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do u need to wait till august tho?? my friend applied in the same month he stopped working and it was fine
There's actually a good reason to wait at least one month after stopping work before applying. Social Security benefits are paid the month after they're due, and you need to be eligible for the full month to receive benefits for that month. So if you stop working June 30th, July would be your first full non-working month, making August the first month you'd receive a payment.
Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I'm going to try to reach SSA to confirm my specific situation, but it sounds like the First Year Monthly Test could really help me. I'll make sure to document my work stoppage date and keep track of any special payments. This community has been so helpful!
Glad we could help! One last tip: when you do reach SSA, ask them to document in their system that you're invoking the First Year Monthly Test. Also request a written explanation of how your benefits will be calculated with this rule applied. Having it in writing will protect you if there are any questions later.
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IMPORTANT: Make sure you understand that once you file, your benefit amount is pretty much locked in (except for COLAs). That's why getting the timing right is so important! I filed too early and regret not waiting a few more months to get a higher amount. You CANNOT go back and change your filing date once benefits start!
That's not entirely accurate. Within the first 12 months after filing, you can withdraw your application (Form SSA-521), repay all benefits received, and then reapply later. It's essentially a do-over. However, you can only do this once in your lifetime. Beyond 12 months, your filing decision is indeed permanent.
Thank you all for the helpful information! Based on everything shared here, I think I'm going to wait until March 2025 to file. That will give me 9.7% in delayed retirement credits (16 months past my FRA) AND ensure my 2024 earnings are properly included in my benefit calculation. I'm going to spend some time reviewing my earnings history to confirm that my partial 2024 year will actually improve my benefit amount by replacing one of my lower-earning years. Then I'll use that Claimyr service to connect with SSA and double-check everything before I file. I really appreciate all the advice!
Sounds like a well-thought-out plan! The extra couple months of waiting will give you both additional delayed retirement credits and ensure your 2024 earnings are properly counted. Good luck with your retirement!
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my moms payment went up but my dads didnt change either! they told him its because his medicare premium also went up by almost the same amount as the cola so it looked like no change in the final deposit. maybe check if ur husbands medicare premium changed?
That's actually a really good point! I'll check his Medicare premium. He did change some prescription coverage during open enrollment so maybe that affected things.
Just to follow up on some of the great suggestions here: 1. Definitely check both your and your husband's Medicare premiums, as premium increases can offset COLA increases. 2. If your husband receives SSDI and you receive retirement benefits, they may process on different schedules. SSDI COLA adjustments sometimes process separately from retirement benefit adjustments. 3. The $120 payment could be: - A retroactive COLA adjustment - An underpayment correction - Your husband's COLA being paid separately - An adjustment related to earnings record updates If this doesn't resolve by next month's payment, or if you need clarity sooner, contacting SSA directly is your best option. Your MySocialSecurity account should eventually show an explanation in the message center, but these notices can be delayed by 1-2 weeks after payments are made.
Thank you for the detailed explanation! I'll check all those possibilities. My husband did work part-time last year, so maybe there's some earnings record update happening too. I'll wait until next month to see if things normalize before spending hours on the phone with SSA.
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I think what might be confusing you is that your ex-husband is likely affected by WEP (which reduces his own earned benefit) while you're affected by GPO (which reduces spousal benefits). The recent legislation mainly addressed WEP, not GPO. From my understanding, the changes to WEP might increase your ex's benefit somewhat, but won't directly impact your GPO reduction. However, there might be some indirect effect if his primary insurance amount increases. The calculation is pretty complex, so it's definitely worth contacting SSA for a personalized review. The recent changes are still being implemented, so even the agents might need to double-check the updated rules.
That makes sense - so we're affected by different provisions even though it all stems from the same government pension. No wonder this is so confusing! I'll definitely need to speak with someone who can look at our specific situation.
One more thing to consider - when did you get divorced? If it was within the last couple of years, make sure SSA knows you were married for over 10 years (38 years in your case). Sometimes they miss that detail, which is crucial for ex-spouse benefits. Also, are you 62 or older? That's another requirement for ex-spouse benefits.
We divorced just last year, and I'm 67 now. The SSA representative did verify our marriage length when I applied, so I think they have that part right. I just wish they'd explained these WEP and GPO rules better when I applied!
Sofia Gomez
To answer your original question about PENALTIES - YES there are penalties beyond just paying back the money!! If they decide you "knowingly withheld information" (which they LOVE to claim), they can impose a penalty of an ADDITIONAL 50% of the overpayment amount!!! And they can also impose a 6-month or 12-month SUSPENSION of benefits even after you'd otherwise be eligible again!! And don't count on that payment plan being reasonable - they wanted $200/month from me on a $6000 overpayment which I COULDN'T AFFORD after losing my SSI!! Sorry to be so negative but I went through HELL with this exact situation and I'm still dealing with the fallout a year later.
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PixelWarrior
•While penalties do exist, they're typically reserved for cases of proven fraud, not honest mistakes or reporting delays. Based on what OP has shared, they're being forthcoming and planning to report everything on their redetermination, which greatly reduces the likelihood of penalties beyond repayment. Regarding payment plans, SSA policy states they should not create financial hardship. If they requested $200/month and that was unaffordable, you had the right to negotiate a lower amount with supporting documentation of your expenses. Many people successfully negotiate plans as low as $10-25/month.
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Liam Fitzgerald
Update: I called my local SSA office this morning and got nowhere - just an automated message saying they're experiencing high call volumes (as usual). I think I'm going to try that Claimyr service someone mentioned because I really need to talk to a real person before I submit these forms. In the meantime, I've gathered all my paystubs and printed out my bank statements. I've also started researching Michigan's Freedom to Work program. The monthly premium seems reasonable compared to losing coverage completely. I'm still nervous but feeling a bit more prepared. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and advice!
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Dylan Evans
•good luck! hope it works out for you
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