This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm also approaching my FRA with the same 66+10 timeline and was completely confused about the partial month situation. Reading everyone's real experiences has clarified so much - the key insight being that SSA doesn't do partial months at all. Once you hit your FRA date (like August 18th), that entire month counts as your first full benefit month, even though you weren't technically at FRA for the first 17 days. The earnings test information has been a revelation! I had no idea it completely disappears once you reach FRA, meaning unlimited earning potential starting from your FRA month. This is huge for my retirement planning since I was worried about how consulting income might affect my benefits. I'm definitely taking everyone's advice about being crystal clear when applying and getting written confirmation of the intended start date. The flexibility to delay month by month for delayed retirement credits (about 0.67% per month) is also great to know - it means reaching FRA gives you options rather than forcing you into a rigid timeline. To answer the question about the SSA retirement estimator - I found it reasonably user-friendly compared to the rest of their website. You can easily plug in different start dates and see how delaying affects your monthly benefit. The break-even analysis it provides is helpful, though it doesn't factor in inflation - you'd need to do that calculation separately. For my situation, delaying 6 months showed about a 13-year break-even point to recoup the missed payments. Thanks to everyone for sharing their actual experiences - this community knowledge is so much more valuable than trying to decode government websites alone!

This thread has been incredibly helpful for someone like me who's also navigating the Social Security maze! I'm approaching my FRA and had the exact same confusion about partial months. What I'm taking away from everyone's experiences is that SSA keeps it refreshingly simple - once you hit your FRA date, that entire month counts for full benefits regardless of what day of the month you reach it. The earnings test elimination at FRA is absolutely game-changing information! I've been stressed about how my planned part-time work might impact my benefits, but learning that I can earn unlimited amounts starting from my FRA month without any penalties completely transforms my retirement strategy. I'm definitely following the advice about being very specific when applying and getting written confirmation of the start date. The stories about people accidentally triggering early benefits and getting stuck with permanently reduced payments are exactly the kind of costly mistakes I want to avoid. One thing that really resonates with me is how several people described reaching FRA as giving you OPTIONS rather than locking you into a rigid timeline. The flexibility to delay month by month for those delayed retirement credits (if it makes sense for your overall financial picture) takes so much pressure off having everything perfectly aligned for your exact FRA month. Thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences - this community wisdom is worth so much more than trying to decipher the SSA website alone! It's reassuring to know that others have successfully navigated this process and are willing to share their insights.

Mason, this is such a helpful thread! I'm 62 and considering early retirement myself, so I'm learning a lot from everyone's experiences. One thing I wanted to add that I learned from my financial advisor - make sure you understand how the earnings test interacts with your tax withholdings too. If you're having taxes withheld from your paychecks, those withholdings count as part of your gross earnings for the Social Security earnings test, even though you don't actually receive that money. So when you're calculating whether you'll hit that $1,950 monthly limit, make sure you're using your gross pay amount before any deductions, not just your take-home amount. I made this mistake when doing my initial planning and thought I had more room under the limit than I actually did! Just another detail to factor into that spreadsheet everyone's been recommending. Good luck with your retirement - sounds like you're doing everything right!

Mason, I just went through this exact scenario last year when I retired at 63! The payment date rule is absolutely correct - it's when you RECEIVE the money that counts, not when you worked the hours. That February work getting paid on March 5th will definitely count toward your March limit. One thing that really helped me was creating a monthly calendar showing not just my work dates, but my actual expected pay dates for the entire first year. I even called my payroll department to confirm holiday schedules and any potential delays. This let me plan my hours strategically to stay safely under that $1,950 monthly limit. Also, don't forget that any bonuses, commission payments, or unused PTO payouts follow the same rule - it's all about when the money hits your account. I had a year-end bonus that got delayed from December to January, which actually worked out perfectly for my planning! The monthly limits feel restrictive at first, but remember it switches to the much more manageable annual limit ($21,240 for 2025) after your first year. You're being smart to plan this out carefully - most people don't think about these details until it's too late. Good luck with your retirement next month!

Just wanted to add something important that I learned when helping my neighbor with this - make sure your father-in-law gets a copy of his Social Security Statement before applying! You can access it online at ssa.gov/myaccount or request a paper copy. This will show his complete work history and estimated benefits, which helps verify everything is correct before he applies. Also, since he's been working for 9 years, he's probably very close to earning those 40 credits needed. You typically earn 4 credits per year if you make at least the minimum amount (around $6,500 in 2024), so he likely already qualifies or will very soon. One more tip: if he decides to delay retirement past his Full Retirement Age, his benefits will actually increase by about 8% per year until age 70. This could be worth considering if he's in good health and can continue working!

