Thanks for all the helpful responses everyone. I've shown my wife this thread and she now understands how the delayed retirement credits work. We've decided she'll file in April 2025 as planned, and now she's not worried about missing out on any increases. Really appreciate the clear explanations!

Just want to add another perspective here - I work as a benefits counselor and see this confusion ALL the time. The key thing to remember is that Social Security calculates your benefit based on the exact month you start receiving payments. So if your wife files in April 2025, her benefit will include all the DRCs she's earned through that month. There's no "magic date" where you suddenly get a big jump - it's truly incremental each month. One tip: when she does file, make sure to ask for her benefit estimate in writing so you can verify the DRC calculation is correct. I've seen cases where the initial calculation had errors that needed to be corrected.

Thanks to everyone for all the helpful advice! I spoke with SSA yesterday (and yes, I did use Claimyr to get through quickly). The agent confirmed everything about the ABLE account and helped me understand exactly how my daughter's earnings will affect her SSI payment. I'm relieved to know she can save for her future while still maintaining some benefits and especially keeping her Medicaid. We're setting up the ABLE account this weekend, and I've started documenting all her hearing-related work expenses for those IRWE deductions. The agent said her benefits will decrease some, but with the combination of part-time work and reduced SSI, she'll actually have more monthly income overall, which is wonderful. Thanks again for helping us navigate this complicated system!

That's wonderful news! It sounds like you've got a great plan in place. Your daughter is so lucky to have an advocate like you helping her navigate this system. The fact that she'll end up with more monthly income overall while keeping Medicaid is exactly what the work incentive programs are designed to achieve. One small tip for the ABLE account - many programs offer automatic investment options if you're not comfortable managing investments yourself. Ohio's STABLE Account has some really user-friendly options for beginners. Best of luck to your daughter with her new job! It's great to see someone successfully transitioning to work while maintaining the safety net of benefits. Stories like yours give hope to other families in similar situations.

make sure u bring up retroactive benefits in ur call!!!! SSA doesnt always tell u about this unless u ask. if u wait til 70 u can actually get up to 6 months of retroactive benefits if u want them

Just wanted to add that you should also ask the SSA representative during your November call to confirm your earnings record is complete and accurate. Since you're self-employed, sometimes there can be delays in reporting that might affect your benefit calculation. They can pull up your earnings history during the call and verify everything looks correct for maximizing your age 70 benefit. Better to catch any issues now rather than after you start receiving payments!

After reading through this thread, I think your best approach is: 1. First, consult with a business attorney who understands SS issues OR a CPA with business restructuring experience 2. Document legitimate business reasons for the change (succession planning, health issues you mentioned) 3. Create clear differences in your new contractor role versus your current owner role 4. Implement changes at least 6 months before filing for benefits to establish a pattern 5. Then use the Claimyr service others mentioned to reach SSA efficiently to confirm your specific situation Keep in mind the earnings test isn't just about W-2 income - net earnings from self-employment count too. Given the complexity here, professional guidance is absolutely worth the investment.

As someone who's been through the Social Security maze, I'd strongly recommend getting everything documented BEFORE you make any changes. The SSA looks very carefully at timing when business structures change right before benefit applications. One thing I haven't seen mentioned - make sure you understand how the spousal benefit calculations might be affected too. If your husband is younger and will be claiming later, there could be strategic considerations about when each of you files that a good retirement planner can help optimize. Also, keep detailed records of your current work split (50/50 as you mentioned) and how that will genuinely change after the transfer. The more documentation you have showing this is a real business evolution rather than just a benefits strategy, the better position you'll be in if questions arise later. The professional consultation fees are definitely worth it to avoid potential overpayment issues down the road!

Also if you end up having to go to the office bring WATER AND SNACKS!! Trust me, we were there for almost 3 hours total and they don't even have a vending machine in the waiting area. And charge your phone fully!

I went through this same nightmare with my grandmother last year! Here's what finally worked: I called the SSA office directly (not the main 1-800 number) and explained it was for tax purposes with a tight deadline. They were able to schedule a same-day "emergency" appointment. Bring your mom's ID, your ID, the power of attorney paperwork, and any recent bank statements showing her SS deposits. The local office staff were actually super helpful once we got past the phone system. Also pro tip: if you go the bank statement route that others mentioned, make sure to add back in not just Medicare premiums but also any voluntary tax withholdings - those show up on the 1099 but not in the direct deposit amount.