Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! We've decided to talk to a financial advisor who specializes in retirement planning, specifically someone who understands Social Security rules. Since we're both over FRA, it sounds like I can keep my survivors benefits regardless, but we want to make sure we're optimizing both our benefits and understanding the tax implications. I'll try using that Claimyr service to get through to SSA directly too.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the Medicare implications of marriage. When you marry, your combined income could potentially push you into higher Medicare Part B and Part D premiums due to IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount). With your boyfriend making $85k and your survivors benefits, your modified adjusted gross income as a married couple might trigger these surcharges. The IRMAA thresholds for married filing jointly are different (and lower per person) than for single filers. This is another cost to factor into your decision alongside the tax implications others have mentioned. Definitely something to discuss with both your financial advisor and tax professional!

Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I'm going to: 1) Check the official 2025 earnings limit when it's announced 2) Make sure I completely stop working before December when I claim 3) Specifically mention to SSA when I apply that I've retired so they apply the monthly test 4) Keep documentation of when I stopped working It's much clearer now how this works. I was worried I'd have to micromanage my earnings to exactly hit the annual limit, but using the monthly rule makes more sense for my situation.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation and had been stressing about the earnings test. One thing I learned from my financial advisor that might help others: if you're planning to retire mid-year like this, it's also worth considering the tax implications. Since you'll likely be in a lower tax bracket in 2025 after you stop working, it might be a good year to do things like Roth conversions or realize capital gains at lower rates. The timing of when you stop working can affect more than just your Social Security benefits - it can impact your overall tax strategy for the year. Just something else to factor into your planning!

Thank you all for the advice! I think I'll try the online application since my situation seems simple enough, but I'll make sure to double-check everything carefully, especially my earnings record. If I run into any issues, I might try that Claimyr service to get through to someone by phone. I appreciate all your help!

As someone who recently went through this process, I'd recommend starting with the online application since your situation does sound straightforward. However, I'd suggest doing a thorough review of your my Social Security account first - check your earnings history going back to your early working years, not just recent ones. Sometimes there are small discrepancies that can add up over time. One thing that might be worth considering: since you stopped working 6 years ago, make sure those zero-earning years aren't negatively impacting your benefit calculation more than necessary. The SSA uses your highest 35 years of earnings, so if you have more than 35 years of work history, those recent zeros might not matter. But if you're close to 35 years, it could be worth double-checking. Also, keep in mind that you can always start online and call if you hit any snags. The online system will save your progress, so you're not locked into finishing it in one session. Good luck with your application!

have u tried turning it off and on again? 🤣 jk jk... but seriously, sometimes just closing the browser completely and reopening works wonders

I've run into this exact same issue before! Another thing to try is checking if you're using any browser extensions that might be interfering with the page display. Ad blockers or privacy extensions sometimes hide buttons by mistake. You could also try using incognito/private browsing mode to see if the logout button shows up there.

Just realized something - check your Medicare Summary Notices from the past few months! My uncle had a similar situation and they actually had a tiny note at the bottom of page 3 on his Medicare Summary Notice that mentioned the premium adjustment. Most people never read those things all the way through! Might be worth digging through your mail or logging into your Medicare.gov account to check your recent MSNs.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! Got about $8,500 deposited last month with zero explanation, also related to Medicare Part B premiums. Like you, I called multiple times and everyone says it's mine but won't put anything in writing. What I ended up doing was creating my own paper trail - I've been keeping detailed notes of every phone call (date, time, representative name or ID number, exactly what they told me). I also screenshot my MySocialSecurity account daily to show the deposit is still there and hasn't been flagged as an error. I'm planning to wait about 60 days before spending most of it, but I did use a small portion ($500) for urgent medical expenses to test the waters. No clawback so far. The anxiety is real though - I completely understand your fear about touching the money. You're definitely not alone in this frustrating situation!