Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! Sounds like waiting those extra months after I retire in June will definitely be worth it for the permanent increase. I've decided to go ahead with my plan, but I now understand it's the number of months delayed that matters, not specifically waiting for my birthday. I'll probably file in January or February next year to get those extra delay credits.

Great decision, Freya! Just wanted to add one more consideration since you mentioned retiring in June but not filing until January/February - make sure you understand how this impacts your taxes. Those delay credits will increase your monthly benefit permanently, but remember that Social Security benefits can be taxable depending on your other income. Since you'll have earned income for part of 2025, it might be worth running the numbers with a tax professional to see if there's an optimal filing month from a tax perspective. Sometimes spreading the income across tax years can be beneficial. Good luck with your retirement!

This thread is a perfect example of why this community is so valuable! As someone who works in banking, I see customers panic about unexpected deposits all the time, and Giovanni's methodical approach here was exactly right - don't touch the money, seek official verification, and be aware of potential scams. The W2 correction scenario is actually quite common but most people don't realize it can trigger automatic SSA adjustments. I'm also impressed that the Claimyr service actually worked - we often recommend it to customers struggling with government agency hold times. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences, and especially to Giovanni for the detailed follow-up. This whole discussion will be incredibly helpful for anyone facing similar mysterious deposits!

As someone new to this community, I'm incredibly impressed by the depth of knowledge and supportiveness shown in this thread! Giovanni's situation really demonstrates how many different factors can lead to unexpected SSA deposits - from W2 corrections to potential scams to survivor benefits. What struck me most was the systematic approach everyone recommended: don't touch the money, verify through official channels, and be aware of fraud attempts. The Claimyr service recommendation seems like a game-changer for dealing with SSA hold times. I'm bookmarking this entire discussion as a reference guide. It's such a relief that everything worked out legitimately with the W2 correction - this whole thread will be invaluable for anyone facing similar mysterious deposits in the future. Thanks to everyone for sharing such practical, real-world insights!

After seeing your responses, I want to add: when you call back, specifically request to speak with someone in the SSI department who specializes in childhood disability claims. General representatives sometimes don't have specific training on these cases. For the expedited installment exception (to get the full backpay for medical equipment), you'll need: 1. Form SSA-5002 completed 2. Doctor's letter specifically stating what equipment is needed and why it's urgent 3. Cost estimate/invoice for the equipment 4. Statement explaining the hardship of waiting for installments Keep detailed notes of all conversations including the date, time, representative's name, and what was discussed. This documentation will be invaluable if there are further issues.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this confusion - unfortunately it's way too common with SSA representatives giving incorrect information. Just wanted to add that when you do call back, you might also want to ask about the "presumptive disability" rules that can sometimes apply to children. If your granddaughter's condition qualifies, you might be entitled to benefits going back even further than the application date (up to 3 months prior). Also, regarding the medical equipment - document EVERYTHING about what she needs and why the delays are harmful to her development/health. The more medical documentation you have showing urgency, the stronger your case for getting the full backpay amount upfront rather than in installments. Some conditions qualify for "compassionate allowances" which can expedite the whole process. You're doing an amazing job advocating for her - don't let one misinformed rep discourage you from getting what she's entitled to!

Just wanted to add one more important detail that might help with your planning - when SSA does the automatic recalculation after you work past FRA, they'll send you a notice called a "Social Security Benefit Adjustment Notice" explaining the change. Keep an eye out for it in your mail because it shows exactly how much your benefit increased and which earnings years were replaced. I saved mine because it's helpful documentation for tax planning. Also, if you're married and your spouse will receive spousal benefits based on your record, their benefit will increase proportionally too when your PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) goes up from the recalculation. Good luck with your strategy - it sounds like you're making all the right moves!

This thread has been incredibly informative! As someone who's 64 and planning a similar strategy, I wanted to share what I learned from my SSA appointment last month. The representative confirmed everything mentioned here - earnings continue counting toward your 35 highest years throughout your entire working life, not just until FRA. One thing that might help others: I asked specifically about the timing of recalculations, and they told me SSA typically processes these adjustments between October and December of the year after you earn the income. So if you work through 2025, expect any benefit increase to show up in late 2026. Also, for anyone worried about the website issues mentioned - you can request a paper Social Security Statement by calling 1-800-772-1213. It takes about 2-3 weeks to arrive but shows all your earnings history so you can verify everything is accurate before making your claiming decision. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - it's so much more helpful than trying to decode the official SSA publications!

I'm so sorry your mom went through this - these scams are absolutely heartbreaking and unfortunately very common. A few additional thoughts that might help: 1. Contact the fraud departments at Nordstrom Rack and Lowe's directly with the gift card numbers. While recovery is rare, some retailers can flag suspicious activity patterns and occasionally freeze unused balances. 2. Consider having your mom sign up for AARP's fraud prevention alerts or similar services - they send warnings about current scam tactics targeting seniors. 3. If the direct deposit change doesn't process in time, you can also ask SSA to temporarily stop direct deposit and issue a paper check to her new address instead. This might be faster than waiting for the bank routing to update. 4. Document everything with timestamps - police report numbers, SSA confirmation numbers, bank representative names. This creates a paper trail that's crucial if any other issues arise. The most important thing is that your mom is safe and you're taking action quickly. These scammers rely on shame and secrecy to keep victims from getting help, so you're already doing exactly the right thing by reaching out and taking immediate steps.

I'm really sorry to hear about what happened to your mother - these phone scams targeting seniors are unfortunately becoming more sophisticated every day. One thing that might help speed up the process: if your mom has any difficulty getting through to SSA by phone, she can also try calling her local SSA field office directly instead of the national number. The local office lines are sometimes less busy than 1-800-772-1213. You can find her local office number on the SSA website using her zip code. Also, since you mentioned she has mobility issues, many SSA offices offer priority service for elderly clients or those with disabilities. When she calls or visits, make sure to mention that she's 74 and that this is an urgent fraud-related situation - they may be able to expedite her case. If all else fails and the payment does go to the old account, don't panic. Banks are required to cooperate with Social Security payment redirections in fraud cases, so even if there's a delay, the funds can usually be recovered and redirected to her new account. Keep documenting everything and stay strong - you're handling this exactly right by acting quickly!