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I'm new to this community and experiencing this exact same issue! Just checked my MySocialSecurity account yesterday and panicked when I saw $0 for 2024 despite working steadily all year. This thread has been incredibly reassuring - I had no idea that SSA operates on such a delayed timeline. The explanation about the annual tax reporting cycle (W-2s due January 31st, then 6-12 months processing time) makes perfect sense now, but you're all absolutely right that SSA should explain this clearly on their website. A simple notice would save so many people unnecessary stress! I'm definitely going to contact my HR department tomorrow to verify they have my correct SSN for W-2 reporting - that's such a practical step I can take right now while waiting for the normal processing timeline. Also starting a filing system for all my pay documents after reading everyone's advice about keeping detailed records. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it's such a relief to know this delay is completely normal and affects everyone. This community is invaluable for getting real answers about these confusing government processes!
Welcome to the community, Anastasia! I just joined recently too and had the exact same panic attack when I saw my 2024 earnings showing $0. This thread has been such a blessing - I honestly thought something was seriously wrong with my employer's payroll system or that my Social Security number got mixed up somehow. It's crazy how this simple explanation about the annual reporting cycle isn't mentioned anywhere on the SSA website where people would actually see it! The HR verification tip is so smart - I called mine yesterday and they confirmed everything looks good on their end, which was hugely reassuring. It's amazing how much anxiety could be prevented if SSA just put one sentence explaining the 6-12 month delay right on the earnings page. Thanks for sharing your experience - it really helps to know so many of us newcomers are going through the same thing!
I'm new to this community and just went through this exact same worry! My 2024 earnings are also showing $0 despite working full-time all year. I was convinced my employer had somehow messed up my Social Security reporting and was starting to panic about my future benefits being affected. This entire thread has been such a lifesaver - I had absolutely no clue that SSA works on these delayed annual cycles rather than real-time updates. The breakdown of the timeline (W-2s submitted by January 31st, then 6-12 months for processing) finally makes everything click. It's honestly shocking that MySocialSecurity doesn't have a simple notice explaining this normal delay right on the earnings page! I'm definitely taking everyone's advice about contacting my HR department to verify they have my correct SSN and will be submitting my W-2 properly. That feels like such a practical step I can take right now instead of just worrying. Also going to start keeping much better records of all my paystubs and tax documents after seeing how many people emphasize the importance of documentation. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this community has given me so much peace of mind about what I thought was a major problem but is actually just how the system normally works. It's incredible how much stress could be avoided if SSA just explained their process better!
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My husband and me were just talking about this! Do you guys have a financial advisor who specializes in SS? Our regular investment guy doesnt really know all these complicated rules. Makes a big difference to get the right advice!
Look for a financial advisor who has the RSSA certification (Registered Social Security Analyst) or at minimum a CFP who specializes in retirement income planning. Many investment-focused advisors don't have deep knowledge of Social Security's complex rules.
I'm new to this community but dealing with a similar situation with my parents. One thing I learned from researching this is that you might want to consider the "break-even" analysis - comparing the total benefits you'd receive by claiming at FRA vs waiting until 70. If you're in good health and have longevity in your family, waiting until 70 usually makes sense not just for the higher monthly benefit, but especially for maximizing your wife's potential survivor benefit. The crossover point is typically around age 82-83 where the delayed claiming strategy starts paying off in total lifetime benefits. But since your wife would get that higher survivor benefit for potentially decades, it's often worth the wait even if you don't personally reach that break-even age.
Welcome to the community, Carmen! That's a really good point about the break-even analysis. I hadn't thought about factoring in the survivor benefit duration when calculating whether delaying makes sense. My wife is only 65, so if I pass away first, she could potentially receive that higher survivor benefit for 20+ years. That really changes the math compared to just looking at my own break-even point. Do you know of any good calculators that factor in both spouses' life expectancies and the survivor benefit piece?
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This has been such an enlightening thread! I'm 60 and honestly had no clue about most of these nuances around Social Security and continued work. Reading about the double benefit potential at FRA (reduction adjustment + higher earnings recalculation) is fascinating - it really changes how I'm thinking about the timing of when to file. One question I haven't seen addressed: if you're self-employed rather than a traditional W-2 employee, does the earnings test work the same way? I run a small consulting business and my income can vary quite a bit year to year. Also, for the annual recalculations based on higher earnings, do they use your net self-employment income after business deductions, or is it based on gross earnings? I imagine the variability of self-employment income could make the earnings test calculations more complex, but I'm hoping the benefit increases from higher earning years would work the same way. Thanks to everyone who has shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world insight that's so hard to find elsewhere!
Great question about self-employment! Yes, the earnings test works the same way for self-employed individuals, but you're right that it can be more complex. The SSA uses your net earnings from self-employment (after business deductions) for both the earnings test and the annual recalculations - so it's based on what you actually pay self-employment tax on, not your gross business income. The tricky part with variable income is estimating your annual earnings when you first file. Since your consulting income fluctuates, you might want to be conservative with your estimate to avoid having to pay back benefits if you earn more than expected. You can always update your earnings estimate during the year if your income projections change significantly. The good news is that for the annual benefit recalculations, those higher net self-employment earnings would be treated exactly the same as W-2 wages - if they're higher than any of your lowest 35 years, they'll boost your benefit calculation. Just make sure you're keeping good records since self-employment income reporting can sometimes be delayed compared to W-2 wages.
