I've been on SSDI for about 3 years and went through this exact situation when I started plasma donation last year. Like everyone else has confirmed, plasma donation payments are classified as unearned income because you're being compensated for biological material, not performing work services. What really put my mind at ease was calling SSA directly and getting official confirmation that these payments don't count toward the SGA limit for SSDI recipients. The representative I spoke with said they see this question fairly often and it's totally fine as long as you're transparent about it. I've been keeping a simple tracking system - just a notebook with dates, amounts, and which center I donated at. When my continuing disability review came up a few months ago, I mentioned the plasma donations proactively and the examiner said it was good that I reported it but confirmed it has zero impact on my SSDI eligibility or payment amount. One practical tip - make sure you're eating well and staying hydrated before donations, especially if you're dealing with health issues. I learned to schedule donations on days when I don't have other appointments since I tend to feel a bit tired afterward. The extra $400-500 per month has been incredibly helpful for medication copays and other medical expenses that my fixed benefit doesn't fully cover. You're being really smart by asking about this upfront and planning to document everything carefully!

I'm new to this community and have been on SSDI for about 6 months. Reading through this entire discussion has been incredibly eye-opening - I had no idea about the distinction between earned and unearned income when it comes to plasma donation! Like many others here, I've been struggling to make my fixed benefit stretch to cover all my medical expenses and basic necessities. The idea of earning an extra $400-600 per month through plasma donation is really appealing, but I was terrified it might jeopardize my benefits. What gives me so much confidence now is seeing how consistent everyone's experiences have been - multiple people confirming that plasma donations are classified as unearned income since you're being compensated for biological material rather than performing work services. And hearing from folks who've actually been through continuing disability reviews while donating plasma is incredibly reassuring. I'm taking notes on all the documentation strategies people have shared - keeping receipts, tracking dates and amounts, taking photos of debit card balances. It's clear that being organized and transparent is the way to go, even though these payments won't actually affect SSDI eligibility. @Emma Wilson - thank you so much for having the courage to ask this question! You've helped so many people in similar situations get the clarity we needed. I'm planning to start plasma donation next month, starting with once a week like several people recommended. This community is amazing!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now and wanted to share what I've learned so far! I'm 61 and will be turning 62 in a few months, divorced for 8 years from my ex who was in tech while I worked as a part-time librarian for most of our 14-year marriage. Reading through all these experiences has been so incredibly helpful - especially hearing from other teachers and part-time workers who were married to higher earners. It's given me so much hope that the divorced spouse benefit might be significantly higher than my own. One thing I wanted to add that I discovered during my research: if you're still working part-time after claiming at 62, make sure you understand the earnings test limits. For 2025, you can earn up to $23,400 without any reduction in benefits, but they'll reduce your benefits by $1 for every $2 you earn above that limit until you reach full retirement age. I'm planning to use the Claimyr service that was mentioned earlier since I've had terrible luck getting through to SSA on my own. Has anyone else tried it recently? I'm curious if it's still working well with the current phone system issues. Thank you all for sharing such detailed and practical advice - this thread has been a goldmine of information for people in our situation!

I'm in a very similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm 61, divorced for 9 years after a 16-year marriage to someone who earned significantly more than me throughout our marriage. I worked part-time in retail while he was in finance. One thing I wanted to add based on my recent research - if you're considering waiting until full retirement age vs. claiming at 62, it's worth calculating not just the monthly difference but the total amount you'd receive over your lifetime. Sometimes the "breakeven" point where waiting pays off is further out than you might expect, especially if you have health concerns or other factors that might affect your life expectancy. I also discovered that some local libraries and senior centers offer free Social Security workshops or one-on-one counseling sessions with trained volunteers. I attended one last month and it was incredibly helpful for understanding all the nuances of divorced spouse benefits. The counselor helped me map out different scenarios and really understand the trade-offs. For those still struggling to get through to SSA, another option is to schedule an in-person appointment at your local office. I know it's not as convenient as a phone call, but sometimes seeing someone face-to-face can be worth it for such an important decision. You can schedule appointments online through the SSA website. Thank you to everyone who's shared their experiences - it's so reassuring to know we're not alone in navigating this complex system!

