I think you're focusing on the wrong thing here. The real issue isn't just May - it's that your husband is claiming before his FRA which is permanently reducing his benefit amount. At 66 in 2025, he's about 10 months early (assuming born in 1959). That's roughly a 5.56% permanent reduction in benefits. If his benefit is $2,500, that's $139/month FOREVER. Has he considered working until his FRA to get the full benefit amount?

I went through this exact scenario with my dad in 2023. The key thing to understand is that SSA often processes benefit start dates based on when you file, not when you request them to start. When he filed in December, they probably automatically set benefits to begin the month after he turns 66 (May) rather than honoring his June request. For the earnings issue - since he'll earn $7,500 in May (way over the $1,770 monthly limit), he'll definitely lose that month's benefit. But here's the silver lining: any benefits withheld due to earnings before your FRA get added back to your benefit calculation later, so it's not truly "lost" money. My advice: Call SSA immediately to try to change the start date back to June 1st. If you can't get through (the wait times are brutal), try calling right when they open at 7am local time. Getting it corrected before any payments go out is much easier than dealing with overpayment recovery later. The Medicare can stay on the May 1st start date since that's separate from the cash benefits.

This is such valuable information! I'm in a similar situation - turning 62 next year and still earning good money. One thing I've learned from researching this is that the SSA sends you an annual statement showing any benefit increases from your continued work, usually around December. They call it the "Social Security Benefit Statement" and it shows if your Primary Insurance Amount changed due to additional earnings. It's worth keeping these statements to track how your benefits are growing over time, especially if you're planning to work several more years after claiming early.

This thread has been incredibly valuable! As someone who just turned 62 and is still working, I had no idea about the complexity of how Social Security interacts with continued employment. The information about annual recalculations potentially increasing benefits even after filing early, combined with the adjustment at FRA for withheld benefits, completely changes my perspective on the timing decision. I'm particularly interested in what @Diego Castillo mentioned about getting credit back for withheld months - that seems like it could significantly reduce the penalty for early filing if you're still working. My situation is similar to the original poster - I'm earning more now than ever before in my career, so it sounds like I could benefit from both the higher earnings replacing lower years AND the reduction factor adjustment. Does anyone know if there are good online calculators that can model these scenarios, or is this something where you really need to speak with an SSA representative to get accurate projections? Thanks to everyone for sharing their real experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical information that's missing from the official SSA publications!

I'm 61 and this discussion has been absolutely essential reading! What terrifies me most is realizing how perfectly these scammers have crafted their attacks to exploit our exact situation - people approaching Medicare age who are legitimately expecting government communications but aren't familiar enough with the systems to spot subtle fakes. That "ssa-services.gov" domain example is chilling because it demonstrates how much effort these criminals put into appearing legitimate. I probably would have glanced at it and thought "looks official" without examining each character carefully. The psychological tactics Grace described really hit home too - that moment of panic thinking "what did I forget or mess up?" is exactly how I'd react when already stressed about navigating these complex systems correctly. I'm implementing every protective strategy mentioned here immediately: dedicated government email account, two-factor authentication on my future SSA account, written log of all official interactions, bookmarked legitimate websites, and that brilliant tip about checking for your actual name versus generic greetings like "Dear Beneficiary." What gives me hope is seeing how this community is actively sharing knowledge to protect each other. The collective wisdom here is far more practical and comprehensive than any official government scam warning I've encountered. By preparing now while we're not under enrollment pressure, we'll be much better equipped to recognize these increasingly sophisticated attacks when our vulnerable transition periods arrive. Thank you Lucas for this crucial warning, and thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - you're helping protect so many of us from these predatory scammers!

I'm 58 and this thread has been absolutely invaluable! What really alarms me is how these scammers have essentially turned our major life transitions into hunting grounds. They know exactly when we're most vulnerable - during Medicare enrollment when we're legitimately expecting multiple government communications but don't yet have the experience to confidently spot the fakes. The fake domain example "ssa-services.gov" is particularly terrifying because it shows how much effort these criminals invest in appearing legitimate. I probably would have missed that subtle difference while juggling enrollment paperwork and deadlines. Grace's story about the "what did I mess up?" panic really resonated with me - that's exactly the psychological response these scammers are counting on when we're already stressed about navigating complex systems correctly. I'm implementing several protective strategies from this discussion immediately: setting up a dedicated email for government accounts, enabling two-factor authentication on my future SSA account, starting that written log of official interactions that Freya mentioned, and bookmarking legitimate websites so I never click email links. The tip about checking for your actual name versus generic greetings like "Dear Medicare Beneficiary" is brilliant! What gives me the most confidence is seeing how this community actively shares knowledge to protect each other. This thread provides better scam education than any official government resource I've encountered. By preparing now while we're not under enrollment pressure, we'll be much better equipped to recognize these attacks when our time comes. Thanks Lucas for this crucial warning and thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences. You're helping protect so many of us from these increasingly sophisticated predators!

I think u should just call ur local office and ask. Every situation is different and maybe yours will qualify for an exception. My friend said her severance pay didn't count toward her limit even tho it was paid after she started SS.

I went through something very similar when I started collecting benefits in 2023. The confusion is totally understandable! Just to add to what others have said - you might want to contact SSA sooner rather than later to report your expected 2024 earnings. They can set up monthly withholding if needed, which is often better than getting hit with a big overpayment notice at the end of the year. Also, keep all your pay stubs and documentation - if there are any disputes later, you'll want that paper trail. The $8,750 payout definitely puts a dent in your remaining earning capacity for the year, but at least now you know where you stand!

One more important point - while bonuses count as earned income, there's a special rule about when they count. For the earnings test, Social Security generally counts income when it's earned, not when it's paid. But for special payments like bonuses that are for work done in a previous year, they might not count toward the current year's limit. If your bonus is specifically for work performed before you started receiving Social Security, you can ask SSA to exclude it from the earnings test. You'll need documentation from your employer stating what period the bonus covers. Also, once you reach your full retirement age, these earnings limits no longer apply. So if you're close to FRA, this might only be a short-term issue.

Just wanted to add that you might also want to check if your employer can defer the bonus payment to early next year if that would help with your situation. Some employers are willing to work with employees on timing of bonus payments, especially if you explain the Social Security earnings limit issue. Also, keep in mind that any benefits they withhold aren't permanently lost - once you reach full retirement age, Social Security will recalculate your benefit amount to account for the months they withheld benefits due to excess earnings. So while it's definitely stressful now, you'll eventually get credit for those withheld payments in the form of a higher monthly benefit later. Good luck getting through to SSA! The unpaid leave strategy sounds like a smart backup plan too.