I've been helping my elderly neighbors with similar issues, and one thing that's worked well is creating a simple property tax savings plan. Calculate your annual property tax amount, divide by 12, and have that amount automatically transferred from your Social Security direct deposit account to a separate "property tax only" savings account each month. Most banks can set this up as an automatic transfer on the same day your SS benefit arrives. Then when tax time comes, the money is already there waiting. Some people also like to add an extra $10-20 per month to cover any increases. It takes the stress out of those big lump sum payments!

I had this same question when I retired three years ago! While SSA can't deduct property taxes directly, I found a great workaround. I contacted my local credit union and they helped me set up what they call a "Christmas Club" type account specifically for property taxes. Every month when my Social Security hits my checking account, $150 automatically moves to this separate account (my annual property taxes are about $1,800). The account even earns a little interest! When tax time comes around in June and December, I just transfer the money back and pay online. It's been a lifesaver - no more scrambling to find $900 twice a year. Most banks and credit unions offer similar programs, so definitely worth asking about!

Just an update - I spoke with my cousin at SSA today and she confirmed they're now actively recruiting retired employees in most regions. They're offering higher than usual compensation for these temporary positions, especially for those with experience in recalculations and pension offsets. The focus is on processing the backlog rather than customer-facing roles. She also mentioned they're developing a streamlined training program specifically for retired employees to get them up to speed on the new systems more quickly.

I think this shows why it's sometimes better to delay applying for benefits if you can. My financial advisor suggested I wait until this backlog clears before applying for my retirement benefits (I'm affected by WEP). That way my application will include the correct calculation from the start instead of waiting for a recalculation. Of course, not everyone has the luxury of waiting.

I just wanted to add that I called SSA yesterday about this same issue and the representative confirmed what others have said here - the letter codes are part of their new internal system for tracking different benefit categories. She specifically mentioned that 'A' is for standard retirement benefits and assured me it won't affect tax filing at all. Just use your regular SSN without the letter when doing taxes. Hope this helps ease anyone's concerns!

I'm new to receiving Social Security benefits and just got my first 1099 form. I also have the 'A' next to my SSN and was completely confused about what it meant! This thread has been so helpful - thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and getting official confirmation from SSA. It's reassuring to know this is just a normal part of their system updates and nothing to worry about. As a newcomer to all this, I really appreciate having this community to help navigate these kinds of questions!

Just wanted to add one more consideration that might help with your decision - make sure to factor in the tax implications too. When you're working part-time from 67-70 while receiving delayed retirement credits, you won't have Social Security income during those years, which could put you in a lower tax bracket. This might be a good time to do Roth conversions or other tax planning strategies. Also, your son's benefits will be taxable income to him (though likely at a low rate given his age), so keep that in mind when planning. The strategy sounds solid overall - getting those child benefits during his teenage years when expenses are high (especially if college is on the horizon) can be really valuable financially and practically.

As someone who's been navigating Social Security rules for my own family, I wanted to mention a few practical considerations that might help with your timeline planning. First, when you file at 62, there's typically a few months processing time before your son's benefits start, so factor that into your cash flow planning. Also, make sure you have all his documentation ready (birth certificate, etc.) when you apply since auxiliary benefits require additional paperwork. One thing I learned the hard way - if your son plans to work during high school (even part-time), his earnings could affect his Social Security benefits too. The earnings limit applies to beneficiaries under 18, though it's pretty generous for most teen jobs. Also consider timing your initial application strategically. If you turn 62 early in the year, you might want to wait until later in the year to file so your son gets benefits closer to when school expenses ramp up. The retroactive payment rules allow up to 6 months of back benefits when you're at full retirement age or older, but that doesn't apply at 62. Your plan sounds well thought out overall - just wanted to share some of the practical details I wish someone had told me about the process!

UPDATE: We took everyone's advice and tried multiple approaches simultaneously. We mailed in the SSA-1199 form with a voided check, AND used the Claimyr service mentioned above to get through by phone. The phone method worked fastest - got us connected to an agent in about 25 minutes, and they set up the direct deposit immediately. They confirmed it's now in the system and ready for any future payments or backpay if the WEP reform goes through. Thank you all for your help!

As a fellow educator dealing with WEP, I wanted to share another option that worked for me. If you have a local SSA office that offers walk-in services (not all do anymore), you can sometimes get helped without an appointment during off-peak hours. I went to my local office at 2pm on a Tuesday and waited about 45 minutes, but the representative was able to set up my direct deposit on the spot. They also updated my address and verified all my information while I was there. It might be worth calling your local office first to confirm they still accept walk-ins for this type of service request. Having everything ready in one visit was definitely worth the wait time for me.