This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm in a similar situation - turning 64 next month and running a small marketing consultancy. Reading through all these responses, I'm realizing I need to be much more systematic about tracking my activities. One question I haven't seen addressed: what about business-related travel time? If I drive 2 hours to meet with a client for a 1-hour meeting, does that count as 3 hours toward my monthly total, or just the 1 hour of actual client work? I do several out-of-town clients and this could significantly impact my monthly hours. Also, has anyone dealt with seasonal variations in their business? My consulting work is much heavier in Q4 and Q1 (budget planning season), so I might go over 45 hours some months but be well under others. I'm wondering if SSA looks at this pattern or if going over even one month triggers issues. The spreadsheet idea is brilliant - I'm definitely setting that up today. And I'll be calling SSA to discuss my estimated earnings proactively rather than waiting to see what happens at tax time. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and knowledge!

This is such a valuable thread for anyone dealing with self-employment and Social Security! I'm approaching 62 and have been putting off claiming benefits partly because of confusion about these rules. One thing I wanted to add based on my research - for those tracking hours, make sure you understand how SSA defines "retirement" for self-employed individuals. It's not just about hours or income alone, but about whether you're "rendering substantial services" to your business. This includes things like: - Making major business decisions - Having regular contact with customers/clients - Supervising employees or managing operations - Being actively involved in day-to-day operations Even if you're under 15 hours per month, if you're still making all the key business decisions and managing client relationships, SSA might still consider you "not retired" for that month. This is especially relevant for consultants and other professionals who might think they can just reduce their hours while maintaining the same level of responsibility. I've been considering restructuring my business to have a partner take over more of the operational decisions while I transition to more of an advisory role. Has anyone here tried something similar? I'm curious if SSA recognizes that kind of gradual transition or if they expect more of a clean break from business involvement. The documentation suggestions everyone has shared are gold - I'm definitely implementing the spreadsheet approach and keeping detailed records of any business structure changes I make.

Just to clarify one more thing - the monthly earnings limit only applies to the first year you receive benefits. In 2026 and beyond, they'll use the annual test until you reach your full retirement age of 67. Also, remember that the earnings limit only applies to wages and self-employment income. It doesn't count pensions, investments, interest, annuities, capital gains or other government benefits. And once you hit your FRA, there's no earnings limit at all.

Just wanted to add one more important point - make sure you apply for benefits about 3 months before you want them to start (so around March for June benefits). This gives SSA time to process your application and ensures your first payment arrives on time. When you apply online or in person, there's a specific question about when you plan to retire - that's where you'll indicate June 2025. The system should automatically apply the monthly earnings test for your first year. Also keep documentation of your final day of work in case you ever need to prove your retirement date later on.

I'm so sorry for your loss. This is exactly the kind of confusing situation that adds unnecessary stress during an already difficult time. Based on what others have explained about Social Security's payment timing, it sounds like you're absolutely entitled to keep that March payment since your father was alive for the entire month it covers. I went through something similar with my mother-in-law, and the key thing I learned is to document everything carefully. Keep records of when you report the death to SSA, save any confirmation numbers they give you, and consider keeping a simple log of all the steps you take. This not only protects you legally but also helps you stay organized when you're grieving and everything feels overwhelming. That $2,350 can definitely help with funeral costs - you've got enough to worry about without adding financial stress on top of everything else.

I'm so sorry for your loss. This is an incredibly stressful situation to navigate while you're grieving. I want to echo what others have said - that March payment that arrived on April 15th is legitimately part of your father's estate. Social Security pays benefits the month after they're earned, so that payment was for March when your father was alive the entire month. One thing I'd suggest is calling SSA first thing in the morning (8 AM sharp) when wait times are typically shorter. When you do get through, ask them to walk you through exactly what happens next and request they send you written confirmation that the death has been properly recorded in their system. This gives you documentation for the estate records. That $2,350 can absolutely be used for funeral expenses - you have enough to deal with right now without worrying about money that rightfully belongs to the estate. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

Congratulations on getting the confirmation from SSA! That's such a relief when you've been worried about it. For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar situation, the key takeaway is really about the TIMING of when you start collecting benefits, not just when you earn the money. The earnings test is designed to reduce benefits for people who are collecting Social Security while still working before their FRA - but if you wait until your FRA month to start, you're in the clear regardless of what you earned earlier in the year. It's great that you planned it this way from the beginning!

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!

I've been through this exact nightmare with my brother. The DAC benefits are worth fighting for though. Have you followed up with the congressional office recently? They can request something called a "congressional inquiry status report" which forces SSA to provide updates. In our case, we found out the application was just sitting on someone's desk for MONTHS with no action. Also, don't forget to ask about retroactive benefits. Since your application has been pending for a year, they should backpay from the application date. Make sure they don't try to reset the clock because of their error!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this bureaucratic nightmare. As someone who works with disability advocates, I've seen the "deceased" error cause massive delays because it corrupts multiple database entries that need to be manually corrected across different SSA systems. A few additional suggestions beyond what others have mentioned: 1. Request a "case summary printout" from SSA showing all actions taken on your daughter's file since the original application. This will help you identify where exactly the process stalled. 2. Ask specifically if the DAC application is in "pending status" or if it needs to be resubmitted due to the death record error. Sometimes these errors require starting over completely. 3. Contact your state's Protection & Advocacy organization - they specialize in disability rights and often have direct contacts within SSA who can expedite complex cases like yours. 4. Document everything with timestamps. Create a log of every phone call, letter, and interaction. This becomes crucial evidence if you need to escalate further. The fact that your daughter has 33 years of established SSI history should work in your favor - there's no question about her disability status. The holdup is likely purely administrative at this point. Hang in there. These cases do eventually get resolved, especially with congressional pressure.