i think im the only 1 that actually filed early n was happy with it lol. i took mine 3 months b4 FRA and just stopped working completely. got a smaller check but started enjoying retirement sooner. no regrets!! sometimes the $$ isnt everything, time is valuable 2!

As someone who went through a similar decision last year, I'd strongly recommend waiting until May. I initially considered filing early while still working, but after running the numbers and talking to SSA, it became clear that the earnings test would likely wipe out most or all of my benefits anyway. The key thing to remember is that with your income level ($5,800/month), you're significantly over the earnings limit. Not only would you face benefit withholding, but you'd also be permanently reducing your monthly payment by $139 - which as others have pointed out, adds up to a substantial amount over time. I ended up waiting until my FRA and it was definitely the right call. No hassle with earnings tests, no reduced benefits, and no confusing paperwork from SSA about overpayments. Sometimes the simpler path really is the better one!

Just wanted to add one important point that might help others reading this thread - when you're on SSDI and your spouse files for retirement benefits, the SSA is supposed to automatically check if you're eligible for additional spousal benefits. However, this doesn't always happen seamlessly, so it's worth calling to confirm they've done this evaluation. Also, if your husband delays his retirement past his FRA to get delayed retirement credits (which increase his benefit by 8% per year until age 70), this doesn't affect your potential spousal benefit calculation since that's based on his Primary Insurance Amount at FRA, not his actual increased benefit amount. Good luck getting through to SSA - the wait times have been terrible lately!

I went through something very similar when my wife started collecting SSDI and I reached my FRA. One thing that helped us was understanding that even though she wouldn't get additional spousal benefits (her SSDI was already higher than 50% of my PIA), we still benefited from having both our benefits coming in. Also, don't forget to consider the tax implications - depending on your combined income, some of your Social Security benefits might become taxable. It's worth speaking with a tax professional if your total household income is getting close to the thresholds. The survivor benefit situation that others mentioned is definitely something to keep in mind for long-term planning. Hope you're able to get through to SSA soon - maybe try calling right when they open at 8 AM, that sometimes helps with the wait times.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm finding this discussion incredibly valuable! I'm 64 and was born in 1960, so like the original poster, my FRA is 67. I've been putting off this decision but need to start planning seriously. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the impact of state taxes on Social Security benefits. While we've talked about federal taxes (up to 85% of benefits can be taxable), some states don't tax Social Security at all, while others do. If you're considering relocating in retirement or working remotely, this could be another factor in your timing decision. Also, I wanted to ask - does anyone know if there are any recent changes to these rules or earnings limits due to inflation adjustments? With everything changing so rapidly economically, I want to make sure I'm working with the most current information. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences here - it's really helping me think through my own situation!

As someone who just went through this exact decision process last year (born in 1959, so my FRA was 66 and 10 months), I can confirm what others have said - once you reach your FRA of 67, you can absolutely work full-time and earn $85k with zero penalty to your Social Security benefits! I was in a similar boat - still working and earning good money but wanted to start collecting. The key thing that helped me decide was running the numbers on the "opportunity cost" of waiting. Yes, you get 8% more per year if you wait until 70, but that's 8% of your base benefit amount. For me, three years of collecting benefits at FRA actually came out ahead in total dollars received until I'd be about 82-83 years old. One practical tip: when you do file, you can choose to have federal taxes withheld from your Social Security payments (10%, 12%, 22%, or 24%). Given your income level, you'll definitely want some withholding since up to 85% of your benefits will be taxable. I chose 22% withholding and it's worked out well for avoiding a big tax surprise. Also, don't forget that your Social Security benefit will continue to get annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) regardless of when you start collecting. Last year's 3.2% COLA and this year's 2.5% really add up over time! The peace of mind of having that monthly payment coming in while still working has been worth it for me, even knowing I'm not getting the absolute maximum possible benefit.

One more important thing to note - when your husband passes away, you should not cash or deposit his final Social Security payment if it arrives after his death. That payment will need to be returned to SSA. They will then issue the correct payment based on the date of death. This is a common point of confusion that can lead to overpayment issues later.

As someone who has worked with many families going through this transition, I want to emphasize a few key points that haven't been mentioned yet. First, make sure you keep detailed records of all communications with SSA - dates, names of representatives you spoke with, and case numbers. This becomes invaluable if there are any delays or discrepancies. Second, consider having multiple copies of the death certificate ready, as you'll need certified copies for various agencies and financial institutions beyond just SSA. Finally, if you have any direct deposit information that needs updating or if you want payments sent to a different account, bring that banking information with you when you apply for survivor benefits. The last thing you want to worry about during a difficult time is payment logistics. Planning these details now while you have the mental bandwidth will make the process much smoother later.

UPDATE: I followed everyone's advice and used Claimyr to reach a Social Security rep yesterday. The rep confirmed we need to file the SSA-795 form requesting recalculation due to the WEP repeal. She said we should include: 1. A statement requesting recalculation due to WEP repeal 2. My husband's most recent OPERS benefit statement 3. A copy of his W-2s showing years of substantial earnings She estimated it would take 10-12 weeks for processing but said the backpay would include all months from January 2024. Based on our rough calculation, he should get around $8,550 in backpay plus an additional $475 monthly going forward. Thank you all for your help! I'll post another update once we get the adjustment.

As someone new to this community, I just want to say thank you all for sharing such detailed information! My mom is in a similar situation - she was a teacher for 30 years and has been getting reduced SS benefits due to WEP. We had no idea we needed to file paperwork to get the adjustment after the repeal. Reading through all your experiences has been incredibly helpful. We're going to try the Claimyr service to get through to Social Security and request the SSA-795 form. It's frustrating that SSA isn't being more proactive about notifying people, but at least now we know what steps to take. Will definitely follow up once we hear back from them!