Mason, I went through this exact situation 2 years ago when I retired at 63. The annual earnings limit applies to ALL income earned during the calendar year, regardless of when you start collecting benefits. However, there's good news - William Rivera mentioned the first-year retirement rule which can be a game-changer. If you completely stop working in August (no earnings whatsoever after that), you can receive full benefits for September through December even if your January-August income exceeded the annual limit. The key is making sure you have absolutely zero earnings after your retirement date - no consulting, no vacation payouts, nothing. I'd strongly recommend calling SSA to confirm this applies to your situation and get it documented. Also consider whether waiting until January 2026 might work better financially - you'd avoid the earnings test entirely and get slightly higher monthly benefits from delayed retirement credits.

Just wanted to add another perspective here - I'm a retired SSA field office manager and can confirm that the first-year retirement rule is legitimate and underutilized. However, be very careful about the documentation. When you call SSA to discuss this, ask them to put notes in your file about your retirement date and the application of the first-year rule. I've seen cases where different representatives gave conflicting information later, so having it documented upfront is crucial. Also, make sure your employer processes your final paycheck correctly and doesn't accidentally include any earnings in September or later months. Even a small amount can disqualify you from using this rule. The earnings test can be confusing, but with proper planning and documentation, you can navigate it successfully.

To tie everything together for your planning purposes: 1. Apply about 3 months before March 2025 (so December 2024 or January 2025) 2. Specifically select March 2025 as your benefit start month on the application 3. Understand your first payment would normally arrive in April 2025, but processing delays might push this to May or even June 4. Budget accordingly, knowing there could be a gap between when you expect payments to start and when they actually begin 5. Remember you'll get back payments for any months you're eligible but haven't received payment for yet 6. Your $68K earnings won't reduce your benefits, but will likely make a portion of your benefits taxable Does this help clarify the timing for your situation?

As someone who just went through this process myself, I wanted to add a few practical tips that helped me navigate the application: 1. Create a my Social Security account online if you haven't already - you can check your earnings record and get benefit estimates before applying. This helps you spot any errors in your work history early. 2. When you do apply in December/January, consider doing it on a weekday morning when their systems tend to be more responsive. I had multiple timeouts trying to apply on a Sunday evening. 3. If you're married, make sure you understand spousal benefit options too. Even if your spouse isn't ready to claim, there might be strategies worth considering. 4. Keep copies of everything you submit. The SSA has been known to ask for the same documents multiple times during processing. The advice about budgeting for delays is spot-on. I ended up needing an extra 10 weeks of savings beyond what I originally planned for. Better to be prepared than scrambling to cover bills while waiting for that first payment!

Just wanted to follow up - thanks everyone for the engaging discussion! I appreciate all perspectives. For those wondering, I made my choice after reading several SSA publications and creating my own spreadsheet to compare scenarios. While I'm comfortable with my decision, I think the main point is that there's no one-size-fits-all answer. Health status, family situation, other income sources, and even personal values all matter. What worked for me might not work for everyone!

As someone new to this community and approaching retirement decisions myself, this has been incredibly helpful to read through! I'm 59 and starting to think seriously about these choices. The break-even analysis you did makes a lot of sense - it's surprising how the financial advisors don't always present it this way. One thing I'm curious about - for those who took benefits early, how has the reduced monthly amount affected your day-to-day budgeting? I keep going back and forth between wanting the security of higher monthly payments later versus having the flexibility of money now. My biggest worry is whether the early amount will be enough to cover unexpected expenses as I get older, especially healthcare costs that seem to keep rising faster than COLAs. Also really appreciate the clarification on FRA - I was confused about that too! This discussion has given me a lot to think about and some good starting points for my own research.

For the death certificate, they usually want to see the original but they'll make a copy and give it back to you. At least that's what happened when my sister applied for survivor benefits. And yes, having his Social Security number would definitely help speed things up when you contact them, but if you don't have it, they should be able to find his record with enough other information.

One more important thing to consider: If you're working and planning to apply for survivor benefits at 60, be aware of the earnings test. In 2025, if you earn more than $23,000 (approximate figure), SSA will withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above that limit until you reach your Full Retirement Age. This earnings test can significantly reduce or eliminate your survivor benefits if you have substantial income. However, once you reach FRA, the earnings test no longer applies, and you can earn any amount without reduction in benefits.

Thanks for all this helpful information everyone! I spoke with my sister and we've decided that she's going to talk to the social worker at her dialysis center first thing tomorrow. She's also going to check with her HR department about exactly what kind of health coverage she has now and what her STD/LTD options look like. We now understand that switching to SSDI isn't an option at her age, but the information about Medicare's special provisions for kidney disease patients is a game-changer. I'm going to help her enroll in Part B right away to avoid any future penalties.

Just wanted to add one more consideration that might help your sister - since she's still working full-time at 72, she should also look into whether her employer offers an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Many companies provide free counseling and benefits navigation services through EAPs that can help sort through all these complex Medicare and insurance decisions. Also, if she decides to retire, she might want to time it strategically around her dialysis schedule to minimize any gaps in coverage. The transition period can be tricky, but it sounds like you're helping her think through all the right questions. Good luck with everything!