My aunt went thru something similar with federal workers comp after my uncle died. The WC people kept talking about "retirement age" but what they really meant was that the CALCULATION for the offset changes, not that your benefits automatically switch to something else. Its super confusing and the WC people dont explain it very well!!! Your survivor benefits keep going as long as you dont remarry (at least that was true for my aunt).

I'm in a similar situation but just starting this process - my husband was also a federal employee who passed from work-related injuries. I'm not yet at the age to collect survivor benefits, but reading through all these responses is really eye-opening about how complicated the interaction between Workers' Comp and Social Security can be. It sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) Survivor benefits don't automatically convert to retirement benefits at any age, 2) The Workers' Comp offset calculation method changes at retirement eligibility age (not the benefits themselves), and 3) Getting everything in writing from both SSA and OWCP is crucial because phone representatives often give inconsistent information. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world insight that's so hard to find elsewhere. I'm going to save this thread to reference when I get closer to filing for my benefits.

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at SSA! The $150 was indeed a one-time adjustment related to my earnings record from 2023. Apparently when they processed my tax return information, they found I was eligible for a slightly higher benefit for part of the year. My husband didn't get one because his benefit amount wasn't affected by the earnings update. Mystery solved! And yes, my regular payment came through on schedule too. Thanks everyone for your help!

Thanks for sharing the update! This is really helpful information for others who might experience the same thing. I'm dealing with a similar situation with my elderly mother's benefits - she got an unexpected payment last month and we've been trying to figure out what it was for. Based on your experience, I'll suggest she check if it might be related to her 2023 tax information. It's reassuring to know these adjustments do happen and aren't necessarily errors. Glad you were able to get through to someone at SSA - that's half the battle these days!

Great advice from everyone here! I went through something similar when I was 64. One thing I'd add - when you call SSA to report your expected earnings, ask them to put you on "voluntary suspension" if your projected overage is significant. This way instead of them withholding sporadically throughout the year (which can mess with your monthly budget), you can choose to have them suspend benefits for specific months when you know your income will be highest. Then restart them when your business slows down. Also, keep detailed records of ALL your business expenses because they DO matter for the net income calculation. Things like equipment purchases, office supplies, travel costs, etc. can really add up and reduce your net self-employment income for SSA purposes. The recalculation at FRA is real - I saw my monthly benefit increase by about $47/month once I hit my full retirement age to account for the 4 months they had completely withheld benefits when I was 64. Not a huge amount but definitely helped!

I'm glad this thread has been so helpful! As someone who went through this exact situation at 63, I wanted to add a few more practical tips: 1. **Timing matters for self-employment income** - SSA counts the income when you actually receive it, not when you earn it. So if you invoice in December but get paid in January, that counts toward the next year's earnings limit. 2. **Quarterly estimated taxes can help you track** - If you're paying quarterly estimates for your business income, those calculations can give you a good running total of your net self-employment income throughout the year. 3. **The SSA-7011 form** - If you do end up with significant earnings over the limit, SSA may send you this form to report your annual earnings. It's much easier to complete if you've been tracking your net income monthly. 4. **Don't forget about the "grace year"** - In your first year of retirement (which was last year for you), there's a monthly earnings test instead of the annual test. But since you're in your second year now, you're subject to the annual limit. The peace of mind knowing this is temporary and not permanent is huge. I was losing sleep over it until I got clarity from SSA directly!

I went through this exact same process last year! Applied online in August for September benefits, and like you, heard absolutely nothing for weeks. The silence was nerve-wracking, but my first payment showed up right on schedule in October on the third Wednesday (my birthday is the 15th). The online portal never updated either - it just said "pending" until suddenly one day it switched to showing my payment history. Since your situation sounds straightforward and you already set up direct deposit, I'd expect your November payment to arrive without any drama. The SSA's communication is terrible, but their payment system is actually pretty reliable once everything is processed. Try not to stress too much - no news really is good news with them!

Just wanted to add that if you're really anxious about the status, you can also try visiting your local SSA office if there's one nearby. I know calling is a nightmare with the wait times, but sometimes the in-person folks can give you a quick status update without the phone hassle. I did this for my mom's application and they were able to confirm everything was processing normally even though the online portal hadn't updated. Just bring a photo ID and your confirmation number from when you applied. Worth considering if you need peace of mind before that November payment date!

That sounds like a solid plan! The dual approach is probably your best bet given all the mixed experiences here. Just one additional tip - when you do follow up by phone, have your certified mail tracking number handy so you can reference exactly when they received your letter. That usually helps the phone rep locate your request in their system faster. Also, if you end up using Claimyr or getting through on your own, ask the agent to give you a confirmation number for the suspension processing - that way you'll have something concrete to reference if any issues come up later. Good luck with the process, and definitely do update us on how it goes!

I just went through this process myself about 6 months ago! I ended up doing exactly what you're planning - sent the letter first, then called to follow up. One thing I'd add to the excellent advice already given: when you write your letter, also include a statement about whether you want to suspend spousal benefits too (if applicable). I forgot to mention this and had to send a second letter because my spouse was getting benefits on my record. Also, keep in mind that Medicare premiums will still be deducted from your Social Security even during suspension, so you'll need to arrange direct billing with Medicare if you don't have other income to cover those premiums. The whole process took about 5 weeks from start to finish for me, but having that paper trail really helped when I had questions later.