One important technical point no one has mentioned yet: When you reach FRA, SSA also recalculates your benefit amount to restore some of the benefits that were withheld due to earnings limits before FRA. So not only do the limits end at FRA, but you eventually get credit for some of those earlier reductions. The formula is complex, but it essentially increases your monthly benefit to account for months when benefits were withheld.

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!

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!

The WHOLE SYSTEM is designed to CONFUSE people!! Why should we have to pay taxes on benefits WE PAID INTO our entire working lives?? This is DOUBLE TAXATION and it's UNCONSTITUTIONAL! I've been fighting with the SSA and IRS for 3 years about this. They withheld 22% from my checks without my permission and it took MONTHS to get it fixed. The government just wants to rob seniors blind!

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!

I work with seniors on benefits issues, and I've seen the SSA accept common law marriage as part of the 10-year duration in certain circumstances. Colorado is definitely one of the states where this is possible. My advice is to prepare a written statement explaining your situation before your appointment, along with a chronological outline of your relationship and all the supporting documentation you've gathered. This makes it easier for the claims representative to understand and evaluate your case. Also, if your initial claim is denied, remember you have 60 days to file for reconsideration, and then you can request a hearing with an Administrative Law Judge if needed. Many people give up after the first denial, but persistence often pays off with these complex cases.

I'm sorry for your loss and the added stress of navigating this bureaucratic maze during such a difficult time. As someone new to this community, I wanted to share what I've learned from a similar situation in my family. Colorado absolutely recognizes common law marriage, which is great news for you. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you might want to check if you have any old tax returns where you filed as "married filing jointly" or "married filing separately" during those pre-legal marriage years - even if you filed separately, the IRS records showing your address history could help establish cohabitation. Also, don't forget about utility bills, voter registration records, or even old Christmas cards addressed to "Mr. and Mrs." - these small pieces of evidence can add up. The key is showing a pattern of presenting yourselves as married to the community. Wishing you the best with your appointment next month!

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.