I'm going through the exact same situation right now! Just submitted my retirement application online last week and had that immediate panic when I realized there was no document upload section. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a huge relief - it's amazing how many of us go through this same worry! The explanation about SSA already having our birth information from when we originally got our Social Security cards decades ago makes perfect sense, but I never would have thought of it that way. Like you, I applied about 3 months before my target benefit start date, so hearing from multiple people that this timing provides a good safety net is really reassuring. It's funny how something as simple as not being able to upload documents can make you feel like you've messed up the entire application! But clearly this is just how their system is designed to work. I'll definitely be watching my mail for that acknowledgment letter and trying to be patient instead of second-guessing myself. Thanks for asking this question - you've helped calm the nerves of a lot of us first-time applicants!

I'm so relieved to find this thread! I literally just went through this exact same panic yesterday when I submitted my retirement application online. Like everyone else, I kept looking for some upload button or document submission section and couldn't find anything. I was convinced I had somehow skipped a crucial step or that the application was incomplete. Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly reassuring - it's clear that SSA's system is actually designed to work this way on purpose. The explanation about them already having our birth information from when we originally got our Social Security cards decades ago makes complete sense, but I never would have thought of it that way without this community's help. I applied about 10 weeks before I want my benefits to start, so hearing from so many people that this timing provides plenty of buffer for any potential document requests really eases my mind. It's amazing how many of us go through this same worry - you'd think SSA would add some kind of explanation on the confirmation page to prevent all this anxiety! I'll definitely be watching my mail for the acknowledgment letter and keeping my birth certificate handy just in case, but feeling much more confident now that I understand how the process actually works. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is such a valuable resource for navigating these big life transitions!

I'm also considering early retirement and this discussion has been incredibly valuable! One aspect I haven't seen mentioned is what happens to any automatic deposits or direct deposit arrangements during the withdrawal process. When you submit Form SSA-521 and they stop your benefits, do they automatically reverse any pending deposits, or do you need to coordinate with your bank separately? Also, for those who've been through this - did SSA provide a clear timeline for when they need the full repayment after your withdrawal is approved? I'm trying to understand if there's flexibility in the repayment timing or if it needs to happen immediately upon approval. The financial planning aspect of having that lump sum ready at the right time seems just as important as making the withdrawal decision itself.

As someone who's been following Social Security policy changes closely, I wanted to add that it's worth double-checking the current processing times with SSA before you submit your withdrawal. I've heard anecdotally that processing times have been longer recently due to staffing issues at some field offices. When you call to discuss your withdrawal, ask specifically about current processing timelines in your region. Also, make sure to keep detailed records of all your communications with SSA throughout this process - dates, representative names, reference numbers, etc. This documentation can be invaluable if there are any delays or complications. Given that you're well within the 12-month window with 8 months remaining, you have the luxury of being thorough rather than rushed. The financial benefit of waiting until 67 is substantial enough that it's worth taking the time to do this withdrawal process correctly the first time.

As someone who just went through this decision process myself, I wanted to add a practical perspective. I was in a very similar situation - 62 and needing income while my husband was 57 and still working. One thing that really helped me was creating a spreadsheet comparing different scenarios over 10, 15, and 20 years. I looked at: - Taking my reduced benefit immediately vs waiting - Total lifetime benefits under different longevity assumptions - The impact on our overall retirement cash flow What I found was that the "break-even" point for waiting vs claiming early was around age 78-80 in my case. Since I'm in good health and both my parents lived into their 90s, waiting made more sense for us. However, the cash flow aspect was important too. We ended up using a combination of savings and a small part-time job to bridge the gap until I reached FRA. It wasn't ideal, but the long-term benefit increase was worth it for our situation. One resource that really helped was the Social Security Administration's online benefit calculators. You can run different claiming scenarios to see the actual dollar amounts for your specific situation rather than trying to guess.

I'm in a somewhat similar situation - I'm 64 and my husband is 60, so I've been researching this extensively. One thing I learned that might help you is to look at your Social Security statement online to see your estimated benefits at different claiming ages. What really opened my eyes was understanding that if you claim your own benefit early and then later become eligible for spousal benefits, you don't just "switch over" to the spousal amount. Instead, Social Security pays you the higher of: (1) your own reduced benefit, or (2) your own reduced benefit PLUS the difference needed to reach your reduced spousal benefit amount. The key word here is "reduced" - if you claim early, both your own benefit and any spousal benefit get reduced permanently. So in your case, if you take your $950 now and your husband's PIA ends up being $3,000, you wouldn't necessarily get $1,500 as a spousal benefit later. The spousal amount would also be reduced based on your age when you first claimed. I'd suggest calling SSA and asking them to walk through a few "what if" scenarios with your actual numbers. Despite what others have said about inconsistent information, I found that if you ask very specific questions about your own record, they can give you the exact dollar amounts for different claiming strategies.

One thing to keep in mind - if you're planning to stop working next year and your income will drop significantly, you might want to consider making quarterly estimated tax payments instead of adjusting withholding. That way you have more control over the timing and amounts. For Q4 2024, the estimated payment is due January 15th, so you could make a payment then to cover any shortfall from this year without having to mess with withholding at all. Just another option to consider alongside the work withholding adjustment!

For quarterly estimated tax payments, there's no minimum amount - you can pay whatever you calculate you'll owe. The key is making sure your total payments (withholding + estimated payments) equal at least 90% of this year's tax liability or 100% of last year's (110% if your prior year AGI was over $150k). Since you're planning to stop working early next year, quarterly payments might actually give you the most flexibility. You could make a Q4 payment in January to cover any 2024 shortfall, then reassess your 2025 situation once you're no longer working. The IRS Form 1040ES has worksheets to help calculate the right amount.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm truly amazed by how this thread has evolved from Giovanni's original question into such a comprehensive resource! I'm currently 66 and approaching my decision point for Social Security, so reading about the calculator disappearing issue is incredibly timely for me. I had no idea that starting an application could make the comparison tools vanish - that seems like such a problematic design choice by SSA. The direct link to the Retirement Estimator at ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/estimator.html is exactly what I need to bookmark, and I'm definitely going to implement that text file system for keeping track of useful SSA links. What strikes me most is how this community provides the real-world navigation tips that you just can't get from official SSA documentation. The advice about browser cache clearing, optimal calling times, and even backup options like the paper form SSA-7004 shows the incredible value of people sharing their actual experiences with these systems. Thank you to everyone who has contributed such detailed, practical solutions - this discussion has given me so much more confidence about approaching my own Social Security decisions!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely blown away by how helpful and comprehensive this discussion has become! I'm about 2.5 years from my FRA and had no idea that the Social Security website had so many quirks and navigation issues. Giovanni's original question about the disappearing calculator seems to have struck a nerve with so many people - it's clear this is a widespread problem that SSA really needs to address. Reading through all the responses, I'm particularly grateful for the direct links to the different calculators, especially the Retirement Estimator at ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/estimator.html. The tip about bookmarking these direct links and creating a text file reference system is brilliant - I'm definitely going to set that up this week. What really impresses me about this community is how everyone shares not just the basic information, but all the practical workarounds that actually make these systems usable. The advice about clearing browser cache, calling at 8 AM for shorter wait times, and even having a backup paper form option shows the incredible value of real-world experience sharing. Thank you to everyone who has contributed such detailed solutions - this thread has convinced me to start exploring these tools now rather than waiting until I'm closer to retirement. It's so reassuring to know there's a community like this to help navigate Social Security's complex and sometimes counterintuitive systems!