Diego, I've been in a similar situation with survivor benefits and 1099 work. One important thing nobody mentioned yet - make sure you understand that Social Security calculates your net self-employment earnings using Schedule SE, not just Schedule C profit. There's a formula that reduces your net earnings by 7.65% (half of the self-employment tax) before applying the earnings test. This actually works in your favor! Also, consider asking your potential client if they can structure payments to help you stay under the limit - maybe defer some income to January if you're getting close to $23,400 by December. I've found SSA is actually pretty reasonable to work with if you're proactive about reporting and asking questions upfront.

I'm also a widow receiving survivor benefits and considering 1099 work. One thing I learned the hard way is to keep detailed monthly records of your earnings throughout the year, not just annual totals. SSA can ask for month-by-month breakdowns if they review your case. I use a simple spreadsheet to track each payment, the date received, and running totals. Also, if you're doing healthcare contract work, make sure you understand whether you'll be truly independent or if the client might treat you like an employee (which could affect your 1099 status with the IRS). The last thing you want is tax complications on top of the SSA earnings limits. Good luck with your decision!

Exactly right! Since you're not yet claiming Social Security benefits, you can work and earn as much as you want without any impact on your future benefits - it can only help. The earnings test only kicks in if you're already receiving benefits before your full retirement age. This is actually a great strategy many people use - work a few years between stopping their main career and claiming SS to boost their calculation. Even if you only worked part-time making $20,000-25,000 per year for 2-3 years, those earnings would replace zeros in your 35-year calculation and could meaningfully increase your monthly benefit for the rest of your life. Plus you'd be paying into the system longer, which never hurts!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation - retired early but not claiming SS yet. One thing I learned from my financial advisor that might be worth mentioning: if you do decide to work part-time to boost those final years, consider jobs that offer flexibility since you don't necessarily need the income right away. Things like seasonal work, consulting in your former field, or even retail during busy periods can be good options. The key is just making sure you're paying into Social Security on whatever you earn. Even earning the equivalent of minimum wage for 20 hours a week could add up to a meaningful increase in your lifetime benefits!

Based on everything you've shared - your continued part-time work, your good health, and your husband already receiving benefits - waiting until at least your Full Retirement Age would likely be more advantageous than claiming early. This would avoid both the permanent early claiming reduction and the earnings test reduction. You might even consider waiting until 70 for your maximum benefit, especially if family longevity suggests you'll live well into your 80s or beyond. I recommend using the calculators on SSA.gov to compare different scenarios based on your exact earnings record, or consulting with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security claiming strategies.

I'm glad you found this discussion helpful! Just to reinforce what others have said - the old "claim and switch" strategies are definitely off the table now. One additional thing to consider: since you mentioned you're in good health and planning to work part-time, you might also want to look into whether those continued earnings could potentially increase your benefit calculation. Social Security uses your highest 35 years of earnings, so if your current part-time work years are higher than some of your earlier lower-earning years, it could bump up your Primary Insurance Amount. The SSA recalculates benefits annually if you have qualifying earnings. Just another factor to weigh as you decide on your timing!

Thank you all for the helpful information! I've got a much better idea of what to expect now. I'll definitely bring all the documentation mentioned (death certificate, marriage certificate, my latest tax returns, etc.) to my appointment. It sounds like I should expect my survivor benefit to be based on my wife's SSDI amount of $2,750, but reduced to about 91% of that (roughly $2,500) if I claim at age 65. Then the earnings test would further reduce it while I'm still working. I'm thinking the smart strategy might be to file the paperwork now so it's in the system, but only actually claim the benefits if I lose my job. Otherwise, I might be better off waiting until either my FRA or even taking my own benefit at 70. I'll update after my appointment in case it helps anyone else in a similar situation.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Levi. I went through something very similar when my husband passed away at 62 while on SSDI. The good news is that survivor benefits are indeed based on the full SSDI amount your wife was receiving, not what she would have gotten with early retirement. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier - when you go to your SSA appointment, ask them to run both scenarios for you: taking survivor benefits now (reduced) versus waiting until your FRA, and also ask them to calculate what your own retirement benefit would be at 70. Having those numbers side by side really helped me make the best decision. Also, if you do end up needing to apply due to layoffs, the effective date can be the month after your wife passed away, but you have to apply within certain time limits to get retroactive payments. Don't let them tell you it can only start from when you apply - that's not always true for survivor benefits. Keep all your documentation organized and make copies of everything before you go. The process can take a while, but having everything ready upfront helps avoid delays. Wishing you the best with your appointment.

Another thing to keep in mind is that your MySocialSecurity account will automatically update your benefit estimates each year based on your most recent earnings. So if you're still working and earning income, you'll see those estimates gradually increase over the next 18 months as your 2024 and 2025 earnings get factored in. I found it helpful to screenshot my estimates periodically so I could track how they changed as I got closer to retirement. Also, don't forget that if you have a spouse, you'll want to coordinate your claiming strategies since spousal benefits can sometimes provide additional income - especially if there's a big difference in your work histories or benefit amounts. Good luck with your planning!

One thing that might help with your planning is to understand that Social Security benefits are also subject to federal income tax if your combined income (Social Security + other retirement income + half of your Social Security benefits) exceeds certain thresholds. For individuals, that's $25,000, and for married filing jointly, it's $32,000. Up to 85% of your benefits could be taxable depending on your total retirement income. This is something the estimates don't show you - they're gross amounts, not what you'll actually receive after taxes. So when you're doing your retirement budget, make sure to factor in potential taxes on your Social Security benefits, especially if you have other sources of retirement income like 401(k) withdrawals or pension payments. A tax professional who specializes in retirement planning can help you estimate this more precisely.