One last tip - when you actually apply online, have these documents ready: - Your birth certificate (or passport) - Your most recent W-2 or tax return - Marriage certificate if you've been married - Divorce decree if applicable - Military discharge papers if you served Having everything prepared makes the online application process much smoother. The system also lets you save and come back if you need to gather more information.

Just wanted to add one more thing that caught me off guard - make sure to create your my Social Security account online BEFORE you apply if you don't already have one! It takes a few days to verify your identity and get full access. Having the account set up ahead of time lets you track your application status and access all your Social Security documents in one place. I wish I had known this earlier in my planning process. The account creation is at ssa.gov/myaccount and you'll need it anyway for managing your benefits once they start.

Thanks everyone for the advice! I've decided to file when I turn 70 in a few months. I'll make sure to set aside enough for taxes since I'll be dealing with both work income and SS benefits. Really appreciate all the insights!

Just want to echo what others have said here - there's definitely no financial advantage to waiting past 70! I made this mistake myself and didn't file until I was 71 because I thought there might be some additional benefit for high earners who continue working. Nope! I basically threw away a year of payments that I can never recover. The good news is that once you do file at 70, you can absolutely continue working without any penalty. I've been collecting for 3 years now while still running my small business, and the SSA automatically recalculates my benefit each year if my current earnings are higher than one of my previous 35 years. It's actually pretty seamless. One thing to consider for tax planning - you might want to talk to a CPA about quarterly estimated payments once you start receiving both SS and business income. The tax withholding can get tricky when you have multiple income sources, but it's definitely manageable. Don't let tax concerns keep you from claiming what you've earned!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share something that might help with your Medicare planning. Since you mentioned being 63 and planning ahead, you should know that you can actually start getting free Medicare counseling through your local Area Agency on Aging right now, even before you're eligible for Medicare. Also, regarding your $30K in 401k - if you're still working, you might want to consider whether it makes sense to spend down some of those assets before applying for MSPs, since Nevada does have those resource limits that Sofia mentioned. Some people strategically use retirement funds for home improvements, car repairs, or other necessary expenses to get under the asset thresholds while still having the benefit of those improvements. One more tip: keep detailed records of all your applications and communications with Medicaid. I've seen too many people have to restart their applications because paperwork got lost in the system. Take photos of everything you submit and get confirmation numbers when possible. Your income level definitely looks promising for qualifying for help - don't let the bureaucracy discourage you from applying!

I'm also approaching Medicare age and this thread has been incredibly informative! One thing I wanted to add that might help Dylan and others - if you're in Nevada, you can also contact the Nevada ADSD (Aging and Disability Services Division) directly. They have Medicare counselors who can walk you through the entire process and even help you fill out applications. Another resource worth mentioning is the Nevada 211 service - just dial 2-1-1 and they can connect you with local organizations that help with Medicare applications and benefits counseling. Sometimes it's easier than trying to get through to the main Medicaid office. Also, Dylan, since you mentioned consulting work - be aware that if you do start earning additional income after you apply and get approved for an MSP, you're required to report those changes. But don't let that stop you from applying now based on your current situation. Your Social Security income alone puts you in a good position to qualify. The community advice here about applying early and keeping detailed records is spot on. I've bookmarked this whole conversation for when I need to start my own applications next year!

As someone who just went through this process myself, I can confirm that applying 3-4 months early is absolutely the right approach. I'm born in June 1958 (so same FRA as you), and I applied in November 2024 for my March 2025 start date. The online application was surprisingly smooth, but I'm so glad I didn't wait until the last minute because SSA requested additional documentation about 3 weeks after I submitted - they needed verification of my military service from the 1980s. If I had applied later, that delay could have pushed my benefits past my intended start date. One tip: create a my Social Security account online first if you haven't already, as it makes the application process much faster and you can check your application status anytime. Also, double-check that your earnings history is accurate before applying - I found a small discrepancy that took a few weeks to resolve.

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm in a similar situation (born August 1958, so FRA at 66 and 8 months) and was planning to wait until closer to my target date to apply. After reading everyone's experiences, I'm definitely going to apply much earlier than I originally planned. The stories about lost applications, documentation requests, and processing delays are eye-opening. I especially appreciate the detailed document checklist and the tip about creating a my Social Security account first. One question - for those who applied online, did you receive any kind of estimated timeline for processing, or do you just have to wait and follow up periodically? I'm trying to plan my timeline and want to know what to expect after I submit.

You can report earnings changes by calling SSA, using your my Social Security account online, or visiting a local office. The online account is usually the easiest way - there's a section specifically for updating your earnings estimate. Just make sure you keep documentation of all your income in case there are questions later.

Just wanted to add one more important detail - make sure you understand how self-employment income is counted for the earnings limit. Since you mentioned you work as a consultant, SSA counts your net self-employment earnings (after business expenses) toward the limit, not your gross income. So if you invoice $60,000 but have $10,000 in legitimate business expenses, only $50,000 would count toward the $59,520 limit. Keep detailed records of all your business expenses throughout the year - things like equipment, software, travel, office supplies, etc. This could help you stay under the limit even if your gross consulting income is higher than expected.