As someone who works in immigration law, I can confirm everything mentioned here is accurate! Green card holders absolutely qualify for Social Security retirement benefits under the same rules as citizens - 40 credits (roughly 10 years of work). One additional consideration for your father-in-law: since he's been working for 9 years, I'd recommend he check his Social Security earnings record now to make sure all his wages have been properly credited. Sometimes there are discrepancies that need to be corrected, and it's much easier to fix these issues while he's still working. Also, regarding the international travel concerns mentioned earlier - if your father-in-law is from a country that has a totalization agreement with the US, he may be able to combine work credits from both countries to qualify for benefits. This could potentially help him reach the 40-credit threshold faster if needed. The key thing is that receiving Social Security benefits will NOT affect his immigration status or green card in any way - these are earned benefits he's paid into through payroll taxes.

I'm 64 and have been following this discussion with great interest! As someone who's been on the fence about filing, this thread has been incredibly reassuring about having options if circumstances change. What I find most valuable is hearing from people like Emily and Sophia who actually went through the withdrawal process and ended up better off financially by waiting. The $180/month increase Sophia mentioned really puts things in perspective - that's significant money over a 20+ year retirement! Marcus, I'm so glad you got clear confirmation from SSA about your options. It's encouraging to hear that despite all the complaints about their customer service, you were able to get definitive answers in a reasonable timeframe. For anyone else reading this thread, the key takeaways seem to be: 1) You CAN withdraw before benefits start without penalty, 2) Use Form SSA-521 and submit it well before your payment date, 3) This doesn't count against your lifetime withdrawal option, and 4) The online submission through my.ssa.gov appears to be the most reliable method. I think I'm going to hold off filing for another year after reading all these experiences. Sometimes having that peace of mind about your decision is worth more than rushing into guaranteed benefits. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - this kind of real-world knowledge is exactly what we need when navigating these major financial decisions!

I'm 61 and this entire discussion has been absolutely eye-opening! I had been dreading the Social Security filing decision because I thought it was a one-way street once you submitted the application. Learning about the SSA-521 withdrawal option has completely changed my perspective on the timing question that's been keeping me up at night. What really resonates with me is how many people described that initial filing anxiety, followed by relief after realizing they had an "escape hatch" if needed. The technical clarification that pre-payment withdrawals don't count against your lifetime withdrawal option is crucial - it essentially gives us a risk-free trial period to see how the decision feels once it's real. Marcus, thank you for sharing your experience and following up with that successful SSA call. Knowing that you got clear answers in 40 minutes gives me hope that the system works when you need it. The stories from Emily, Sophia, and others who actually went through withdrawals and ended up significantly better off financially are incredibly valuable data points. I'm planning to file at 62 next year, but now I feel much more confident knowing that if unexpected work opportunities arise or I simply change my mind, I have options. Sometimes just knowing you CAN change course makes it easier to move forward with an initial decision. This community's willingness to share real experiences is exactly what makes these complex financial decisions feel manageable!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely shocked by what I've learned in this thread! I had always thought that Social Security was pretty straightforward - you pay in, you get benefits based on your own record or maybe your spouse's. The idea that multiple ex-spouses can each collect 100% survivor benefits from the same person's record without any reduction is completely mind-blowing to me. I've been divorced for 4 years after an 11-year marriage, and it never occurred to me that I might have potential survivor benefit rights on my ex-husband's record someday. Reading all these real-world examples and expert explanations has made me realize how much I don't understand about the system I've been paying into my entire working life. It's both reassuring to know these protections exist and frustrating to think about how many people probably miss out on benefits they're entitled to simply because they don't know to ask. Thank you all for sharing such valuable insights - this has been more educational than any government pamphlet I've ever read!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely amazed by everything I've learned in this discussion! I had no idea that Social Security survivor benefits could work this way - the fact that multiple ex-spouses can each receive 100% of a deceased worker's benefits simultaneously is incredible. I always assumed there would be some kind of cap or that benefits would be split between multiple claimants. Reading all these real-world examples and expert insights has been so eye-opening. It makes me realize how much about the Social Security system remains a mystery to most people, despite us all paying into it throughout our working lives. I'm particularly struck by how this generous policy seems to be such a well-kept secret - I wonder how many eligible people never receive benefits they're entitled to simply because they don't know these rules exist. This thread has been more educational about practical Social Security knowledge than any official government resource I've ever encountered. Thank you to everyone who shared their expertise and personal experiences!