As someone new to this community and approaching 62 myself, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences here! This thread has been incredibly educational. I'm still trying to wrap my head around all the different rules and calculations, but reading about everyone's real-world experiences with the earnings limit has been so much more helpful than the confusing official SSA materials I've been struggling through. It's clear there are a lot of nuances and strategies that you only learn from people who've actually navigated this system. I'm bookmarking this discussion to reference as I start planning my own early retirement timeline. The tips about being conservative with earnings estimates, understanding the grace year monthly limit, and keeping detailed records are exactly the kind of practical advice I needed. Thanks again to this community for being such a valuable resource!

As a newcomer to this community, I just have to say this thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm 61 and planning to claim benefits next year, and honestly, I was completely overwhelmed trying to understand the earnings limit rules from the SSA website. The way everyone has broken down the different scenarios - the annual vs monthly limits, the grace year rule, what income actually counts, and all the practical tips about reporting earnings upfront - has made this so much clearer. I had no idea about things like the timing of vacation payouts mattering, or that withheld benefits aren't actually "lost" but get credited back at FRA. I'm definitely going to use that earnings test calculator mentioned and be very conservative with my estimates. It's amazing how much real-world wisdom is shared here that you just can't get from official sources. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space for people navigating these complex decisions!

I think you might be mixing up some things here. WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision) affects your OWN Social Security benefits if you also receive a pension from work not covered by Social Security. GPO (Government Pension Offset) affects SPOUSAL or SURVIVOR benefits if you receive a government pension from non-covered work. So the answers to your questions depend on whether we're talking about: 1. Your own SS retirement benefits (WEP) 2. Your potential claim on your wife's record (GPO if she passes) 3. Your wife's potential survivor claim on your record (GPO if you pass) Do you know which one concerns you most?

As someone new to understanding WEP/GPO, I'm finding this discussion really helpful! I worked for a city water department for 18 years (no SS taxes) and then private sector jobs for 12 years. I'm 58 now and starting to think about retirement planning. From what I'm reading here, it sounds like I should create that MySocialSecurity.gov account to see what my estimated benefits would be with WEP applied. Are there any other resources people recommend for understanding how these proposed changes might affect someone in my situation? I'm trying to figure out if it's worth waiting a few more years to see if any reform passes, or if I should just plan assuming the current WEP rules will stay in place.

This thread has been a goldmine of information! I'm new to the community and facing a similar situation - eligible for benefits in a few months but still working part-time. The clarity everyone has provided about the monthly vs annual earnings test distinction is exactly what I needed. I had no idea about the first-year monthly testing rule, and honestly, the SSA website makes this so confusing. One question I haven't seen addressed yet: if you voluntarily suspend benefits for certain months during your first year, does that affect your benefit calculation when you reach FRA? I understand that benefits withheld due to excess earnings get factored back in later, but I'm wondering if voluntary suspension works the same way or if those months are just "lost." Also, huge thanks to those who mentioned specific resources like the POMS references and the Claimyr service - having actual tools to navigate this bureaucratic maze is incredibly helpful. The phone system really is impossible! I'm definitely going to be proactive about reporting my expected earnings and keeping detailed records based on all the advice here.

I'm new to this community and just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire discussion has been! I'm approaching eligibility for Social Security in a few months and had no idea about the complexity of the earnings limit rules. The distinction between the monthly earnings test in the first year versus the annual test afterward is something I never would have understood from the SSA website alone. What strikes me most is how many people are dealing with similar situations - it really highlights how unclear the official guidance is. I'm particularly grateful for the practical advice about voluntary suspension and the importance of proactive communication with SSA. The tip about keeping detailed records and the 60-day advance notice recommendation will definitely influence how I approach my own situation. One thing that's concerning me after reading through all of this is how difficult it seems to actually reach SSA by phone. Has anyone had better luck with in-person visits to local SSA offices, or are those just as challenging to navigate? I'm wondering if it might be worth scheduling an appointment well in advance to discuss my specific earnings pattern and get guidance directly from an agent. Thanks to everyone who has shared their real-world experiences - this kind of peer-to-peer knowledge sharing is invaluable when dealing with such a complex system!

Wow, this thread has been incredibly educational! As a 64-year-old who's been considering early retirement, I had absolutely no idea that SSDI was still an option after 62. My understanding was the same as your coworker's - that once you hit 62, disability was off the table. Learning that SSDI actually pays your FULL retirement amount (not the reduced early retirement amount) is huge! That could be the difference between financial security and struggling. I'm also grateful for all the practical tips shared here - the importance of keeping detailed medical records, understanding the SGA limits, knowing about SHIP counselors, and being specific about which benefit you're applying for when dealing with SSA. It's clear that navigating this system requires a lot more knowledge than most of us realize. Thank you to everyone who shared their personal experiences and professional insights. This is exactly the kind of real-world information that can make or break someone's financial future in their later years.

This is exactly why I love this community! I'm 62 and have been so confused about all these options. My biggest takeaway from reading everyone's experiences is that you really need to be proactive about understanding your choices BEFORE you need them. The stories about people having to fight to get the right application type processed, or missing out on higher benefits because they didn't know SSDI was still available after 62, are eye-opening. I'm definitely going to start building that medical documentation file now (even though I'm healthy) and research our local SHIP counselor. It sounds like having an expert guide you through these decisions could save thousands of dollars in the long run. One question I have - if you're planning to work until your FRA but develop a condition that might qualify for SSDI, is there any advantage to applying for disability right away versus waiting to see if you can push through to full retirement? The timing seems really crucial for maximizing benefits.

Welcome to the confusing world of SSA! 😅 You've got it exactly right - you only get reimbursed for actual double-payment months, not every month you paid in advance. The tax withholding on reimbursements is definitely frustrating but unfortunately that's just how their ancient system works. One tip: when you start your benefits, keep a close eye on your first few payments to make sure everything is calculating correctly. Sometimes there are little glitches in the transition period that need to be caught early. And definitely save all your documentation - you'll need it for tax time next year to sort out any overwithholding issues. Good luck with your upcoming benefits! The learning curve is steep but this community is really helpful for navigating all the SSA quirks.

This whole situation perfectly illustrates why so many people get frustrated with SSA! I went through something similar when I started my benefits last year. The key thing that helped me understand it was realizing that their computer systems literally can't tell the difference between a regular benefit payment and a reimbursement - everything gets processed the same way with the same tax withholding rules applied. For anyone else reading this who might face a similar situation: the "double payment" reimbursement only happens when there's an actual overlap month where you paid directly AND they would also deduct from your benefit. So if you prepaid multiple months, you won't get reimbursed for all of them - only the ones where there would be true double billing. And unfortunately yes, they will withhold taxes on these reimbursements even though it doesn't make logical sense. Just another quirk of dealing with government systems that haven't been updated since the 1980s! Keep all your paperwork and work with a tax professional if needed to make sure you're not overpaying when you file next year.