my sister said when they adopted their foster kids the benefits got reduced but then they qualified for adoption subsidies from the state that made up the difference. maybe look into that too?

I went through a similar situation last year when we were considering adopting my nephew. One thing that really helped was getting a written estimate from SSA before making any final decisions. I used the appointment system online and specifically requested they calculate the exact family maximum for our situation - not just rough estimates. The agent was able to print out a detailed breakdown showing exactly how each person's benefits would be affected. It took about 3 weeks to get the appointment, but having those concrete numbers made all the difference in our planning. Also, don't forget that if you do adopt, the grandchildren's benefits would continue until they turn 18 (or 19 if still in high school), so factor in how the family maximum situation will change over time as beneficiaries age out.

forgot to say congrats on retirement! i'm still 3 years away and counting down the days lol

One thing to keep in mind - when you do apply for Social Security, you might want to consider doing it online through ssa.gov rather than trying to call. The online application is available 24/7 and you can save your progress if you need to step away. It also automatically calculates your benefit amount and lets you choose your start date. Since you're waiting until August to start benefits (smart move!), you can actually apply up to 4 months in advance. So you could submit your application as early as April 2025 and specify August as your benefit start date. This gives SSA time to process everything and reduces the chance of any delays in your first payment. Also, make sure you have your tax returns from the last couple years handy when you apply - sometimes they ask for income verification even though the earnings test won't apply to you.

does anyone know if this same rule applies for disability? my brother is on SSDI and wants to try working part time

Thank you all for the helpful responses! This has been really enlightening. We'll make sure to plan for the potential tax implications while enjoying the flexibility of no earnings limit. It's great that he can pursue some consulting work without worrying about direct benefit reductions.

Thank you all for the helpful advice! I'm going to ask about protective filing dates versus retroactive benefits during my appointment. I think I'll proceed with my application first and then have my husband apply once mine is processed, as several of you suggested. The monthly increase for delayed retirement credits makes sense now - I always thought it might be annual which would have made a January filing date exactly the same as waiting until February. Knowing it's monthly makes the calculation clearer. I'm also going to double-check about this GPO repeal timing since someone raised questions about that. I may have misunderstood something my financial advisor told me about pending legislation.

Just wanted to add that when you do have your SSA appointment, make sure to ask specifically about the "deemed filing" rules that might apply to your situation. Since you're over your full retirement age, there are some nuances about when spousal benefits can begin that might affect your timing strategy. Also, regarding the GPO - I'd definitely clarify that with SSA directly during your call. There's been a lot of discussion about potential changes to GPO and WEP, but as others mentioned, nothing has been officially enacted yet for 2025. Your financial advisor might have been referring to proposed legislation or making assumptions about future changes. One last tip: bring a list of specific questions to your appointment and take notes during the call. SSA representatives sometimes give slightly different information, so having documentation of what was discussed can be helpful if you need to follow up later.

I'm sorry you're going through this difficult situation on top of losing your wife. Based on what you've described, it sounds like there may be an error in how they're calculating the withholding amount. The fact that you only owe $712 according to your Medicare account but they're withholding thousands in benefits suggests this is likely a system error during your benefit transition. When switching from survivor to retirement benefits, the Medicare premium collection sometimes gets confused and triggers incorrect withholding amounts. Here are a few things that might help: - When you call, ask specifically for a "Medicare Premium Recovery Review" - Request they explain the exact calculation they're using for the withholding - Ask about setting up a payment plan for the $712 rather than withholding full benefits - If they can't resolve it immediately, ask for a supervisor who handles "premium collection disputes" Document everything - dates, times, names, and what each person tells you. This will be crucial if you need to file an appeal. The good news is that once this gets straightened out, you should receive all the back benefits they've been withholding. Hang in there - this type of issue is unfortunately common but is fixable once you get the right person who understands the system.

I'm so sorry for your loss, and dealing with this bureaucratic nightmare while grieving must be incredibly overwhelming. What you're experiencing is unfortunately common when there's a transition between different types of Social Security benefits. The key issue here seems to be that SSA's system flagged unpaid Medicare premiums during your benefit type transition (survivor to retirement), but their automated withholding calculation appears to be completely wrong. You should NOT have thousands withheld for a $712 premium debt. Here's what I'd recommend doing immediately: 1. **Get the right person on the phone**: When you call SSA, specifically ask to speak with someone in "Medicare Premium Collections" - don't just accept being transferred to general customer service. 2. **Use these exact phrases**: Say you need a "Medicare Premium Withholding Review" and ask for form SSA-561 for reconsideration. Also mention you want to understand the "limitation on recovery" rules that should prevent excessive withholding. 3. **Gather your documentation**: Print out your Medicare.gov account showing the $712 balance, and have your recent premium payment records ready. 4. **Request immediate relief**: Ask about "benefit continuation pending reconsideration" so you can receive benefits while they review the case. This is absolutely worth fighting - the math doesn't add up, and you deserve those benefits. Keep pushing until you get someone who understands Medicare premium collection rules. You've got this!