Quick question - does anyone know if changing your direct deposit info affects your payment date? I rely on getting paid on a specific day each month.

I updated mine about 6 months ago and it was actually pretty straightforward! Here's what worked for me: - Do it online through my Social Security if possible - way faster than calling - Have all your banking info written down beforehand (routing number, account number, bank name) - Log in during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening) to avoid website issues - Take a screenshot of the confirmation page once you submit - Keep checking your account for the next few payments to make sure everything went through correctly The whole process took me maybe 10 minutes online, and my next payment went to the new account without any issues. Don't stress too much about it - they deal with these requests all the time! Just double-check all your numbers before hitting submit.

This is exactly why I always tell people to check their online account after the New Year! The Medicare premium increases can really catch people off guard. What's frustrating is that sometimes the Medicare Part D premiums vary by plan, so even people with the same Social Security benefit can see different net increases depending on which drug plan they chose during open enrollment. I've been getting Social Security for about 8 years now and I still have to remind myself every January that my COLA isn't just a simple percentage calculation - there are always other moving pieces. At least now with the online portal it's much easier to see the breakdown than it used to be when we had to wait for paper statements!

As someone who's been helping family members navigate Social Security for years, I want to add one more thing that might help others understand their payments better. If you have taxes withheld from your Social Security benefits (federal or state), those withholding amounts can also change from year to year, which adds another layer to why your net increase might be different than expected. The IRS adjusts tax withholding tables periodically, and sometimes people forget they elected to have taxes taken out when they first started receiving benefits. So even after accounting for the Medicare premium increases, you might still see a difference if your tax withholding changed. The key is really that online mySocialSecurity account - it breaks down everything line by line so you can see your gross benefit, COLA increase, Medicare premiums, tax withholding, and any other deductions. It's honestly the best tool they've given us to understand our payments!

dont 4get that if u get benefits reduced cuz of working, they recalculate ur benefit when u hit FRA and give u credit for those months. so its not completely lost money, just delayed

As someone new to this community, I want to thank everyone for sharing such detailed experiences! This thread has been incredibly helpful. I'm in a similar situation planning retirement next year and had no idea about the "grace year" rule or how specific you need to be about your first month of entitlement. One question I have after reading all this - when you apply online through SSA.gov, does it clearly ask you to specify your first month of entitlement? Or is this something you need to call about? I'm worried about making the same mistakes some of you mentioned where SSA starts benefits earlier than intended. Also, has anyone tried the retroactive benefits option where they can pay you up to 6 months back? I'm wondering if that creates earnings test complications too.

One more thing to consider - some offices are better staffed than others for specific issues. For example, if you have a complicated work history involving foreign employment or military service, you might want to visit a larger office that handles these cases more frequently. But for standard retirement applications, any office can help you equally well.

Just to add another perspective - I work part-time at a local government office and we get this question a lot! You absolutely can visit any SSA office nationwide. The main thing I'd suggest is checking the office hours and services offered at your preferred location beforehand, since some smaller offices have limited hours or don't offer all services every day. Also, if you're bringing a lot of documents, consider making copies beforehand since some offices charge more for copying than others. Good luck with your retirement application!

heres something nobody mentioned - if ur mom and dad get divorced in future she could lose these benefits!! unless they stay married for at least 10 yrs then she can keep them even after divorce. but if theyre already been separated for decades sounds like theyve passed that 10 yr mark anyway so should be ok

I went through this exact process with my grandmother last year! A few practical tips that might help your mom: 1. Call SSA early in the morning (8 AM sharp) for the best chance of getting through - the phone lines are slightly less busy then. 2. When she applies, ask the representative to calculate her exact benefit amount on the spot. They can run the numbers immediately and tell her what to expect. 3. The effective date will be the month she applies (not retroactive beyond 6 months), so don't delay! 4. If the SSA office requires an appointment, some locations accept walk-ins for "quick questions" - she could try calling to ask if they'll at least let her submit the application paperwork without a full appointment. 5. Keep copies of everything she submits. The SSA sometimes loses paperwork. Even a modest increase would help her situation. The most important thing is getting the process started. Good luck to your mom!