just wanted to add that if you DIDNT choose tax withholding you can still add it anytime!! i didnt do it at first and had to pay big tax bill my first year. now i do the 10% withholding and its SO much better. you can change it online or send in the form

I work at a local SSA field office and can help clarify a few things! When you applied online, there should have been a screen asking about federal tax withholding - if you selected it, it would be in effect for your first payment. However, the mySocialSecurity portal often doesn't display withholding info until after your first payment processes, which is frustrating but normal. For Medicare Part B, if you're enrolled, it will definitely be deducted automatically from your Social Security payment. The 2025 standard premium is $187.50/month for most people. My recommendation: Call 1-800-772-1213 early in the morning (7-8 AM) for shorter wait times. The representative can immediately tell you your exact withholding elections and Medicare deduction amounts. Don't stress too much - even if you didn't set up tax withholding initially, you can add it anytime using Form W-4V or through your online account after your first payment.

Thank you all for the helpful information! So to make sure I have this straight: 1. When I start benefits in April 2025, my payment will already include the 2025 COLA that was applied in January 2. In January 2026, I'll receive the 2026 COLA increase like everyone else 3. I don't have to be on benefits for a full year to get a COLA increase This is really reassuring to know for my retirement planning. I appreciate everyone's expertise!

Just wanted to add that you can also find this information in the SSA's official publication "Understanding the Benefits" (Publication No. 05-10024). It clearly states that COLA increases are applied to the Primary Insurance Amount annually on January 1st, regardless of when someone starts receiving benefits during that year. Having the official documentation can be helpful when you're doing retirement planning or if you ever need to reference the exact policy. Congratulations on your upcoming retirement!

does anyone know if the FRA is different for SSI? my cousin gets SSI not regular Social Security and she said theres no FRA for that

I'm in a very similar situation - started collecting at 62 in early 2024 and my FRA is also in December 2025. Reading through all these responses has been really educational! I had the same hope that maybe there would be some kind of increase at FRA, but now I understand that's not how it works. The one thing that gives me some comfort is knowing that if I keep working (even part-time), there's still potential for small increases if my current earnings replace some of my lower earning years from the past. Plus the annual COLA adjustments help with inflation. For anyone else reading this who hasn't filed yet - definitely consider waiting if you can afford to. The permanent reduction is no joke. But for those of us who already filed early, at least we know what to expect and can plan accordingly. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and knowledge here. This community is so helpful!

Update: I went back to the closer office (in the neighboring county) today, and guess what? They helped me with no problem! The rep even apologized for the misinformation I was given last time. They accepted my SSA-44 form and all my documentation showing our income drop after retirement. She said I should receive a decision letter in about 2-3 weeks. Thank you all for giving me the confidence to go back and try again!

Fantastic update! This is exactly why persistence pays off with Social Security issues. Your experience perfectly illustrates what many of us have been saying - the first person you talk to isn't always the most knowledgeable, and policies can be misunderstood or misapplied. For anyone else reading this thread who might face similar IRMAA issues: Mason's success story shows that retirement-related income drops ARE valid life-changing events, ANY Social Security office can help you (not just your county), and sometimes you just need to try again if you get incorrect information the first time. Hoping your appeal gets approved quickly and you get those surcharges removed retroactively. Thanks for coming back to update us - it really helps future folks who might search this community for IRMAA advice!

That sounds like a solid plan! Just one additional thing to consider - since you're planning to continue working part-time, you might want to track your annual earnings carefully as you approach your FRA. In the year you reach your FRA, the earnings test limit is actually higher (around $59,520 for 2025) and only applies to the months before you reach your FRA. So if your earnings are close to the annual limit, the timing of when during the year you reach 67 could make a difference in how much gets withheld. Good luck with getting through to SSA - persistence usually pays off!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Oliver. Navigating Social Security benefits after losing a spouse is incredibly overwhelming, especially when you're already dealing with grief and financial stress. Your plan sounds very well thought out based on all the excellent advice you've received here. Just a couple additional things that might be helpful: 1. When you call SSA, ask them to mail you a copy of your husband's earnings record and benefit verification letter. Having this documentation will help you verify their calculations and serve as backup if there are any issues later. 2. Consider keeping a log of all your interactions with SSA - dates, times, who you spoke with, and what was discussed. This can be invaluable if you need to reference previous conversations. 3. If you do end up using a service like Claimyr to get through, make sure you have all your questions written down beforehand since you'll want to make the most of that connection time. You're being very smart about maximizing your benefits during what I know must be a difficult time financially and emotionally. Wishing you the best as you work through this process!