I had another question about this - if I file for benefits mid-year, does the earnings limit apply to all my earnings for the entire year, or just what I earn after I start receiving benefits?

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation - turning 66 next year and trying to figure out the best strategy. One thing I wanted to add is that if you do end up going over the earnings limit, the "lost" benefits aren't actually lost forever. Once you reach your full retirement age, SSA recalculates your benefit and gives you credit for those withheld months by increasing your monthly payment. So if you're close to FRA anyway, the temporary reduction might not be as bad as it seems. Has anyone here actually experienced this recalculation process?

Thank you everyone for the responses. I'm going to try the mobile app first for reporting, and then try to get an appointment with a Claims Specialist who understands concurrent entitlement situations. I'll make sure to get everything in writing and keep good records of all our reporting. Just to clarify - my spouse benefits are definitely under the child-in-care provision because of our disabled adult daughter, not regular spousal benefits (which I know I couldn't get until 62). It sounds like both my wife and daughter need to report their earnings directly to SSA, regardless of employer reporting. I appreciate all the helpful information!

You've got a solid plan! Just wanted to add a few tips from my experience dealing with similar reporting situations: 1. When using the mobile app, screenshot everything after you submit your wage reports - the confirmation numbers and dates. SSA's system sometimes doesn't save properly and having proof you reported can save you headaches later. 2. For your daughter's DAC benefits, keep detailed records of her work hours and earnings. If she ever approaches the SGA limit ($1,550/month in 2025), you'll want to show SSA the pattern of her earnings to demonstrate it's part-time/intermittent work rather than substantial gainful activity. 3. Consider setting calendar reminders to report quarterly rather than waiting for annual estimates. This helps avoid large overpayments if earnings are higher than expected. 4. Since your situation involves child-in-care benefits with an adult disabled child, make sure the Claims Specialist documents in your file that this is an ongoing DAC case, not a regular child's case. This prevents future confusion when staff reviews your benefits. Good luck! The fact that you're being proactive about this puts you ahead of most people in similar situations.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Justin. This is exactly the kind of frustrating bureaucracy that families shouldn't have to deal with while grieving. You are absolutely correct - your mother's July Social Security payment should NOT be returned to SSA. The rule is crystal clear: beneficiaries are entitled to Social Security benefits for any complete month they were alive, regardless of when the payment is deposited. Since your mother lived through all of July, that payment (deposited in August) rightfully belongs to her estate. Banks often have blanket policies to return ALL Social Security payments when notified of a death, but they're not trained to understand the timing nuances. What you need is official documentation from SSA to override their standard procedure. I'd recommend visiting your local Social Security office in person rather than trying to get through on the phone - the wait times are brutal right now. Bring her death certificate and request written confirmation that the July payment is legitimate. Once you have that documentation, take it to the bank manager (not just a regular teller) and firmly explain that this is not an overpayment. Don't let them bully you into returning money that legally belongs to your mother's estate. You have enough to handle right now without giving up funds that are rightfully yours. Stay strong and advocate for what's correct - the law is on your side here.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Justin. This is such a common and frustrating issue that adds unnecessary stress during an already overwhelming time. You are absolutely right to question the bank's decision - your mother's July Social Security payment should definitely remain in her estate. The rule is straightforward: Social Security beneficiaries are entitled to benefits for any complete month they lived through, regardless of when the actual payment is deposited. Since your mother was alive for all of July, that payment belongs to her estate, even though it arrived in August after her passing. Banks often have automatic procedures to return ALL Social Security payments upon death notification, but they don't always understand the nuances of the timing rules. What they should be preventing is any August payment (which would typically arrive in September), since she passed away partway through August. Based on what others have shared here, I'd strongly recommend visiting your local Social Security office in person rather than trying to get through on their overwhelmed phone lines. Bring her death certificate and request written documentation confirming that the July payment is legitimate and belongs to her estate. This official paperwork will give you the leverage you need when dealing with the bank manager. Don't let them pressure you into returning money that's rightfully part of your mother's estate. You're dealing with enough right now without having to fight for what's already legally yours. Stand firm - the law is definitely on your side here.

Just wanted to add one more consideration that might be relevant to your situation - if you're married, you'll also need to think about how your Medicare enrollment timing affects your spouse's HSA eligibility. If you're both covered under the same employer family plan and you enroll in Medicare Part A, your spouse can still contribute to an HSA as long as they're not Medicare-eligible themselves. However, if your spouse is also approaching 65, you'll want to coordinate your Medicare enrollment decisions to maximize both of your HSA contribution opportunities. My wife and I staggered our Medicare enrollments by a year specifically to extend our HSA contribution period, and it worked out really well for building up our healthcare nest egg.

I went through this exact situation two years ago and want to share what I learned. The key insight that saved me thousands was understanding that Medicare Part A enrollment is NOT automatic at 65 if you're still working - that's a common misconception. You have to actively decline it. Here's what I did: I contacted Social Security about 3 months before my 65th birthday to formally decline Medicare enrollment while I continued working. This allowed me to keep contributing to my HSA for another 2.5 years until I retired at 67.5. During that time, I maxed out my HSA contributions and even did catch-up contributions since I was over 55. One critical thing to watch out for: if you ever filed for Social Security retirement benefits (even if you suspended them), you'll be automatically enrolled in Part A at 65 regardless of your work status. This is a trap that catches many people off guard. My recommendation: Call Social Security soon to clarify your enrollment status and formally document your intention to delay Medicare while working. Get everything in writing! The peace of mind is worth it, and you'll avoid any costly mistakes with your HSA.

Based on what you're describing (concerns about back payments and work income), it sounds like you might be dealing with a potential overpayment situation or the earnings test for early retirement benefits. These are complex areas where getting accurate, personalized advice is crucial. While you can get general information anonymously, at some point, you'll need to discuss your specific case with SSA. When you do, remember that being proactive about reporting changes or concerns almost always leads to better outcomes than waiting for SSA to discover issues later.

As someone who's navigated SSA inquiries before, I'd recommend starting with the SSA's Publication 05-10003 "How Work Affects Your Benefits" - it's available online and covers most scenarios without needing to contact anyone. You can also check out the detailed FAQs on their website about the Annual Earnings Test. If you do call, another approach is to frame your questions around helping a family member or friend understand their options. Representatives are usually happy to explain how the rules work in general terms when you position it that way. Just remember that phone calls to federal agencies can be recorded, so there's always some level of tracking involved. The key is getting enough general information to make informed decisions before you need to provide your personal details for case-specific advice.