I want to echo what several others have said about getting an in-person appointment with SSA - it really is the best way to get clarity on your specific situation. I went through this decision process about two years ago after a 24-year marriage, and I was just as confused as you are now. One thing that really helped me was preparing specific questions before my SSA appointment. I wrote down things like: "What would I receive monthly at age 62 vs FRA for both my own benefit and ex-spouse benefit?" and "How would continuing to work at my current salary affect each scenario?" Having concrete questions helped the agent give me much more useful information. Also, don't feel bad about being overwhelmed by the SSA website - it really is confusing! The agents are much better at explaining things in plain English. In my case, I discovered that working a few more years would actually boost my own benefit enough that the difference between my benefit and the ex-spouse benefit wasn't as dramatic as I'd assumed. The earnings test is definitely something to factor in if you're planning to keep working. Even though they adjust for it later, having benefits withheld in the short term can create cash flow issues if you're counting on that income. One last tip: bring a notebook to your SSA appointment and don't be afraid to ask them to repeat or clarify anything. There's a lot of information to absorb, and you want to make sure you understand all your options before deciding. Good luck!

I'm a newcomer to this community but have been following this discussion closely as I'm facing a very similar situation. After reading through all these helpful responses, I wanted to share what I've learned from my own research and thank everyone for the valuable insights. I've been divorced for 3 years after a 26-year marriage, and like many of you, I was initially confused about the strategy of taking benefits early vs. waiting. What really struck me from this conversation is how important it is to get personalized estimates rather than trying to figure it out from general rules. I actually called SSA last week using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier - it really did help me get through to an agent faster than calling directly. The agent explained that in my case, continuing to work for a few more years would actually increase my own benefit substantially due to those being some of my highest earning years. For anyone still working through this decision, I'd especially echo the advice about preparing specific questions for your SSA appointment. I wrote down things like "What's the break-even age for taking benefits at 62 vs. FRA?" and "How do my projected future earnings affect my benefit calculation?" One thing I learned that wasn't mentioned here: if you're divorced but your ex-spouse hasn't filed for their benefits yet, you can still potentially claim on their record if you've been divorced for at least 2 years. This "independently entitled" status means you don't have to wait for them to file first. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's really helpful to hear from people who've actually navigated this process successfully!

I went through this exact situation last year when I turned my FRA. Here's what I learned after multiple calls with SSA: 1. They do count your earnings ONLY until the month before your FRA month 2. If you're over the limit, they'll reduce your benefits throughout the year based on your ESTIMATE of earnings 3. They'll adjust after the fact once they get your actual W-2 4. If they withheld too much, you'll get it back 5. If they didn't withhold enough, you'll need to pay it back My advice: If you're going to be close to the limit, provide SSA with a detailed monthly breakdown of your expected earnings for the year. That way they can apply the earnings test more accurately.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation - turning 67 in August and trying to figure out the timing. One thing I wanted to add that helped me understand this better: the SSA has a really good publication called "How Work Affects Your Benefits" (Publication No. 05-10069) that breaks down all these scenarios with examples. What really clicked for me was realizing that the earnings test is designed to be temporary - it's not a permanent penalty. Like someone mentioned above, they actually recalculate your benefit at FRA to give you credit for any months they withheld benefits due to earnings. So even if you do go over the limit in the months before your FRA, you're not permanently losing that money. For anyone still confused about the timing, I found it helpful to think of it this way: There are basically three "zones" - before FRA year (strict rules), FRA year but before FRA month (generous rules), and FRA month onward (no rules). The key is figuring out which zone you're in for any given month.

had this happen last year banks dont know SS rules half the time lol they almost sent back june and july payments when my uncle died in august!!! crazy stuff

I'm sorry for your loss, Ella. I went through this exact situation when my father passed away in 2022. The key thing to remember is that Social Security payments are made for the PREVIOUS month, so that August 3rd payment was legitimately for July when your mother was alive the entire month. Here's what I'd recommend: Contact the bank manager immediately and be very specific - tell them to ONLY return the August 28th payment (which would be for August, a month she didn't live through completely). The August 3rd payment should stay in the account as it was properly earned for July. I'd also suggest getting this in writing from the bank about which payment they're returning, just in case there are any issues later. Banks sometimes get confused about Social Security payment timing, so being crystal clear upfront will save you potential headaches down the road. If they do accidentally return the wrong payment, you'll need to contact SSA with your executor paperwork and death certificate to get it straightened out. Better to prevent the mistake than fix it later though!

whats a FRA number? is that different from regular social security?

As someone who recently went through the representative payee setup process myself, I can't stress enough how helpful everyone's advice here has been! I was in the exact same boat - the SSA worker mentioned the separate account but didn't really explain the "why" behind it. After reading through all these responses, especially the horror stories about audits, I'm definitely opening that separate account tomorrow. It sounds like the peace of mind alone is worth the minor inconvenience of managing another account. Plus, it'll make those annual reports so much easier. One question for those who've been through audits - do they give you much advance notice, or is it pretty sudden? Trying to figure out if I should get all my documentation organized right away or if I'll have time to prepare when/if it happens.

Update us after your payment date! I'm curious if it goes smoothly. My mom needs to change hers too but she's nervous about it.

Good luck with your direct deposit change! I went through the same thing about 6 months ago when my bank started charging maintenance fees. Made the switch online and it worked perfectly - payment showed up in my new account right on schedule. The key is doing it with enough time before your payment date, which it sounds like you did. Also smart to keep screenshots and leave your old account open temporarily. Hope your mom gets the confidence to make the switch too - it's really not as scary as it seems once you go through it the first time.