One more important point: If you do exceed the earnings limit, SSA doesn't necessarily reduce each month's benefit by the same amount. They typically withhold benefits completely for some months rather than reducing each payment. For example, if they determine you need to repay $5,000, and your monthly benefit is $2,500, they might withhold 2 full months of benefits. They'll notify you before they do this. Also, remember that any benefits withheld due to excess earnings aren't truly "lost" - once you reach FRA, SSA recalculates your benefit amount to give you credit for those months when benefits were withheld.

As someone who recently navigated this exact situation, I want to add a few practical tips that helped me: 1. **Create a simple tracking system NOW** - I use a basic spreadsheet with columns for date, hours worked, type of work, and income earned. This makes it easy to see if you're approaching either limit. 2. **Be conservative with your planning** - I aimed to stay about 10% under both the income and hours limits to give myself a buffer for unexpected projects or miscalculations. 3. **Consider timing your invoicing** - Since you're self-employed, you might have some flexibility in when you send invoices and receive payments. This can help you manage which months income gets counted toward. 4. **Keep ALL business records** - Even if SSA doesn't ask for them, having detailed records of expenses, hours, and income will save you headaches if questions arise later. The good news is that once you hit your FRA in August 2025, all these restrictions disappear completely. You're only dealing with about 8 months of careful tracking. It's manageable if you stay organized from the start!

I'm also in Florida (Fort Lauderdale area) and have been dealing with this same nightmare! Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and depressing - at least I know it's not just me struggling with this system. I tried calling yesterday morning around 10am and got the busy signal, then tried again around noon and waited 1.5 hours before giving up. Based on all the great advice in this thread, I'm planning to try the Wednesday afternoon approach (around 1-2pm) that several people mentioned. Also going to check my online Social Security account first - I totally forgot that was even an option! For my situation I just need to update my address after a recent move, so maybe I can handle that online without calling at all. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and strategies. It's really helpful to know what's working (and what isn't) for other people dealing with the same frustrating system!

I'm also new to this community and currently dealing with the same phone nightmare in Tallahassee! Been trying to reach SSA about updating my direct deposit information after switching banks, and it's been absolutely impossible. Reading through all these experiences really validates how broken the system is right now. I'm definitely going to try the Wednesday afternoon strategy around 1-2pm that several people have had success with. Also had no idea about checking my Social Security online account first - that could potentially save me from having to call at all for something like a direct deposit change. For anyone still struggling with this, it sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) Try Wednesday/Thursday afternoons instead of mornings, 2) Check your online account first to see if you can handle it there, 3) Have all your info ready before calling, and 4) Consider that third-party callback service if you're really desperate. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real experiences and actual strategies that work. It's frustrating we have to jump through so many hoops, but at least this gives me a better game plan than just repeatedly calling at random times!

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I've learned so much. To summarize what I understand now: Since my sister was born after 1954, when her SSDI converts to retirement at 67, she has to choose either her own benefit OR 50% of her ex's (whichever is higher) - she can't do one then switch to the other. I'll help her set up a my Social Security account to see her projected benefit amount and then we'll try to figure out what her ex might be receiving to compare. I appreciate everyone taking the time to explain this complicated situation!

Just wanted to add one more consideration that hasn't been mentioned yet - if your sister's ex-husband hasn't filed for his own benefits yet, she might still be able to claim divorced spouse benefits even if he's just eligible (age 62+). The rule is that if they've been divorced for at least 2 years, she can claim on his record even if he hasn't actually applied yet. This could be relevant depending on his age and filing status. Also, make sure she understands that claiming divorced spouse benefits won't affect what her ex receives - it's completely independent of his benefits. Good luck navigating all this!

I'm so sorry to hear about your wife's diagnosis - my heart goes out to your family during this incredibly difficult time. As someone new to this community, I've been reading through all the incredibly helpful responses here and wanted to share something that might be useful. When my neighbor went through a similar situation with her disabled son, she discovered that some SSA offices offer "appointment packages" specifically for survivor benefit cases where they handle multiple related tasks in one visit - reporting the death, applying for survivor benefits, updating representative payee information, and addressing any Medicare-related questions all at once. This can save you from having to make multiple trips during an already overwhelming time. Also, I'd suggest bringing a small notebook or phone to record any case numbers, reference numbers, or confirmation numbers they give you during the process. Having those numbers can be really helpful if you need to follow up or if there are any processing delays. The care and preparation you're showing for your son during this heartbreaking situation is truly admirable. From everything shared here, it sounds like you have a clear path forward and a supportive community to help guide you through this process.

I'm so deeply sorry about your wife's diagnosis and what you're going through as a family. As a newcomer to this community, I've been reading through all these incredibly detailed and helpful responses, and I'm amazed by the knowledge and compassion everyone has shared. I wanted to add one small thing that might be helpful - when you do schedule your appointment with SSA, consider asking if they can provide you with a written checklist of everything you'll need to bring. Different offices sometimes have slightly different requirements, and having that checklist directly from them could save you from having to make a second trip if you're missing something. Also, I noticed several people mentioned the importance of getting everything in writing. You might want to ask SSA if they can email or mail you a summary of the conversation after your appointment, including the expected timeline for processing and the new benefit amount. Some offices do this automatically, but others will only provide it if you specifically request it. Your dedication to ensuring your son's care continues seamlessly during this transition shows what an incredible father you are. Sending you and your family strength and peace during this difficult journey.

This is exactly what I needed to see! I'm 64 and turning 65 in a few months, planning to enroll in Medicare but delay SS until 70. I had no idea about this premium overlap issue or the 3-month advance payment requirement for direct Medicare billing. Reading through all these experiences, it sounds like keeping detailed records is absolutely critical - dates, amounts, confirmation numbers, everything. The 5-month refund timeline is good to know so I won't panic when it inevitably happens to me. It's also reassuring that the system automatically catches these overlaps, even if SSA processes everything at glacial speed. Thanks for sharing this - real experiences like yours are so much more valuable than trying to decode the official government documentation!

This is incredibly helpful - thank you for sharing your experience! I'm currently 66 and just started receiving my Social Security benefits last month after delaying past my FRA. I've been paying Medicare premiums directly since I enrolled at 65, so I'm probably in line for a similar refund situation. Reading through all these comments, I'm realizing I should have been keeping better track of my premium payments. I can see from my bank statements that I've been paying, but I don't have all the confirmation details organized. One question - when you got the refund, was there any way to see a breakdown of exactly which months they were refunding you for? I'm trying to figure out how many months of overlap I might have so I can estimate what to expect. Also, did you have to report this refund as income for tax purposes, or is it just considered a return of your own overpayment? This thread has been a goldmine of practical information that you just can't find anywhere in the official documentation!