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wait i just remembered something. my brother also had to deal with this with his wifes check. he said if u cant get a fixed 1099 in time for taxes theres a line on form 1040 somewhere to put "repaid social security benefits" or something. maybe someone who knows more can explain better. but there IS a way to fix it on tax forms if SS is being slow about sending new 1099
Your brother is partially correct. If the benefits were received and repaid in the same year (as in OP's case), the corrected 1099 is the proper solution. If benefits were repaid in a different year than received, then you'd use the line 7 on Schedule A for "Repayment of income reported in an earlier year" if over $3,000, or as a miscellaneous itemized deduction subject to the 2% floor if under $3,000. But since OP's situation is same-year, a corrected 1099 is the right approach.
Thank you all so much for the helpful advice! I'm going to try calling the SSA tomorrow morning as soon as they open to request a corrected 1099-SSA. I've gathered all my documentation - the original deposit receipt, bank statement showing the repayment check cleared, and the letter I received from SSA acknowledging the repayment. If I can't get through by phone, I'll try making an appointment at my local office. And I'll definitely check out that Claimyr service if I keep having trouble reaching someone. I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences. It helps to know I'm not alone in dealing with this confusing situation.
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To clarify some misinformation in this thread: Social Security payments are protected during government shutdowns because: 1. SS benefits are mandatory spending authorized by permanent law 2. The program has its own dedicated funding source (FICA taxes) 3. The Social Security Trust Fund is separate from general federal revenue During a shutdown, while some SSA services might be limited (like processing new applications or answering general questions), payments to current beneficiaries continue without interruption. Your mother's February payment will arrive on her regular payment date based on her birth date or when she first started receiving benefits. The payment will be her full benefit amount plus the 2025 COLA increase that went into effect in January. If she's concerned about her benefits, she should create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov where she can view her payment schedule and benefit amounts directly.
Thank you for breaking this down so clearly. I think a lot of the confusion came from news coverage that didn't distinguish between discretionary and mandatory spending. This is really reassuring.
My friend couldn't get ahold of SSA for TWO WEEKS when she needed to check on her missing January payment!!! They finally figured out it was some bank routing issue but she was almost EVICTED waiting for it to get fixed!!!
This is unfortunately common right now. SSA offices are understaffed and their phone systems are overwhelmed. For urgent payment issues like potential eviction, she should have contacted her local Congressional representative's office. They have liaison channels to SSA and can expedite emergency cases. Worth remembering for anyone facing critical benefits delays.
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I think its dumb that they even have a limit. We paid into this our whole lives and then they dont let us work?? Makes no sense!!
It does seem counterproductive. They want seniors to stay active but then penalize us if we work too much before FRA. At least the limit goes away completely once you reach full retirement age.
Thank you all for the incredibly helpful information! I've taken notes on everything: - We'll use the monthly earnings test for 2025 - Request this specifically when applying - His $50k from Jan-May won't count as long as he stays under the monthly limit after starting benefits - Make sure he doesn't exceed the monthly limit even once or they'll switch to annual test - Keep documentation of his retirement This is such a relief - we were worried we'd lose thousands in benefits. I'll update after we apply to let everyone know how it goes!
Smart planning! One more tip: when your husband applies, get the name and direct extension of the claims representative who handles his application. This makes follow-up much easier if there are any issues with how the monthly earnings test is applied.
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Something else to consider in your planning: if you're both still working, make sure you understand how the earnings test might affect benefits claimed before FRA. In 2025, if you earn more than $22,750 (estimated based on current limits), Social Security will withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above that threshold if you're under FRA. This doesn't apply once you reach your FRA.
Thank you for bringing this up! My husband might do some consulting work after we "retire," so we'll need to factor in the earnings test. Do you know if benefits withheld because of the earnings test are permanently lost or if they're added back somehow after reaching FRA?
Good question about the earnings test! Benefits withheld due to the earnings test are NOT permanently lost. Once you reach FRA, Social Security recalculates your benefit amount to credit you for months when benefits were withheld. Your monthly benefit amount increases to account for those months you didn't receive benefits.
That's a relief! So many nuances to understand with Social Security. I appreciate everyone's insights - you've given us several approaches to consider. I think we'll need to run some numbers based on our specific financial situation and life expectancies to determine our optimal strategy.
Ravi Choudhury
Thank you all for the helpful responses! I'm feeling much more confident now. Here's my plan based on everyone's advice: 1. Check my detailed earnings record on mySocialSecurity 2. Request IRS transcripts for any questionable years 3. Start my application process now since I'm turning 70 soon 4. Mention my concerns about the earnings record when I apply 5. Focus only on correcting years that would be in my top 35 I'll report back once I've gone through the earnings history. Fingers crossed there aren't any major issues!
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Freya Andersen
•That sounds like a perfect plan! One more tip: When you look at your earnings record on mySocialSecurity, there's a way to download the entire history as a PDF. Do that and take your time reviewing it. Sometimes seeing it all in one document makes it easier to spot unusual patterns or missing years. Good luck!
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CosmicCadet
Good luck! And don't forget to decide about Medicare too if you haven't already! That's a whole other thing to worry about lol
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Ravi Choudhury
•Oh thanks for the reminder! I'm already on Medicare since I signed up at 65, but I should check if there's anything that needs updating when I start receiving Social Security.
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