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I'm so confused about all this FRA stuff!!! Is that the same as the retirement age? I'm 62 and thinking about taking my benefits early but I'm still working part time at Walmart. Will they reduce my benefits? I make about $22,000 a year.
FRA stands for Full Retirement Age, which is different for everyone based on their birth year. For people born 1960 or later, FRA is 67. For those born earlier, it's between 66 and 67. At 62, you're taking benefits before your FRA, so yes, the earnings limit would apply to you. In 2025, if you earn more than $21,240, your benefits will be reduced by $1 for every $2 you earn above that limit. With your $22,000 income, you'd be $760 over the limit, so your annual benefits would be reduced by $380 (or about $32 per month). Additionally, by claiming early at 62, your benefit amount is permanently reduced by about a 5/9 of one percent for each month before your FRA (up to 36 months) and then 5/12 of one percent beyond that. This can mean up to a 30% permanent reduction compared to waiting until your FRA.
I'm in a similar boat - just turned 66 and still working part-time as a nurse. Can confirm what others have said about no benefit reduction at FRA! I've been collecting my full $2,400/month while earning about $30k from my nursing shifts. The SSA doesn't care how much you make once you hit your FRA. One thing I learned the hard way though - definitely plan for the tax hit. Between my SS benefits, part-time income, and some retirement account withdrawals, I ended up owing way more than expected last year. Now I have taxes withheld from my SS payments (10% federal) and make quarterly payments. Also watch out for the Medicare IRMAA increases if your income gets too high - that caught me by surprise too. Bottom line: work as much as you want at FRA without worrying about benefit reductions, just plan for the tax implications!
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Update: I finally got through to Social Security! The agent confirmed I am eligible for ex-spouse benefits and it will increase my monthly payment by about $370! They're processing my application now. They said I'll only get 6 months of back payments though, which is disappointing considering I could have been receiving this higher amount for nearly 20 years. Still, I'm grateful for the increase going forward. Thanks to everyone for your help and advice!
Congrats on the increase! Better late than never I guess. My mom missed out on thousands too because nobody told her about widow benefits until years after my dad passed. The system really should do better at informing people.
Congratulations on getting through and securing that increase! $370 more per month is significant and will really help with your finances going forward. It's unfortunate about the limited back pay, but you're absolutely right to focus on the positive - you'll be receiving this higher amount for the rest of your life. Your story is a great reminder for others to research all their Social Security options thoroughly. The SSA really should do a better job of informing people about benefits they're entitled to, especially for situations like divorced spouse benefits that aren't always obvious. Thanks for sharing your update - it will definitely help others in similar situations!
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Thank you all for the helpful advice! I'm feeling much more confident about applying online now. I've made notes of everything I need to prepare, and my daughter will help me this weekend. I'll definitely use the official ssa.gov website and save/print my confirmation page when I'm done. Really appreciate everyone's tips!
Good luck with your application! Don't hesitate to come back if you have any questions during the process.
One more tip that might help with your tech anxiety - before you start the actual application, try creating a my Social Security account first at ssa.gov. This lets you practice navigating the website and you can view your earnings history to make sure everything looks correct. It's also useful to have this account set up anyway since you'll be able to check your benefit status and manage things online later. The account creation is separate from the application process, so it's a good way to get comfortable with the site without any pressure!
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i changed my mind like 10 times before filing lol. in the end i just went with my gut feeling. sometimes u can overthink these things ya know?
While intuition has its place, Social Security claiming is one area where running the numbers is really important. A decision made at 64 can have hundreds of thousands of dollars of lifetime impact. It's worth spending time with the right tools to make an informed choice, especially with health considerations in the mix.
I'm really sorry to hear about your cancer battles, and I'm glad you're in remission now. Your health history definitely adds complexity to this decision. One thing that might help is to think about this in terms of "insurance" rather than just maximizing dollars. If you file now at 64, you're essentially buying peace of mind and guaranteed income for however long you live. The break-even calculations assume average lifespans, but your situation is unique. Have you considered doing a "what-if" analysis? Calculate how much you'd receive monthly if you file now versus waiting, then multiply by different time horizons (5 years, 10 years, 15 years) to see the total payout under each scenario. This might give you a clearer picture of the financial trade-offs. Also, don't forget about the non-financial benefits of filing earlier - less stress about future health issues, ability to enjoy the money while you're feeling well, and flexibility to make other life decisions without worrying about optimizing SS timing. Whatever you decide, make sure it's a decision you can live with comfortably. The "perfect" mathematical choice doesn't matter if it keeps you up at night worrying.
Evelyn Rivera
After talking with SSA (took FOREVER to reach someone), I found out something that might help you. Once you've reported your self-employment to them, they'll send you a form called "Report of Work Activity" where you have to estimate your hours and earnings. After you file taxes, they'll adjust based on your actual net earnings. The key is REPORTING PROACTIVELY! Don't wait for them to discover your work activity later - that's how people end up with huge overpayment notices!!
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Mateo Warren
•This is extremely helpful! I'll definitely report my work activity right away. I'd much rather have them withhold some benefits now than get hit with an overpayment notice later. Thank you!
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Leeann Blackstein
Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through a similar situation. I'm also on survivor benefits and do freelance work from home. The most important thing I learned is that SSA cares more about your NET income than your hours for the earnings test, but you still need to be prepared to justify your hour calculations if they ask. For pet sitting specifically, I'd recommend creating a simple daily log format: - Date/time: feeding, walking, playtime - Administrative tasks: responding to messages, scheduling - Any other direct care activities Don't count passive time when the dogs are just sleeping or hanging out while you're doing your own activities. But DO count time spent actively supervising if the dogs require constant attention due to behavioral issues, medical needs, etc. Also, make sure you're deducting ALL legitimate business expenses - dog food you provide, cleaning supplies, wear and tear on your home, even a portion of utilities if you're using extra electricity/water. These deductions can really help keep your net earnings under the limit. The most important advice: Report your work activity to SSA as soon as you start. It's so much easier to work with them upfront than deal with overpayment issues later!
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