Since you're planning to start benefits at 63, keep in mind that your benefit will be permanently reduced by approximately 25% compared to waiting until your Full Retirement Age (which I'm guessing is 67 based on your age). Adding the earnings test reduction on top of that means you'll get significantly less than your full benefit amount. Have you done calculations to determine if it might be better financially to either: 1. Continue working at your current income level and wait until FRA to claim, or 2. Fully retire now (or reduce your income below the earnings limit) to avoid the penalty? Sometimes the math favors one approach over the other depending on your specific situation. The earnings test reduction gets paid back eventually after FRA, but the early claiming reduction is permanent.

Just wanted to add one more thing that might help with your planning - since you mentioned health concerns influencing your decision to claim early, that's totally understandable. But consider this: if you can manage to keep your part-time earnings right at or just below the $22,300 limit, you'd avoid the earnings test penalty entirely while still getting some work income. Even reducing from $25k to $22k would save you that $1,350 in withheld benefits. Sometimes cutting back just a few hours or declining overtime can make a big difference. You could also look into whether any of your current income could be restructured (like retirement contributions, HSA contributions, or other pre-tax deductions) to bring your countable earnings below the limit. The peace of mind from avoiding the penalty might be worth the small reduction in work income, especially since you're already planning to work part-time anyway.

Just a heads up that sometimes there's confusion between full retirement age (FRA) and normal retirement age (NRA). They're actually the same thing - SSA just changed terminology over the years. And there's also confusion with the term "retirement year" which isn't really an official SSA term. What matters is the year you reach your FRA and the month you reach your FRA. As others have said, once you hit that FRA month, the earnings test disappears completely.

Thanks everyone for all the detailed explanations! This has been incredibly helpful. I was really stressed about accidentally going over some limit and losing benefits, but it sounds like I'm completely in the clear now that I've passed my FRA month in April. My HR department was definitely giving me wrong information - they kept saying I'd be penalized for the entire year if I earned too much at any point. It's frustrating how many people don't understand these rules! I feel much more confident now about my earnings for the rest of the year. Really appreciate this community for breaking it down so clearly.

the whole social security system is designed to confuse people so they take benefits early and get less money lol

Have you considered just waiting until your FRA to file? If you can manage financially, that would give you the full $2,070 per month, which is significantly more than the reduced $1,450. Plus, if you need to claim spousal benefits later (like if your husband passes away), you wouldn't have the early filing reduction affecting those benefits. Just something to consider if it's financially feasible for you.

Based on everything in this thread, here's what I recommend: 1. DON'T give up SSDI - the Medicare loss and inability to easily get back on if needed make this too risky 2. DO set up a benefits planning session with a Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) counselor - they're free and specifically trained on work incentives 3. DO look into Trial Work Period (9 months) and Extended Period of Eligibility (36 months) for maximum flexibility 4. DO request a detailed written explanation of how his survivor benefits were calculated, specifically asking about GPO adjustment if his father didn't pay into Social Security 5. If having trouble reaching the right SSA person, consider using a call service or contacting your congressional representative's office (they often have dedicated SSA liaisons) Good luck to you and your son!

I work as a disability advocate and want to emphasize one critical point that hasn't been fully addressed: your son should absolutely NOT give up his SSDI without getting a comprehensive written analysis first. Here's why this situation is more complex than it appears: The survivor benefit he's receiving may already be significantly reduced by the Government Pension Offset (GPO) because his father worked for the state. GPO reduces survivor benefits by 2/3 of the government pension amount. So if his father's monthly state pension was, say, $2,000, the survivor benefit would be reduced by about $1,333 - which might explain why it's only $780/month instead of a higher amount. Before making any decisions, request these specific documents from SSA: - Form SSA-1724 (Claim for Amounts Due in the Case of Deceased Beneficiary) - A detailed GPO calculation worksheet - Written explanation of what his survivor benefit would be if SSDI is terminated Also, contact your state's Disability Rights organization - they often have staff who specialize in Social Security work incentives and can provide free consultation. This is too important a decision to make without expert guidance. The Trial Work Period route mentioned by others is definitely the safer path to explore first.

I'm a new retiree and went through this exact same confusion! My FRA was October 18th last year and I was so worried about the timing. Everyone here is absolutely right - you get the full month's benefit for May even though your FRA is on the 14th. One thing I wish someone had told me is to set up text alerts through your MySocialSecurity account so you get notified when your payment is processed. It gave me such peace of mind that first month to get the confirmation text a few days before the money actually hit my account. You're all set - May benefits will definitely arrive in June on that 3rd Wednesday! Congratulations on reaching this milestone!

I work as a Social Security claims representative and wanted to chime in to confirm what everyone is saying here - you absolutely will receive your full May benefit payment in June! The key thing to understand is that Social Security uses what we call the "deemed FRA rule" - when your FRA falls anywhere within a month, you're considered to have reached FRA on the first day of that month for benefit purposes. This means no reduction in benefits and you're entitled to the full monthly amount. Since you selected "earliest month possible without a permanent age-related reduction" on your application, everything is set up correctly. Your first payment will be your full May 2025 benefit, deposited on the third Wednesday of June 2025 (which would be June 18th). Just keep an eye on your MySocialSecurity account for any updates, and don't hesitate to call if you have any other questions closer to your payment date. Congratulations on your upcoming retirement!