This thread has been incredibly valuable! As someone who just turned 62 and is still working, I had no idea about the complexity of how Social Security interacts with continued employment. The information about annual recalculations potentially increasing benefits even after filing early, combined with the adjustment at FRA for withheld benefits, completely changes my perspective on the timing decision. I'm particularly interested in what @Diego Castillo mentioned about getting credit back for withheld months - that seems like it could significantly reduce the penalty for early filing if you're still working. My situation is similar to the original poster - I'm earning more now than ever before in my career, so it sounds like I could benefit from both the higher earnings replacing lower years AND the reduction factor adjustment. Does anyone know if there are good online calculators that can model these scenarios, or is this something where you really need to speak with an SSA representative to get accurate projections? Thanks to everyone for sharing their real experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical information that's missing from the official SSA publications!
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Great to see you got the clarity you needed! Just wanted to add one more tip - since you mentioned having a pension too, you might want to consider having taxes withheld from that as well if possible. Many pension providers offer withholding options, and it could help you avoid underpayment penalties if your total tax liability is higher than expected. With both SS and pension income, you'll definitely want to keep an eye on your overall tax situation. The 10% withholding on SS sounds like a reasonable starting point!
That's a really good point about the pension withholding too! I hadn't even thought about coordinating both sources. My pension is pretty small compared to SS, but every bit helps when it comes to avoiding surprises at tax time. I'll look into whether my pension administrator offers withholding options as well. Thanks for thinking of that detail - it's exactly the kind of thing I would have overlooked until it was too late!
One thing to keep in mind is that the withholding percentages on Form W-4V (7%, 10%, 12%, 22%) are fixed options - you can't choose a custom percentage like 8% or 15%. So if you find that 10% results in too big a refund or you still owe taxes, you'd need to jump to either 7% or 12%. Also, changes to your withholding don't take effect immediately - there's usually a processing delay of a month or two, so plan accordingly if you decide to adjust it later in the year.
That's really helpful to know about the fixed percentages! I was assuming I could pick any percentage I wanted. Good point about the processing delay too - I'll need to factor that in when I submit my W-4V. Since I'm just starting benefits next month, I should probably get the form in as soon as possible if I want withholding to begin relatively quickly. Thanks for the heads up about those details!
Zainab Ismail
I'm going through something similar as a retired teacher. Just wanted to add that you should definitely still apply when you turn 62 - sometimes the calculations work out differently than expected, especially if your husband's benefit amount is higher than you think. Also, keep all your documentation from your police department about your pension details. When I applied, they needed specific information about whether my pension was from "substantial" vs "non-substantial" earnings years. The whole process is confusing but getting that official determination letter will be important for your records. And like others mentioned, the survivor benefit rules are different and potentially more favorable, so this isn't necessarily the end of the story.
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Katherine Shultz
•Thank you for sharing your experience as a retired teacher - it's reassuring to hear from someone going through a similar situation. I hadn't thought about the documentation aspect, but that makes sense that they'd need specific details about the pension structure. Did you end up receiving any spousal benefits despite the GPO, or were you in the same boat as what seems likely for me? Also, when you mention "substantial" vs "non-substantial" earnings years, does that relate to the pension amount or the years of service? I want to make sure I have all the right paperwork ready when I apply.
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Rachel Tao
•@Katherine Shultz Unfortunately, I ended up with zero spousal benefits due to GPO - my teacher s'pension was just too high relative to what the spousal benefit would have been. The substantial "vs" non-substantial "earnings" refers to whether your covered employment years the (Social Security-paying jobs met) certain dollar thresholds each year. For 2024, substantial earnings is $31,275 per year, but it s'adjusted annually and varies by the year you worked. This mainly affects WEP calculations if you ever qualify for your own benefit. For the documentation, definitely get a letter from your pension administrator showing your monthly benefit amount and the dates of your covered vs non-covered employment. They asked for very specific details about which years I paid into Social Security versus which were pension-only years. The whole process took about 4 months to get my official denial letter, but having it on file will help with any future applications.
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Keisha Williams
I'm a newcomer here but dealing with a very similar situation as a retired firefighter. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about the difference between WEP and GPO or how the survivor benefits work differently. My wife worked in the private sector her whole career and has been collecting SS for two years now. I'm 63 with a firefighter pension but only about 20 quarters of SS-covered work from before I joined the department. Sounds like I'm probably in the same boat as most of you with the GPO reduction wiping out any spousal benefits. But the advice about applying anyway for the official determination and keeping survivor benefits in mind for the future is really valuable. Also appreciate the tip about Claimyr - I've been trying to get through to SS for months with no luck. It's frustrating that after decades of public service, these rules seem to penalize us for having dedicated our careers to serving our communities, but at least now I understand what I'm dealing with. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences.
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