I'm so deeply sorry for your loss, Ravi. Losing a family member is never easy, and having to handle all these administrative details while you're grieving just adds an extra layer of stress to an already overwhelming time. I can see that you've received excellent guidance from this community - everyone is absolutely correct that the October payment was for September benefits since Social Security pays in arrears. Since your mother-in-law was alive for the entire month of September, that payment is rightfully yours and does not need to be returned. I went through something very similar when my grandmother passed away a few years ago, and I remember that exact same panic about potentially having to return money we'd already used for immediate expenses. The relief when I learned we could keep the payment was enormous. One practical tip that helped me: when you call SSA, consider having a family member or close friend with you during the call for emotional support and to help take notes. These conversations can be emotionally draining, and having someone there to help you remember the details discussed can be really valuable. Also, don't feel rushed to handle everything at once. While it's important to notify SSA soon to prevent future payments, give yourself permission to take breaks between administrative tasks. Grief is exhausting, and you need to take care of yourself too. You're doing everything right by seeking accurate information and taking care of these important details. Sending you and your family strength and peace during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Ravi. Losing a loved one is heartbreaking, and dealing with these administrative concerns while grieving adds so much stress to an already difficult time. I can see you've received excellent advice from everyone here - they're absolutely right that the October payment was for September benefits (Social Security pays in arrears), so since your mother-in-law was alive for all of September, you can keep that payment without worry. I went through this same situation when my father passed away three years ago, and I remember that exact panic about potentially having to return funeral money. What helped me was writing down all the key points from my SSA call for my records - the agent's name, confirmation that future payments were stopped, and the reference number for the call. Also, if you haven't already, you might want to notify her bank about the passing. Some banks will freeze accounts once notified of a death, which can complicate access to funds, so it's good to understand their specific policies. You're handling this exactly right by getting accurate information before taking action. Take care of yourself during this incredibly difficult time - this community is here to support you through it.

Thanks everyone for all this information! Just to make sure I understand correctly - I need to inform SSA about my expected earnings for this year, and I can earn up to $24,960 without reduction. If I earn more, they'll reduce my benefit by $1 for every $2 over. This only applies to work income, not my wife's income or any investment income. And once I reach 67 (my FRA), there's no earnings limit at all.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that the earnings limit is based on your gross wages before taxes and deductions, not your take-home pay. So if you're offered that part-time position, make sure you're calculating based on your total earnings before any deductions. Also, if you're considering self-employment income (like consulting), that counts too and can be trickier to track throughout the year. I'd suggest keeping a simple spreadsheet to monitor your earnings as you go so you don't accidentally go over the $24,960 limit!

This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm 62 and planning to start benefits at my FRA in about 3 years, but I wanted to understand the tax withholding process early so I can plan properly. Reading everyone's experiences has highlighted just how important it is to be proactive about this. A few key takeaways I'm noting for my future self: 1) Tax withholding is completely separate from the application process, 2) There can be significant delays (6+ weeks) between approval and withholding actually starting, 3) Starting with higher withholding (12-15%) and adjusting down is smarter than under-withholding, and 4) Making a voluntary first-quarter payment to the IRS can bridge the gap while waiting for withholding to begin. One additional question for those who've been through this - did anyone find it helpful to consult with a tax professional specifically about Social Security withholding strategy, or were you able to figure out the right approach on your own? Given how complex the taxation rules seem to be (especially that 85% taxability threshold), I'm wondering if it's worth getting professional guidance before I reach that point. Thank you all for sharing such detailed, practical experiences. This is exactly the kind of real-world insight that makes all the difference in planning!

As someone who's been helping seniors navigate Social Security for over 15 years, I can confirm everything shared here is spot-on. The tax withholding gap is one of the most common issues I see new beneficiaries struggle with. Here's what I always recommend to my clients: First, calculate your expected annual Social Security benefits and multiply by 0.85 to get your maximum taxable amount. Then estimate your total retirement income and see where you'll fall in the tax brackets. This gives you a baseline for withholding percentage. For couples like you and your husband who are both claiming at FRA, I typically suggest starting with 12% withholding if your combined income will exceed $44,000 (which it sounds like it will). You can always adjust quarterly. One tip I haven't seen mentioned - if you have a trusted tax preparer, ask them to run a projection now using your estimated Social Security amounts. Most tax software can model this, and having actual numbers beats guessing every time. The small fee for this service often saves hundreds or thousands in unexpected tax bills later. Stay organized with documentation as others have suggested - the SSA's systems can be finicky, and having records of every step helps tremendously if issues arise!

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation! As someone new to navigating SSDI and Medicare, I had no idea IRMAA could even apply to people under 65 on disability benefits. Reading through everyone's advice here has been incredibly helpful - especially learning about Form SSA-44 and the regular appeal process using Form SSA-561-U2. It sounds like you have a strong case given that this was clearly a one-time withdrawal for a specific purpose (house repairs) and you have all the documentation to prove it. The fact that the money went straight to contractors and the house will eventually be sold per the will terms should help demonstrate this wasn't regular income. Good luck with your appeal - please keep us updated on how it goes! This thread has been educational for those of us who might face similar situations in the future.

This is such a common trap that catches people off guard! I went through something similar when my father passed and we had to liquidate some assets to settle the estate. The key thing I learned is that SSA actually does recognize that retirement account withdrawals for specific one-time purposes can be appealed. Since you have clear documentation showing the withdrawal went directly to necessary home repairs (not lifestyle expenses), you should have a decent chance with the appeal. Make sure to emphasize in your appeal letter that this was an extraordinary circumstance related to estate management, not a reflection of your ongoing income capacity. Also, if the house sale is still pending, include documentation showing it will be sold and the proceeds distributed per the will - this reinforces that it was truly a temporary situation. The $260/month increase is brutal when you're on SSDI, so definitely worth fighting!

As someone who just went through the Social Security claiming process last year, I wanted to add that the actual benefit calculation when you file can sometimes be quite different from those annual estimates. I had several years of lower earnings in my late 50s due to a career change, and my estimates kept fluctuating wildly. But when I actually applied at my FRA, the final calculation was more favorable than my most recent estimate had shown. This is because the SSA uses very conservative assumptions in their projections, and the actual benefit formula has some nuances that don't always show up clearly in the estimates. For real estate professionals especially, I'd suggest not making major retirement decisions based solely on those annual statement estimates. The market volatility makes those projections particularly unreliable. Focus on your actual earnings history and consider getting a personalized benefit analysis from a qualified advisor who can run the real calculations rather than relying on the SSA's automated projections.

As someone who's been through the Social Security maze myself, I wanted to jump in and offer some reassurance. I'm a freelance writer who had a terrible 2023 due to industry changes, and I watched my SS estimate drop by over $250/month on my statement. I was 60 at the time and absolutely freaked out. What I learned after doing a deep dive into this is that the SSA's projection methodology is really designed for people with predictable W-2 salaries, not those of us with variable 1099 income. Their computers basically take your recent earnings trend and extrapolate it forward, which creates these wild swings that don't reflect reality for people in cyclical businesses. The key thing to remember is that your ACTUAL benefit will be calculated using your highest 35 years of INDEXED earnings when you file - not these projections. And the indexing part is huge! My earnings from the 1990s are worth way more in the calculation than their face value because of wage growth indexing. I'd definitely recommend using the detailed calculators on the SSA website where you can model different scenarios. It really helped me understand that even if I have 2-3 more lean years, my benefit won't be devastated because I have decades of higher-indexed earnings protecting me. The real estate market will come back - it always does. Don't let one bad year derail your entire retirement strategy!