There's no specific SSA form for breaking down cross-month earnings. A simple typed or handwritten note attached to your wage report is sufficient. I recommend something like: "For pay period 5/26/25-6/8/25 (paid 6/15/25), earnings were earned as follows: $X.XX earned in May and $X.XX earned in June based on attached timesheet." Keep copies of everything you submit. And when you report through the my Social Security portal, take screenshots as proof of submission. One important point nobody has mentioned: After the 9-month TWP is complete, your son will enter the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE) for 36 months. During EPE, he can still receive SSDI benefits in any month he earns below Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level ($1,550/month for 2025). This is when precise tracking becomes even more important.

Thanks everyone for your helpful responses. It sounds like officially SSA counts when the money is EARNED, but in practice they often go by the pay period end date on the paystub unless there's a specific reason to look more closely at it. I'm going to: 1. Keep detailed records of which hours my son works on which days 2. Submit all paystubs promptly through his my Social Security account 3. Include notes explaining the breakdown for pay periods that cross months 4. Keep all timesheets as backup documentation It's frustrating that something seemingly so simple is actually so complicated! But I appreciate all your insights and experiences.

I can understand the confusion - there's a lot of misinformation floating around about Social Security calculations! Let me add some clarity from someone who went through this recently. I'm 63 and just went through the detailed benefit calculation process with SSA. Your earnings from 60 until your FRA absolutely DO count toward your highest 35 years. The key difference people get confused about is the "indexing" - earnings before age 60 get adjusted upward for wage inflation, while earnings at 60+ are used at their actual dollar amount. But here's the important part: if your current $78,000 salary is higher than some of your earlier years (even after those earlier years are indexed for inflation), then yes, these recent years will boost your benefit calculation by replacing lower-earning years. I'd strongly recommend logging into your my.ssa.gov account to see your complete earnings history and get an updated benefit estimate. It shows exactly which years are being used in your top 35 calculation. In my case, my earnings from ages 60-63 replaced several low-earning years from my twenties, increasing my projected monthly benefit by about $200. Don't let the misinformation discourage you from working until your FRA if that's your plan - those higher-earning years can really pay off in retirement!

I'm so glad to see this question being asked! I just turned 62 and have been getting conflicting advice from friends and family about this exact issue. My financial advisor told me to keep working because my recent earnings would help boost my Social Security benefits, but my brother-in-law (who retired early) kept insisting that only earnings before 60 "really count." Reading through all these responses has been incredibly educational. It sounds like the key takeaway is that ALL earnings can potentially be part of your highest 35 years calculation, regardless of when you earned them. The indexing difference for pre-60 vs. post-60 earnings doesn't mean the later years count less - it's just a different method of calculation. I'm in a similar situation to the original poster - earning more now than I did in my earlier career years. I think I'll follow the advice here and check my earnings record on my.ssa.gov to see exactly where I stand. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences and clearing up the confusion!

Update: My sister called SSA this morning (took almost 2 hours to get through). The representative confirmed that they haven't fully processed her divorced spouse benefit yet! Apparently, they processed her retirement claim first and are still working on the divorced spouse portion. They said it could take another 4-6 weeks to process, but she will receive backpay for the difference once it's done. Thank you everyone for your help! This forum saved her a lot of anxiety.

That's such great news! I'm so glad she was able to get through and get a clear answer. It's really helpful that you shared the update - I'm sure other people going through similar situations will benefit from knowing that this processing delay is normal and that backpay will be included. Four to six weeks seems like a long time to wait, but at least now she knows what to expect. Thanks for following up with the resolution!

Based on all the information and corrections, here's a summary of your optimal strategy: 1. Apply now but specify January 2025 as your benefit start month 2. Make sure to apply for both your retirement benefit and the spousal benefit simultaneously 3. Your March-May earnings ($10,500) are well below the pre-FRA limit, so no benefits will be withheld 4. The permanent reduction for starting 5 months early is minimal ($52/month) compared to receiving 5 extra months of payments 5. After June 2025 (your FRA), you can earn unlimited amounts without affecting your benefits Taking benefits in January 2025 appears to be the mathematically optimal choice in your specific situation.

Congratulations on doing your homework before making this decision! As a newcomer to this community, I've been reading through all the helpful responses here. One thing I'd add that might be worth considering - when you apply online, make sure to print or save copies of everything you submit. I've heard from friends that having documentation can be really helpful if any questions come up later about your application or benefit calculations. Also, after you submit your application, you should receive a confirmation letter from SSA within a few weeks confirming your benefit amounts and start date. Good luck with your application!

Does anyone know if they do these AERO adjustments for SSDI too or just retirement? My son is on disability and had some earnings in 2023 (under SGA limits).

As someone who just went through this process myself, I can confirm everything others have said about the October AERO timing. One thing I'd add - when you get your adjustment letter, keep it for your records! The letter will break down exactly how your new benefit was calculated and show which year got replaced in your earnings record. It's really helpful to understand how SSA determines your benefit amount. Also, don't be surprised if the retroactive payment takes a few extra weeks to arrive after your regular benefit gets adjusted - they process them separately.