I didn't get mine either but then I realized I probably didn't get one because this was my first year on SS benefits (started collecting in September) and I didn't receive enough to need a 1099?? Do they only send them if you got over a certain amount? Anyone know?

just wanted to update - followed the advice and found my 1099 on mysocialsecurity right where you all said it would be!! printed it out for my accountant! thanks everyone!

I filed at 62 last year and was in a similar situation with my husband. After several calls to SSA where I either couldn't get through or got conflicting information, I finally just went to my local office in person. Took almost 3 hours of waiting but I got clear answers about my specific situation. If you can't get through on the phone, try going in person with all your documents and questions written down. They can run your actual numbers there.

One important correction to my earlier comment: The reduction for taking spousal benefits early is actually calculated differently than for your own retirement benefits. At age 62, the spousal benefit reduction is actually MORE than the reduction for your own benefit. For retirement benefits, filing at 62 results in approximately a 30% reduction. For spousal benefits, filing at 62 results in approximately a 35% reduction. So if your full spousal benefit would be 50% of your husband's PIA, at age 62 you'd get closer to 32.5% of his PIA. This is why getting precise calculations for your specific situation is so important. The difference could significantly impact your long-term planning.

Just remembered something important - when I was dealing with this, I also had to fill out an SSA-131 form (Statement of Employer). My employer had to verify my reduced work schedule. Ask them if you need this form too if you're still working for the same employer but with reduced hours!

To definitively answer your question: The earnings test applies to the full calendar year, BUT the monthly earnings test for the first year of benefits allows you to receive benefits for any month you earn under the monthly limit ($1,860) and don't perform substantial services in self-employment. What this means in practice: If your monthly earnings from July-December stay under $1,860 per month, you should receive full survivor benefits for those months despite your higher earnings from January-June. Make sure to: 1. Provide a month-by-month breakdown of earnings 2. Specifically mention the "first year monthly earnings test" in your correspondence 3. Keep copies of all pay stubs and documentation 4. Follow up in January to ensure correct application of the rule And yes, you'll need to report earnings annually until you reach FRA, but the special monthly rule only applies to this first year.

my mom got this same email i think. she said something about a lawyer sending her ss statement. gonna call her today and make sure she didnt click anything thanks for posting this

To address your question about how they got your partial SSN - these scammers usually obtain personal information through data breaches that have happened over the years. Companies like Equifax, Target, and many others have had breaches where millions of Americans' data was exposed. The scammers use this partial information to make their phishing attempts more convincing. They might have your name, email, and last 4 digits of your SSN from one of these breaches. As for protecting yourself going forward: 1. The SSA will primarily contact you through postal mail for important matters 2. If you have a my Social Security account, they'll notify you to log in to view secure messages 3. They will NEVER attach documents to emails or ask you to download anything 4. They will NEVER threaten to suspend your SSN or benefits if you don't provide information immediately If you're ever in doubt about a communication claiming to be from SSA, call their official number directly (1-800-772-1213) rather than any number provided in a suspicious email or letter.

my mom went thru something like this and she just gave up trying to get her money back because the SSA people kept giving her different answers every time she called...the system is so broken

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I'm going to try to get through to SSA to request that earnings test recalculation. I had no idea I needed to specifically ask for this - I thought they would automatically adjust it based on my tax return. I'm also reconsidering my timeline for taking survivor benefits based on the earnings test information. One last question if anyone knows - is there a time limit for requesting the earnings recalculation? It's been almost 2 years since that initial withholding.