Sean, I'm new to this community but wanted to add my voice to the chorus of reassurance here! I just filed for Social Security retirement at 62 three months ago with around $35k in CDs and some stock investments, and I was absolutely terrified they would cause problems with my benefits. I can confirm 100% what everyone else has shared - your investments will NOT affect your Social Security retirement benefits in any way! The online application was surprisingly straightforward and never asked about my savings or investments at all. They only wanted to know about my work history and current employment status. What really helped me understand this was realizing that Social Security retirement benefits are based on an insurance model - we've been paying premiums (payroll taxes) for decades, and now we're claiming the benefits we've already earned. Our current financial situation is completely irrelevant to that calculation. The earnings test that can reduce benefits only applies to money you earn from WORKING - wages or self-employment income above $22,320 in 2025. Interest from CDs, dividends from mutual funds, and capital gains are all considered "unearned income" and don't count toward this limit at all. I've been receiving my monthly payments for three months now while my CDs continue earning interest with zero impact on my Social Security benefits. The confusion definitely comes from people mixing up retirement benefits (which we've earned) with SSI (which has asset limits but is a welfare program). Your $75k in investments won't cause any issues whatsoever. File with confidence - you've got this!

Sean, I'm new to this community but wanted to share my perspective as someone who's currently navigating this same decision! I'm 62 and have been researching whether to file early, and like you, I've been worried about how my investments might affect things. After reading through this incredibly helpful discussion, I'm amazed at how consistent everyone's experience has been. It's crystal clear that your CDs and mutual funds absolutely will NOT impact your Social Security retirement benefits at all. The key insight that really clicked for me was understanding that Social Security retirement is an earned benefit based on our work history and payroll tax contributions - not a means-tested program that examines our current assets. What's particularly reassuring is hearing from so many people who've actually been through this process with similar or even larger investment amounts than yours, and they all had the same experience: zero issues, zero complications. The SSA doesn't even ask about investments during the application because they're completely irrelevant to the benefits we've already earned. The earnings test only applies to wages from actual employment or self-employment above $22,320 in 2025 - your investment income doesn't count toward this limit at all. Your neighbor was definitely thinking of SSI, which is a completely different needs-based program with asset restrictions. Thank you for starting this discussion! It's given me (and clearly many others) the confidence to move forward with our own applications. This community is incredibly valuable for getting real-world insights from people who've actually navigated these important decisions.

As someone completely new to the Social Security application process, I cannot express how valuable this entire discussion has been! I'm planning to apply for retirement benefits in the next few months and had absolutely no idea about the complexity behind processing times. The distinction between automatic and manual processing that @Alexander Evans explained so clearly really opened my eyes. I now understand why my coworker got approved instantly while others wait weeks - it's not favoritism or luck, but actual system logic based on case complexity. What really stands out to me is how much more informative this community discussion is compared to the official SSA resources. The insights from @Jessica Nguyen (former SSA employee) and @Dmitry Ivanov (benefits counselor) provide the kind of real-world context you just can't get from government websites that just say "30 days average." I'm particularly grateful for learning about factors that trigger manual review - multiple marriages, government employment, WEP/GPO calculations. I worked for a city government for 5 years early in my career, so now I know to expect a longer timeline rather than getting anxious about it. The Message Center tip for checking status instead of enduring those horrible phone wait times is gold! And hearing that longer processing often means more thorough benefit calculations really reframes the waiting experience positively. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and expertise - this thread should be required reading for anyone starting the SS application process!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually in a very similar situation to the original poster - applied for my Social Security retirement benefits about 2.5 weeks ago and have been checking my account obsessively every day with no updates beyond "processing." Like many others here, I was getting anxious hearing about people getting approved so quickly, but now I understand it's all about case complexity. I worked for a municipal water department for 12 years before moving to private sector, plus I was married previously for 14 years, so based on all the excellent explanations here (especially from @Jessica Nguyen and @Dmitry Ivanov), my application definitely needs manual review for WEP calculations and potential spousal benefits. What's really struck me is how much more educational this community discussion is than anything on the official SSA website. The "30 days average" timeline doesn't mean much when you don't know what factors might extend your processing time. I wish SSA would provide a simple checklist of complexity factors so people could set realistic expectations from the start. I'm definitely going to try the Message Center approach for status updates instead of dealing with those notorious phone wait times. And honestly, after reading everyone's experiences, I'm shifting my mindset from "why is this taking so long?" to "they're being thorough to make sure I get the right benefits." Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and expertise - this thread is a goldmine of practical information that should be pinned somewhere for future applicants!

Update: I'm halfway through filling out these forms and they're so detailed! The migraine questionnaire asks about aura symptoms, frequency, duration, and triggers. I'm being super detailed as everyone suggested. One thing I'm confused about - on the Adult Function Report, do I describe what I CAN do or what I CANNOT do? Some days I can do basic chores but other days I can barely get out of bed.

