This thread has been so helpful! As someone approaching FRA myself (though not until 2027), I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and knowledge. @Angelina Farar, it sounds like you've gotten some great clarification here. Just to summarize what I'm understanding from all the responses: 1) No earnings limit after FRA in January 2026 for you, 2) SSA should automatically stop applying the test but it's worth monitoring, 3) You may even get a benefit adjustment for any prior withheld amounts, and 4) The only thing to potentially consider is income tax on your combined income, not benefit reductions. I'm bookmarking this discussion for when I get closer to my own FRA!

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this discussion has been! I'm still several years away from my own FRA, but reading through everyone's responses has really clarified how the earnings limit works. @Angelina Farar, it sounds like you've gotten excellent advice here - no earnings limit after FRA, automatic system updates (though worth monitoring), and even potential benefit adjustments for previously withheld amounts. The distinction between SSI and regular retirement benefits that @KingKongZilla explained was particularly enlightening. Thanks to everyone for sharing your knowledge and experiences - this is exactly the kind of supportive community that makes navigating Social Security so much easier!

This thread has been so helpful! I'm in a similar situation - turning 67 next year and was worried about the same earnings test issue. Reading through everyone's experiences really clarifies how the timing works. @Holly Lascelles - I'm glad you got the official confirmation from SSA! It's frustrating how even financial advisors sometimes give conflicting information about these rules. For anyone else following along, it seems like the golden rule is: if you can wait until your actual FRA month to start collecting, you avoid the earnings test entirely, no matter what you earned earlier in the year while working. This is definitely going into my retirement planning notes!

What a fantastic thread! As someone who's been helping friends and family navigate Social Security for years, I can confirm that the advice here is spot on. The timing rule is absolutely crucial - if you start benefits in your FRA month or later, your pre-FRA earnings that year don't trigger any reductions. Holly, you planned this perfectly! I've seen too many people panic unnecessarily about this exact scenario. The key thing to remember is that Social Security designed this system to encourage people to wait until their FRA, and they reward that patience by eliminating the earnings test once you reach that milestone month. Your $66,000 in early-year earnings won't touch your benefits at all. Well done on waiting until June to start collecting!

My neighbor waited till 70 to claim and now gets almost $1,400 more per month than his friend who claimed at 62. That's almost $17k more PER YEAR for the rest of his life!!!!

As someone who just went through this exact situation at 62, I can confirm what others are saying - your lower 2024 income won't hurt your benefit calculation! I was terrified about the same thing when I left my job mid-year last year. The SSA really does use your highest 35 years of indexed earnings, so unless 2024 would somehow be one of your top earning years (which seems unlikely if you only worked 3 months), it simply won't factor into your calculation at all. I'd also recommend double-checking your earnings record on MySocialSecurity.gov to make sure everything from your working years is accurate. That's more important than worrying about this partial year. The delay strategy is still mathematically sound - you're getting those delayed retirement credits which compound over time. One thing that helped me decide was calculating my break-even point and considering my health/family longevity. If you're healthy and have good genes, waiting even a year or two can pay off significantly over your lifetime!

As someone who just went through this process myself, I can share what worked for me. First, definitely calculate your "combined income" using the formula Emily mentioned earlier - it's crucial for determining if your benefits will be taxable. I used the IRS withholding calculator online and it was really helpful. One thing I learned is that you can change your withholding election at any time during the year by submitting a new W-4V form, so don't stress too much about getting the perfect percentage right away. I started with 10% and adjusted it after a few months once I had a better sense of my total tax situation. Also, keep good records of all your income sources throughout the year - SS benefits, part-time work, pension, any investment income, etc. This will make tax time much smoother and help you fine-tune your withholding for next year. The learning curve is steep but you'll get the hang of it!

Just wanted to add one more tip that helped me - if you're still working part-time, check with your payroll department about how your Social Security benefits might affect your tax bracket. I found out that my combined income pushed me into a higher bracket than I expected, so I ended up needing more withholding than I initially calculated. Also, if you have any 401k or IRA distributions planned, factor those in too since they'll add to your "combined income" calculation. The whole system is definitely confusing at first, but once you get through your first tax season with SS benefits, it becomes much clearer how everything fits together!

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I've learned there's no "magic month" to file that increases benefits, but I should apply now for March benefits to give SSA enough processing time. I'm going to check my earnings record first, then submit my application. I appreciate the tip about Claimyr too - might use that if I run into problems reaching someone at SSA. I'll update once I get everything submitted!

Just wanted to add one more consideration that might help with your decision-making process. Since you mentioned being in a tough financial spot, you might want to look into whether your state offers any additional assistance programs that could bridge the gap between when your temporary disability ends and when your Social Security payments begin. Some states have emergency assistance programs or food assistance that can help during transitions like this. Also, if your wife isn't already working, she might want to consider part-time employment to help with the financial pressure while you're waiting for benefits to start. The stress of financial uncertainty can really impact your recovery from surgery, so having multiple backup plans in place might give you both some peace of mind during this transition period.