Just FYI - make sure he brings TWO forms of ID when he goes to apply after he gets out. My relative forgot his second ID and they made him come back which was a whole other ordeal with transportation and taking more time off work.

One thing that might help prepare for his eventual application is to start gathering the necessary documents now while you have time to track them down. You'll need certified copies of his wife's death certificate, their marriage certificate, and his birth certificate at minimum. Getting these documents can take weeks or months depending on which states/counties they were issued in, and it's much easier to do this legwork now rather than scrambling after his release when he's dealing with other reentry challenges. Some states have online ordering systems for vital records, while others require mail-in applications. Also consider getting multiple certified copies since Social Security often wants to keep the originals for their files.

btw has anyone noticed how the COLA this year is a joke?? 3.2% when groceries go up like 20%??? not related to your question sorry just mad about it lol

As someone new to this community, I want to thank everyone for sharing their experiences and knowledge. This is exactly the kind of information I've been struggling to find elsewhere! @Sean Matthews - your situation sounds very similar to mine. I'm 61 and facing the same decision. From what I'm reading here, it seems like the key is getting your specific numbers calculated rather than relying on general rules. One thing I learned from my research is that there's also something called "restricted application" that used to be available, but it was phased out for people born after 1954. So that strategy isn't available to us unfortunately. Also, I noticed several people mentioned the difficulty reaching SSA by phone. Has anyone tried visiting a local SSA office in person? I'm wondering if that might be more effective than calling, even though it means taking time off work. The survivor benefit information from @Ali Anderson is really valuable too - I hadn't considered how that might change the equation. It makes me think we really need professional help to model out all these different scenarios.

Thanks everyone! This has been incredibly helpful. Just to make sure I've got it straight: 1. For Jan-Aug 2025 (before my FRA month), I'm subject to the higher annual limit (~$60k) 2. From September 2025 onward, no earnings limit applies at all 3. If I somehow exceed the limit in those first 8 months, they'll withhold some benefits but eventually adjust my payment amount at FRA Since I'll probably earn around $65-70k by August, I might be slightly over the limit. I'll have to decide if I want to try to stay under it or just accept a small reduction for a month or two. Really appreciate all the insights!

Just want to add one more consideration - make sure your employer knows you're planning to collect Social Security while still working. Some companies have policies about this, and you'll want to coordinate with HR about tax withholdings since you'll have both W-2 income and Social Security benefits. The tax situation can get a bit complex when you have both income sources, especially if your combined income pushes you into the range where SS benefits become taxable. Might be worth running the numbers with your financial advisor to see if you need to adjust your withholdings to avoid a surprise tax bill next April!

my cousin told me the SSA website has a calculator for this stuff but i couldn't find it lol

I'm in a similar situation and found this thread really helpful! One thing I wanted to add - when you do contact SSA to confirm your earnings situation, make sure to ask them about how they'll handle your September benefit start date. Since you're retiring in September but your FRA isn't until December, they might need to adjust your first few benefit payments to account for the fact that you're technically still in your "FRA year" until December. Also, regarding the severance package - that usually doesn't count as "earnings" for the Social Security earnings test since it's not compensation for current work. But definitely confirm this when you speak with them, especially if any part of the severance is structured as consulting payments or continuation of salary. The peace of mind from getting official confirmation is totally worth the effort to reach them!

I work as a benefits counselor and see this type of error frequently. The key thing to understand is that your sister was likely receiving what's called "dually entitled" benefits - her own retirement benefit plus a divorced spouse supplement to bring her up to 50% of her ex-husband's benefit amount. When he died, she should have transitioned to divorced survivor benefits (up to 100% of his amount), which would normally be HIGHER than what she was getting before. The fact that her payment went DOWN is a major red flag. The overpayment notice for January-June (before his death) suggests their system incorrectly flagged her legitimate divorced spouse benefits as improper survivor benefits. This is a coding error where the system applied the wrong benefit type retroactively. Here's my recommendation: She needs to file Form SSA-561 (Request for Reconsideration) AND Form SSA-632 (Request for Waiver) simultaneously. The waiver can stop collection while the appeal is processed. When she goes to the office, she should specifically ask for a "Technical Expert familiar with dual entitlement cases" and request a complete benefit computation worksheet showing how they calculated both the overpayment and her new benefit amount. Don't let her sign anything agreeing to repay until this is fully reviewed. This sounds like a textbook systems error that should be correctable once the right person looks at her case.

I'm so sorry your sister is dealing with this stressful situation! Based on what you've described, this sounds like a classic system error that unfortunately happens when someone transitions from divorced spouse benefits to divorced survivor benefits. The timing is the biggest clue - an overpayment notice for January-June when he didn't pass away until July makes no sense unless their computer system incorrectly flagged her legitimate divorced spouse benefits as improper survivor benefits retroactively. Here's what I'd recommend she do immediately: 1. **Don't panic or agree to any repayment** until this is fully investigated 2. **File both Form SSA-561 (appeal) and Form SSA-632 (waiver request)** - the waiver can stop collection during the appeal 3. **Request a Technical Expert** who specializes in dual entitlement/survivor benefit cases when she visits the office 4. **Ask for a detailed benefit computation worksheet** showing exactly how they calculated both the overpayment and her new reduced benefit amount The fact that her survivor benefits are LESS than her previous benefits is another major red flag - survivor benefits are typically higher (up to 100% of the deceased's benefit vs 50% for divorced spouse benefits). This is absolutely fixable, but she needs to be persistent and get to someone who truly understands these complex cases. Document everything and don't let them rush her into accepting their initial determination. You're being a wonderful advocate for her!