One thing to know is that withholding changes can actually be made a few different ways: 1. You can submit a W-4V form by mail or at a local office 2. You can request the change through your MySocialSecurity account online 3. A legal garnishment order can be applied (tax levy, child support, etc.) 4. Medicare premium changes can affect your net payment If someone accessed your online account, definitely report that as potential identity theft. SSA can see the IP address of whoever made the change. If it was a simple mistake, they can usually fix it within one payment cycle. Please update us when you get this resolved! It would help others who might face the same issue.

Wow, I'm so glad you got this resolved Grace! This is exactly why I always tell people not to give up when dealing with SSA - these administrative mix-ups happen more often than they should. It's honestly pretty concerning that they can accidentally apply one person's withholding request to someone else's account just because of similar names or numbers. Makes me wonder how often this happens without people noticing right away. Thank you for following up with the resolution - it's really helpful to know that local offices can fix these errors and get the money returned relatively quickly. I'm definitely saving this thread in case I ever run into something similar!

my dad just went thru this! he said make sure you tell them you reached FRA when you call because sometimes the customer service people get confused about which rule applies to you. he had to call back 3 times to get someone who understood the rule correctly lol

I'm in a very similar situation! I reach my FRA in July 2025 and have been worried about the same thing. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea the earnings test only applied to the months before FRA rather than the entire year. One thing I'm curious about - for those who've been through this process, do you need to proactively notify Social Security about your earnings timeline, or do they automatically figure it out based on when you file and your reported income? I want to make sure I don't get caught up in any administrative mix-ups like some folks mentioned here. Also, has anyone dealt with self-employment income in this situation? I have both W-2 wages and some 1099 income, so I'm wondering if the timing gets more complicated when part of your pre-FRA earnings come from self-employment.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm in a similar situation - lost my husband at 64 two years ago and I'm now 59. I've been researching this exact strategy and wanted to share what I've learned from meeting with SSA and a financial planner. The key thing I discovered is that even if most of your survivor benefit gets withheld due to the earnings test, you're still establishing your "benefit start date" at 60. This matters because any benefits withheld get added back to your monthly payment once you hit your FRA, essentially giving you a permanent increase. Also, make sure to factor in Medicare timing. If you're planning to work until 65, you'll want to coordinate when to apply for Medicare Part A (which is automatic if you're receiving SS benefits) versus staying on your employer's health plan. One practical tip: I set up a my Social Security account online and requested my benefit estimates there. Much easier than calling! The survivor benefit estimate tool is pretty accurate once you input your husband's earnings record. Have you thought about doing a "practice run" with reduced hours when you turn 60 to see how the earnings test affects you in real time? That's what I'm considering.

I'm really sorry for your loss. I went through something very similar when my wife passed at 58 and I was 61. Just wanted to share a few things I learned that might help: First, definitely apply for the survivor benefits at 60 even if you're working. Yes, the earnings test will reduce what you receive, but like others mentioned, those "lost" benefits aren't really lost - they get added back to your monthly amount when you reach FRA. Plus you're locking in your filing date which matters for the calculations. One thing I wish I'd known earlier - you can actually withdraw your application within 12 months if you change your mind about the strategy. It's called a "withdrawal of application" and you'd have to pay back what you received, but it gives you flexibility if your work situation changes. Also, don't forget about the lump sum death benefit ($255) if you haven't claimed it yet. It's not much but every bit helps during this difficult time. The online tools at ssa.gov have gotten much better in recent years. The benefit calculators there gave me pretty accurate estimates, and you can model different scenarios without having to call and wait on hold for hours. Hang in there - navigating all this paperwork and financial planning while grieving is exhausting, but you're asking all the right questions.

To give you complete peace of mind, call the Medicare Coordination of Benefits Contractor at 1-855-798-2627 to record that you have employer coverage as your primary insurance. This helps prevent claim processing errors. Also, keep documentation from your employer proving your continuous health coverage for when you eventually do enroll in Part B. This documentation will exempt you from late enrollment penalties when you fully retire.

wait i just realized something do you have a health savings account HSA with your work plan?? if you do, once you have ANY medicare (even just part A) you CANNOT contribute to HSA anymore!!! found this out hardway

I'm so sorry you're going through this - job loss at our age is incredibly stressful, especially when you're trying to navigate all these interconnected systems. I was in a similar situation when I was laid off at 63 last year. From my experience and research, here's what I'd recommend for your specific situation: 1. **Apply for unemployment immediately** - You're entitled to this and it provides immediate income while you figure out the SS timing. 2. **The severance timing doesn't matter for SS purposes** - Severance is a one-time payment that doesn't count toward the earnings test, so you don't need to wait for it to clear before filing for Social Security. 3. **Consider the "bridge strategy"** - Use unemployment benefits (26 weeks) to delay your SS filing by a few months. Each month you wait increases your benefit amount slightly, and since it's permanent, even a small increase adds up over your lifetime. 4. **Be aware of spousal benefit implications** - Since your husband is still working and typically earned more, make sure you understand how claiming now might affect your future spousal benefit options due to deemed filing rules. 5. **Look into your state's rules** - Some states reduce unemployment if you're collecting SS, and states have different rules about how severance affects unemployment eligibility. The hardest part is that there's no single "right" answer - it depends on your financial needs, health, and long-term plans. But you have good options, and taking unemployment first gives you breathing room to make the SS decision thoughtfully. You've got this! The initial overwhelm is normal, but once you start taking action, it gets much more manageable.

I'm really sorry to hear about your situation - being laid off at 64 is such a difficult position to be in, especially when you're trying to coordinate all these different benefit systems. I went through something very similar when I was laid off at 65 last year, and I wanted to share what I learned about the coordination between unemployment, severance, and Social Security. First, you're absolutely right to apply for unemployment immediately. That's income you're entitled to and it gives you breathing room to make the other decisions without feeling rushed. Regarding your severance timing question - you don't need to worry about when it hits your account relative to filing for SS. Severance is considered a one-time payment and doesn't count toward the Social Security earnings test. Only ongoing wages from actual work count toward that $21,240 limit for 2025. One thing that really helped me was using the SSA's benefit calculator on their website to see exactly how much my monthly benefit would increase for each month I delayed filing. At 64 and 5 months, you're looking at roughly a 13% permanent reduction from your full retirement age amount. Each month you wait increases that benefit slightly - and it's permanent for life. The unemployment benefits can serve as a bridge while your SS benefit grows. Since unemployment in most states lasts 26 weeks, that gives you about 6 months to let your benefit amount increase before you need to make the filing decision. Just make sure to check your state's specific rules about collecting unemployment and SS simultaneously - most allow it, but a few have restrictions. One more consideration: since your husband is still working and younger, definitely look into the spousal benefit implications before you file. The deemed filing rules can affect your future options there. You're dealing with a lot right now, but taking it one step at a time makes it much more manageable. Start with unemployment, then you'll have space to make the SS decision thoughtfully.