As someone who's turning 61 next month and has been wrestling with these exact questions about early retirement planning, this thread has been an absolute lifesaver! I had no idea about the distinction between Social Security benefits and Medicare enrollment - I was completely confused thinking they were automatically linked. The comprehensive guidance everyone has shared here is incredible. I'm especially grateful for the specific timing strategies (that 6-7 month buffer before 65), the documentation requirements (getting SSA confirmation of no Medicare enrollment), and all the practical implementation details like checking payroll processing delays with HR. What really stands out to me is how this community has created something better than any official government resource - you've combined the technical rules with real-world experiences and professional insights that actually help people avoid costly mistakes. The IRS Publication 969 recommendation, the AARP counseling tip, and that crucial "last month rule" detail about December 1st eligibility are exactly the kinds of specifics that make all the difference. I'm definitely following the preparation roadmap that's emerged from this discussion. Starting my planning early like this gives me time to get everything organized properly instead of scrambling at the last minute. Thank you all for being so generous with your knowledge and experiences - this community is truly amazing for anyone navigating the complexities of retirement benefits!

This has been such an enlightening discussion! As someone who's 63 and currently collecting Social Security while still working part-time, I can personally confirm everything that's been shared here. I've been successfully contributing to my HSA for the past year with no issues - the key really is understanding that Social Security benefits and Medicare enrollment are completely separate things. What I wish I had known earlier is how important it is to get ahead of the Medicare enrollment timing. I'm already setting reminders for 8 months before I turn 65 to start the process of stopping my HSA contributions, and I've bookmarked IRS Publication 969 that Aisha mentioned. One additional tip from my experience - when I first started collecting Social Security, I proactively reached out to both my HR department and my HSA administrator to confirm my continued eligibility. Having that documentation in writing gave me peace of mind and avoided any confusion later. Both confirmed that as long as I'm not enrolled in Medicare, my HSA contributions are perfectly legal. The level of practical guidance shared in this thread is incredible - from the payroll timing considerations to the retroactive Medicare coverage warnings. This should definitely be required reading for anyone approaching early retirement with an HSA!

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I feel much better knowing that my actual SS benefit amount won't be reduced just because my husband is working. I'm going to look into having some taxes withheld using that W-4V form someone mentioned, and I'll definitely check if I might qualify for a higher spousal benefit when my husband claims in a couple years. I tried calling the SSA office yesterday but gave up after being on hold for 45 minutes. Might try that Claimyr service someone mentioned if I can't get through soon. Thanks again for all the advice!

I'm glad I found this thread! I'm in a similar situation - I'm 67 and have been collecting Social Security for a year. I just got engaged and we're planning to marry next spring. My fiancé is 65 and still working part-time making about $30,000 a year. Reading through all these responses has been really helpful, especially learning that our benefits won't be directly reduced since we're both past full retirement age. The tax implications are definitely something I hadn't fully considered though. One question for those who have been through this - when you say "up to 85% of benefits may be taxable," does that mean 85% of the actual dollar amount gets added to your taxable income, or does it mean you pay 85% tax rate on the benefits? I want to make sure I understand this correctly when I talk to a tax professional. Also, has anyone had experience with getting help from their local SSA office versus calling the main number? Wondering if it's worth trying to visit in person rather than dealing with those long phone wait times.

Honestly all this math and planning is great but nobody can predict how long they'll live. The perfect plan means nothing if you pass away at 71. My husband delayed and then only collected for 14 months before he passed. I wish we'd taken the money earlier and gone on that Alaska cruise we always talked about. Just something to think about.

Another angle to consider is filing a "restricted application" strategy, though this might not apply in your specific case. Since you're already at FRA, you could potentially file and suspend your own benefits while allowing your wife to claim spousal benefits on your record (if that would be higher than her own). This lets you capture some family benefits now while still earning those delayed retirement credits until age 70. However, given that your wife is only 61 and her income is substantial, she might want to wait until her own FRA to maximize her benefits. It's worth running the numbers on different combinations of timing for both of your claims to see what optimizes your total household Social Security income over your lifetimes.