definitely wait for that form or get an official replacement!!
OMG that sounds awful! Sorry you had to deal with that on top of losing your mom. The IRS can be so heartless sometimes. Did they at least reduce the penalty when you explained the situation?
Thanks for sharing your experience, though I'm sorry you had to go through that. I'll definitely make sure I have the official 1099 before filing. Did you eventually get the form, or did you have to get the information some other way?
hey just checking in - did you end up getting your dads 1099 yet? mine just came yesterday for my mom so maybe yours is on the way
Just got it in the mail today, actually! Thanks for checking. Now to figure out the rest of his final tax filing...
Glad to hear it arrived! One more tip for your father's final return: if your father had any uncashed Social Security checks at the time of his death, those are considered income for the estate, not income for his final personal tax return. This is different from direct deposits received while he was alive, which do go on his final personal return. Just wanted to mention this since it's a common area of confusion.
Arjun Kurti
This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation (born in 1960, so FRA is 67) and have been trying to figure out the earnings limit rules. Reading through everyone's experiences and the clarifications about the $1 for every $3 reduction in the FRA year vs the usual $1 for every $2 really helps. One thing I wanted to add for anyone else reading this - I learned from my financial advisor that you can also request to have federal taxes withheld from your Social Security benefits when you apply. Since you'll still have significant earnings from work during those first few months, you might want to consider this to avoid a big tax bill in April 2027. The withholding rates are 7%, 10%, 12%, or 22% of your monthly benefit. Also, Amara, your point about tracking everything carefully is so important. I've started keeping a monthly spreadsheet of my gross earnings specifically for this purpose. Better to be over-prepared than scramble to reconstruct earnings records later if SSA has questions!
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Kaitlyn Jenkins
•Great points about the tax withholding! As someone new to understanding Social Security benefits, I hadn't even considered the tax implications of receiving benefits while still working. The withholding option sounds like it could save a lot of headache at tax time. Your spreadsheet idea is really smart too - I'm definitely going to start tracking my earnings that way. It seems like there are so many moving pieces when you're transitioning into retirement while still working. Thanks for sharing these practical tips!
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QuantumQuester
This has been such an informative discussion! As someone approaching my own retirement decisions, I've learned so much from reading through everyone's experiences. A few key takeaways that might help others in similar situations: 1. The Claimyr service mentioned seems like a game-changer for actually reaching SSA by phone - I've had the same frustrating experience with long hold times and disconnections. 2. The distinction between the regular earnings limit and the higher limit in your FRA year is crucial - I didn't realize there were two different thresholds. 3. The advice about being proactive with earnings estimates when filing is excellent - transparency upfront seems much better than dealing with overpayments later. For anyone else navigating this transition, it sounds like the key is getting official confirmation from SSA rather than trying to piece together information from multiple sources. The rules are complex enough that even well-meaning advice can sometimes miss important nuances. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - communities like this are invaluable for navigating these complicated government programs!
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Omar Mahmoud
•Thank you for summarizing all these key points so clearly! As someone who just joined this community, I really appreciate how helpful everyone has been in explaining these complex Social Security rules. The distinction between the different earnings limits was definitely confusing me too - I had no idea there was a higher threshold in your FRA year with different withholding ratios. Your point about getting official confirmation from SSA is spot on - there's so much conflicting information online that it's easy to get overwhelmed. I'm definitely going to look into that Claimyr service if I need to reach SSA, since the regular phone system sounds like a nightmare. It's amazing how much practical knowledge gets shared in threads like this that you just can't find in the official government publications!
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