Sean, I went through a very similar situation as a retired police officer with a non-SS pension and subsequent SS-covered employment. A few additional points that might help: 1. **Documentation is key** - When you contact SSA for your WEP calculation, bring documentation of your firefighter disability pension amount and start date. Sometimes there are discrepancies between what SSA has on file and your actual pension details. 2. **Consider your spouse's situation** - If you're married, remember that WEP only affects your own earned Social Security benefit, not spousal benefits. However, if your spouse will receive benefits based on your record, the Government Pension Offset (GPO) might come into play separately. 3. **Health insurance considerations** - Since you mentioned you're 63 now, factor in health insurance costs when deciding between filing at 64 vs waiting. Medicare doesn't start until 65, so you'll need coverage for that gap year if you retire early. 4. **State-specific resources** - Many states have retired firefighter associations that maintain resources about Social Security and pension interactions. They might have state-specific guidance or advocacy efforts you should know about. The $558/month estimate others calculated sounds about right given your situation. It's frustrating after paying into SS for 22 years, but at least you have substantial non-covered pension income to rely on. Best of luck with your decision!

I'm a benefits counselor and wanted to add some perspective on your timeline decision. Given your age (63) and the complexity of your situation, you might benefit from what we call a "delayed decision strategy." Since you're not yet 64, you have time to optimize your position. Consider: 1. **Work one more year in SS-covered employment** - If you can earn at least $29,700 in 2025 at an SS-covered job, you'd add a 23rd year of substantial earnings, reducing your WEP penalty by approximately $69/month. That's $828/year for life. 2. **File and suspend strategy** - While this was mostly eliminated, you can still file for benefits and then withdraw your application within 12 months if you change your mind (though you'd need to repay benefits received). 3. **Tax planning** - With your non-taxable disability pension, your Social Security benefits might be largely tax-free depending on your other income. This could make the reduced benefit more valuable than it appears on paper. The math everyone's provided is solid - you're looking at roughly $558/month at 64 vs $698/month at 67. But don't forget that waiting until 70 would give you delayed retirement credits on top of your WEP-adjusted benefit, potentially bringing you to around $870/month. One more year of covered work + waiting until 70 could potentially get you close to $950/month instead of $558 - that's a $391/month difference, or nearly $4,700 annually. Something to consider given your relatively good health.

Thank you everyone for the helpful advice! I'm going to apply for Medicare Parts A & B immediately, then get my Part D within the 63-day window, and apply for Social Security in July for my November FRA. I really appreciate all the timeline clarification and document requirements - this has been so much clearer than anything I found on the SSA website!

Great question! I'm actually going through a similar situation - turning 66 in December and trying to navigate all these deadlines. One thing I learned that might help: if you're worried about the SSA phone system being overwhelmed, try calling your local Social Security office directly instead of the national number. I found the wait times were much shorter, and the staff there seemed more knowledgeable about local processing times. Also, don't forget to ask about any state-specific programs that might supplement your Medicare coverage - some states have additional assistance programs that can help with premiums or copays. The application process definitely feels overwhelming at first, but breaking it down into these separate steps like everyone mentioned really helps!

do you get more money if you start benefits on your birthday month or does it not matter what month you start?

I'm facing a similar decision at 67 and found your post really helpful! One thing I'd add to consider is healthcare costs. Since you're self-employed, are you currently paying for your own health insurance? Medicare eligibility starts at 65 regardless of when you claim Social Security, but if you're still working and have employer coverage (or paying for your own as self-employed), you might want to factor in how your healthcare costs could change over the next few years. Also, something my financial advisor pointed out: if you do decide to wait until 70, make sure you're still earning credits toward Social Security during those years. As self-employed, you need to earn at least $1,640 in 2024 to get one credit (up to 4 credits per year with $6,560 in earnings). If you plan to significantly reduce your work before 70, this could impact your benefit calculation. Have you run the numbers on what your effective hourly rate would be for those extra 3.5 years of waiting? Sometimes looking at it that way makes the decision clearer.

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!

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!