If you want to be absolutely certain, you can request a formal determination from SSA. Ask specifically about how your OPERS lump sum distribution impacts the earnings test. Get the response in writing. This protects you if there's ever a question later, as SSA is bound by their formal determination even if it was incorrect (assuming you provided accurate information). For what it's worth, I've handled dozens of cases like yours, and pension distributions are NOT counted as earned income for the earnings test.

I went through something very similar with my state pension system (PERS) a few years ago. The key thing to understand is that OPERS distributions are NOT wages - they're pension payments from contributions you and your employer made during your working years. SSA is very clear that only wages and self-employment income count toward the earnings test. Since you're so close to FRA (congratulations on almost making it!), even in the unlikely event there was some confusion, you'd only be looking at a potential issue for about 3 weeks. But honestly, based on everything I've seen and experienced, you have nothing to worry about. One tip: when you do get through to SSA, ask them specifically about "pension distributions vs. wages for earnings test purposes" - using their exact terminology helps ensure you get the right answer. Keep records of your OPERS statement showing it was a pension distribution, not wages. You've got this! Just a few more weeks until that earnings test is behind you forever!

Perfect, thanks again! I feel much better understanding how this works now. I appreciate everyone taking time to explain.

One thing that might help your ex-wife plan ahead is knowing that she can get an estimate of her potential benefits through her my Social Security account on ssa.gov. The system will show her both her own retirement benefit estimate and what she could potentially receive as a divorced spouse benefit based on your record (once you're eligible). This can help her make an informed decision about when to claim. Also, if she does remarry in the future, she would lose the ability to claim on your record, but she could then potentially claim on her new spouse's record instead if that marriage lasts at least 10 years.

As someone who went through a similar earnings limit situation last year, I want to reassure you that this is more common than you think and SSA has processes in place to handle it. The key is persistence and documentation. A few practical suggestions: Try calling the SSA number at exactly 8:00 AM when they open - I found Tuesday and Wednesday mornings tend to have slightly lower call volumes. If you still can't get through, consider sending a certified letter to your local office with your SSN, explanation of the situation, and copies of your pay stubs showing the increased earnings. You mentioned setting aside benefit payments - that's actually smart. While they likely won't demand everything back at once, having some funds available gives you peace of mind. Based on your $5,800 overage, expect roughly a $241/month reduction in future benefits rather than a complete stoppage. Most importantly, the fact that you're proactively trying to report this works heavily in your favor. SSA agents appreciate when beneficiaries are upfront about changes rather than waiting for them to discover it during their annual wage matching process. Keep that documentation log you're creating - it will be invaluable if any issues arise later!

I went through something very similar last year when my part-time work income unexpectedly increased. The anxiety is completely understandable, but try not to panic! A few things that helped me: First, I had success getting through to SSA by calling right at 8:00 AM on a Tuesday - the wait was still about 45 minutes but much better than the 2+ hours later in the day. Second, while waiting to get through, I documented everything - dates I called, screenshots of my online messages, copies of my pay stubs showing the increased earnings. When I finally spoke to an agent, they were actually very helpful and understanding. They calculated that my benefits would be reduced by about $200/month for the remainder of the year rather than stopping them completely. Since you're $5,800 over the $23,400 limit, your situation sounds very similar to mine. The agent also told me that proactive reporting (which you're doing) always works in your favor if there are any complications later. Keep trying to reach them, but know that this is a manageable situation that happens to thousands of people every year. You're doing everything right by trying to report it promptly!

Since your friend's husband hadn't started benefits yet, she should definitely understand the "deemed filing" rules don't apply to survivor benefits. This means she could potentially take reduced survivor benefits now at 62 and then switch to her own retirement benefit at 70 if it would be higher (or vice versa - take her reduced retirement now and switch to full survivor benefits at her full retirement age). This is one of the few remaining ways to use a "claim now, claim more later" strategy since the 2015 rule changes. The chart should help explain this, but it might be worth her consulting with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security to run the numbers for her specific situation.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm a widow myself (lost my husband 18 months ago) and I wish I had found that flowchart back then. I made some mistakes early on because I didn't understand all my options. Just wanted to add a few things that might help your friend: 1. She should definitely apply for the $255 death benefit if she hasn't already - it's a one-time payment but every bit helps during this difficult time. 2. If she's working, there are earnings limits that could affect her survivor benefits before her full retirement age (but NOT after FRA). 3. The Social Security office will want to see the death certificate, so make sure she has certified copies. 4. Don't let anyone pressure her into making quick decisions about when to claim - she has time to figure out the best strategy for her situation. The grief makes everything so much harder to process, so having visual aids like that flowchart really does help. Sending good thoughts to your friend during this tough time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Hannah. Losing your husband so young and having to navigate these complex Social Security rules while grieving is incredibly challenging. Everyone here has given you solid advice about the earnings test - with your $53K income, you'd definitely lose most of your widow benefit if you claim at 62. The 2025 earnings limit is around $23,040, so you'd be looking at losing about $15,000 in benefits annually. One thing I want to emphasize that others have touched on: your husband's benefit at 69 is significantly higher than what it would have been at his FRA of 66. Those delayed retirement credits from 66-69 add up to about 24% extra - that's a substantial amount that you don't want to leave on the table. Here's something practical that might help: before making any decisions, try to get a Social Security statement for both you and your husband (you'll need his death certificate and your marriage certificate). This will show you exactly what his benefit was worth at 69 and what yours would be at different claiming ages. Having those real numbers makes the decision much clearer. Given your situation, waiting until 67 to claim the widow benefit seems like the smartest financial move, even though I know waiting 5 years feels daunting right now. You can keep working without penalty and get 100% of what your husband earned with his delayed credits. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

Hannah, I'm deeply sorry for your loss. Losing your spouse at such a young age while navigating these complex benefit rules is truly overwhelming. Based on what you've shared, I want to reinforce what others have said about your husband's benefit amount - since he passed at 69, you'd receive what he would have gotten with ALL his delayed retirement credits from age 66-69. That's roughly 32% more than his full retirement age benefit (8% per year for 3 years plus the 8% he would have earned from 69-70). This is a significant amount that makes the waiting strategy even more worthwhile. However, with your $53K income, you're correct that the earnings test would be brutal. You'd lose about $1 for every $2 over the ~$23K limit, which could wipe out most of your benefit. One strategy to consider: you mentioned you're 62 now and your FRA is 67. Could you potentially reduce your work hours or income as you get closer to 67? Even dropping below the earnings limit for just the final year or two before your FRA could allow you to claim some benefits while still avoiding the full impact. But honestly, given the substantial amount you'd receive at 67 with no earnings test, waiting seems like the most financially sound approach. Just make sure to get those exact benefit calculations from SSA so you can see the real dollar impact of your decision. You're handling an incredibly difficult situation with great thoughtfulness.