I'm dealing with a similar situation - just applied for SSDI with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome last month and got my forms within days too. Initially panicked thinking it meant bad news, but after reading everyone's responses here I feel much more reassured that it's just normal processing. One thing that's really helping me with filling out the forms is keeping a daily symptom diary like @Olivia Martinez suggested. I'm tracking not just pain levels but also brain fog episodes, how many times I need to rest during simple tasks, and which activities I have to skip entirely on bad days. It's eye-opening to see the patterns when you write it all down. For the Adult Function Report, I'm following the advice about being specific with limitations rather than just listing what I can do. Instead of "I can do laundry," I'm writing "I can start a load of laundry but often need my spouse to finish it because standing to fold clothes causes severe pain flares that last hours." Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is so helpful for navigating this confusing process!

As someone completely new to this community and Social Security planning, I've been absolutely fascinated following this entire discussion! I came here with very basic questions about when to start claiming benefits, and this thread has been like getting a PhD in retirement strategy. The revelation about survivor benefits essentially making early filing reductions "temporary" has completely changed my understanding. I always thought claiming early meant permanently accepting lower benefits forever - I had no idea that in the right circumstances, the surviving spouse would step up to the higher earner's full delayed amount regardless of when they originally filed. What really impresses me about this community is how the discussion evolved from Noah's initial question into covering so many interconnected aspects: earnings test calculations, tax optimization windows for Roth conversions, Medicare premium planning, and even the psychological challenges of accepting reduced payments. It shows how Social Security timing isn't just about maximizing one benefit, but optimizing an entire retirement financial strategy. The real-world experiences people shared - both positive outcomes and cautionary tales - give such valuable context beyond just the mathematical calculations. And the practical tips like using services to get through to SSA representatives and the 12-month "do-over" option are exactly the kind of insider knowledge that newcomers like me would never know to look for. For others just starting their Social Security research, this thread is a masterclass in understanding that these decisions require analyzing your complete financial picture, not just benefit amounts in isolation. Thank you to everyone who contributed - this community is an incredible resource!

As someone completely new to both this community and Social Security planning, I've been absolutely captivated by this entire discussion! I discovered this thread while researching claiming strategies for my own upcoming decisions, and it's been like receiving a comprehensive education in retirement planning. The biggest revelation for me was understanding how survivor benefits work - learning that early filing reductions can essentially become "temporary" when the surviving spouse steps up to the higher earner's full delayed benefit amount completely changed my perspective. I had always assumed that claiming early meant permanently accepting lower benefits, period. What amazes me most is how this discussion evolved from a straightforward claiming strategy question into covering so many interconnected factors: earnings test implications, tax optimization opportunities during gap years, Medicare premium considerations, and even the emotional aspects of these decisions. It really illustrates how Social Security timing affects every aspect of retirement planning. The mix of professional insights, real-world experiences, and practical tips (like the Claimyr service and the 12-month withdrawal option) provides exactly the kind of comprehensive guidance that newcomers like me need. The balance of success stories and cautionary tales gives important context beyond just mathematical calculations. For Noah's specific situation, the consensus around having his wife claim at 62 while he delays to 70 seems well-supported given their earnings gap and his goal to maximize survivor benefits. This strategy makes perfect sense once you understand all the moving pieces. Thank you to everyone who contributed to such an educational discussion - this community is proving to be an invaluable resource for navigating these complex but crucial financial decisions!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to express my gratitude for this incredibly thorough and helpful discussion! I've been struggling with the same confusion about spousal benefits, and this thread has been more informative than anything I could find on the SSA website or through their phone system. What really clarified things for me was understanding that there are essentially two different calculations at play: 1. Spousal benefits while both spouses are alive (based on PIA/FRA amount only) 2. Survivor benefits after one spouse passes (which DO include delayed retirement credits) I think this distinction is where much of the confusion comes from, and it's not explained clearly in most official materials. The real-world examples shared here, especially from Jacob Lee, really help illustrate how this plays out in practice. One thing I'm taking away is the importance of viewing Social Security strategy holistically rather than just focusing on maximizing current benefits. Even though delayed filing doesn't boost the spousal benefit now, it provides crucial protection for the surviving spouse later - which is actually a significant part of the value. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences. This community seems like a wonderful resource for navigating these complex decisions!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for this incredibly comprehensive discussion! I've been dealing with the same confusion about spousal benefits, and this thread has provided more clarity than months of trying to get straight answers from SSA. What really helped me understand was learning that spousal benefits are always calculated on the higher earner's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) - their benefit at full retirement age - regardless of when they actually claim. The delayed retirement credits that increase benefits from FRA to age 70 simply don't apply to spousal calculations while both spouses are alive. I was initially frustrated to learn this, thinking my spouse's strategy to delay until 70 wouldn't benefit me at all. But the discussion about survivor benefits completely changed my perspective. Those delayed credits WILL increase my potential survivor benefit if my spouse passes first, which provides important long-term financial security even if it doesn't boost my current spousal benefit. The real-world examples shared here, especially the actual dollar amounts, really helped make the abstract rules concrete. It's one thing to read about "50% of PIA minus your own benefit equals excess spousal benefit" - it's another to see how that plays out with real numbers. Thanks to everyone who took the time to explain these complex rules and share their experiences. This community is an invaluable resource for navigating Social Security decisions!