My friend was in a similar situation with an overseas pension from Canada and SS made him fill out some special form about it. I think they had to do some calculation with the exchange rate or something. Might want to ask specifically about that.

I'm a newcomer here but wanted to share what I've learned from my own research on this topic. For your New Zealand KiwiSaver question (#3), you're right to ask about this specifically. The SSA does have special procedures for foreign pensions and retirement accounts. From what I understand, they typically want documentation showing the nature of the account (whether it's government-sponsored, employer-contributed, etc.) and may require you to provide statements or other proof of the account balance and withdrawal amounts. The key is that like domestic retirement accounts, distributions from KiwiSaver shouldn't count as "earned income" for Social Security earnings test purposes. However, there could be complexity around how the SSA views the employer contribution portion versus your own contributions, especially since KiwiSaver has that mandatory employer contribution component. I'd definitely recommend having documentation ready about the account structure when you speak with SSA directly. Also, don't forget to check if there are any tax treaty implications between the US and New Zealand for those distributions - that's separate from the SSA rules but still important for your overall planning.

This has been such a helpful discussion to follow! I'm actually dealing with a very similar situation - I'll be reaching FRA in November 2025 and have been wrestling with the same decision about when to start benefits while continuing to work. Reading through everyone's experiences and insights has really clarified things for me. The point about keeping detailed earnings records by month is especially valuable - I never would have thought about that documentation being so important for the SSA's calculations. It's also reassuring to hear from people like Butch who went through this exact scenario and came out fine on the other side. The tax implications that Dmitry brought up are definitely something I need to research more for my own situation too. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences here!

This thread has been incredibly informative! As someone who's about to turn 62 and starting to think seriously about Social Security timing, I'm learning so much from everyone's real-world experiences. The distinction between earnings before and after FRA that several people explained is something I definitely didn't understand clearly before. I'm curious - for those of you who are continuing to work past FRA, have you found that your Social Security benefits get recalculated annually based on your ongoing earnings? I've heard that SSA automatically recalculates your benefit each year if your recent earnings are higher than what was used in your original calculation, but I'm not sure how that actually works in practice. It seems like that could potentially increase your monthly benefit amount even after you start collecting, which might be another factor to consider in the timing decision.

I appreciate everyone's insights! I'm going to talk to my financial advisor about adjusting my retirement plans just to be safe. Sounds like I should hope for the best but plan for that 20% reduction. Still frustrating that we've known about this problem for so long and nothing has been done to fix it.

As someone who's been following this issue closely, I want to add some perspective on the timing aspect. The 2033 date isn't set in stone - it fluctuates based on economic conditions, employment rates, and wage growth. During the pandemic, the projected depletion date actually moved up due to job losses, but it's since stabilized again. What's encouraging is that we're seeing more bipartisan discussion about solutions lately. Both parties recognize that Social Security is incredibly popular with voters, so there's political incentive to address this before it becomes a crisis. The closer we get to 2033, the more urgent the pressure becomes on lawmakers. For those planning retirement in the next 5-10 years, I'd suggest running scenarios with both full benefits and an 80% reduction to see how it affects your overall retirement income plan. Don't forget that Social Security was never meant to be anyone's sole source of retirement income - it's just one leg of the three-legged stool (along with employer-sponsored plans and personal savings).

As someone new to navigating SSI, this whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening. I had no idea that living arrangements and household expenses could affect benefit amounts so significantly. The fact that adding property taxes and homeowner's insurance bumped the monthly benefit up by $250 shows how important it is to get these calculations right from the start. Roger, I really hope you're able to get this corrected through the reconsideration process. $1,750 in backpay is definitely worth fighting for, especially when you were paying those expenses all along. The representative's explanation about your nephew not having income to pay his share makes no sense - that's not how SSI calculations work at all. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences here. This is exactly the kind of practical information that families dealing with disability benefits need to know.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really grateful for all the detailed explanations everyone has provided. This situation highlights something I think many of us don't realize - that SSI calculations are much more complex than just a simple flat payment. Roger, based on what the experienced members here are saying, it definitely sounds like you have grounds for an appeal. The fact that you were paying those property taxes and homeowner's insurance expenses throughout the entire retroactive period should mean they factor into the backpay calculation, not just future payments. I'm curious though - when you first applied, did the initial claims rep specifically ask about all household expenses, or did they just focus on certain types? I'm wondering if there's a way to better prepare for these conversations to avoid similar issues in the future. The idea of getting everything documented upfront seems really important. Good luck with your reconsideration request! I'll be following to see how it turns out.

Reading through this thread as someone new to Social Security rules, I'm struck by how much conflicting information there is even among people who seem knowledgeable! It really highlights how complex the system is. @Philip Cowan, I think your decision to go with an in-person appointment is wise - it seems like getting consistent information over the phone is nearly impossible based on everyone's experiences here. One thing I noticed from the discussion is that several people mentioned the 2015 rule changes, but there seems to be disagreement about exactly what those changes affected. When you go to your appointment, it might be worth asking the representative to walk you through the specific current rules for child benefits versus spousal benefits, since those seem to be treated differently. Also, I'd suggest bringing a calculator or asking them to help you run the numbers on both scenarios - claiming now so your son can get benefits versus waiting until 70. The financial comparison over your lifetime might help make the decision clearer. Good luck with your appointment, and I really hope you'll share what you learn since this seems to be a situation many parents face!

As someone new to this community and Social Security benefits in general, I've been following this discussion with great interest since I'm likely to face similar decisions in the future. The range of experiences and advice shared here really illustrates how challenging it can be to get clear, consistent information about these important benefits. @Philip Cowan, I admire how thoughtfully you're approaching this decision - trying to balance maximizing your own retirement security while ensuring your son gets the support he's entitled to. That's exactly the kind of careful planning more people should be doing. What strikes me most from reading through everyone's responses is how much the rules seem to have changed over the years, particularly around 2015, and how even SSA representatives sometimes provide conflicting guidance. It makes me wonder if there should be clearer, more accessible resources for families navigating these situations. I'm really hoping your in-person appointment goes well and that you're able to get definitive answers. If you're comfortable sharing what you learn, I think it would be incredibly valuable for other parents who might find themselves in similar circumstances. The fact that this thread has generated so much discussion shows how common and confusing these situations can be. Best of luck with your appointment - looking forward to hearing how it goes!