My sister went through this exact same thing! She was so worried but then when January came they only took like 10% each month which was WAYYYY better than losing a whole check at once. But yes you def have to CALL THEM and tell them what's happening. Don't just rely on their systems figuring it out correctly lol that's asking for trouble!! Good luck with it all!!

One more thing to consider - have you looked into whether an Adjustment to the Monthly Earnings Test might help in your situation? If your earnings were concentrated in those months when you had to cover for your coworker, and you don't expect to earn over the monthly limit in the remaining months of the year, you might qualify for full benefits in those later months. For example, if you earned $5,000 per month for 3 months (well over the monthly limit) but then earn under the monthly limit for the rest of the year, SSA might only withhold benefits for those 3 months rather than reducing benefits based on the annual total. This is a bit complex to navigate, but worth discussing when you call SSA. Many representatives aren't familiar with this provision, so you might need to specifically ask about the "monthly earnings test" or speak with a technical expert.

my 2 cents - enjoy life NOW. my sister waited to retire "to get maximum SS" and passed at 67 before ever collecting a dime! with your family history, retiring at 60 sounds smart. the financial difference over time might not be as big as people think when u factor in actually GETTING the money for more years.

One more important point: once you reach your Full Retirement Age, the earnings limit no longer applies. Before FRA, if you work and earn above certain limits ($21,240 in 2025), your benefits are reduced by $1 for every $2 you earn above the limit. If your husband plans to continue working while collecting, this could impact his benefits until he reaches FRA. And since spousal benefits are tied to when he files, this becomes part of your calculation too. For the most precise information, create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov to see your exact benefit estimates at various claiming ages.

Thank you all for your helpful responses! I just got off the phone with my sister and shared all this information. She's going to apply right away - she had no idea there weren't any income/asset restrictions. We're going to try using that Claimyr service someone mentioned to get through on the phone since all the SSA offices near her have 2+ month appointment backlogs. I also explained the potential strategy of waiting until her FRA for the full 100% benefit, but she said she'd rather start receiving something now. She's planning to meet with her financial advisor next week to discuss the tax implications. Thanks again everyone - this community has been so helpful during a difficult time!

Social security is THEFT! They take our money our whole lives and then make it so complicated to get it back that half of people don't even get what they're entitled to! And what do you bet they'll change the rules again in a few years and cut benefits? The whole system is rigged!!

And make SURE your friend doesn't just apply online!!! The SSA website won't tell her about all her options!!! She needs to TALK to a representative directly and ask specifically about the "restricted application" strategy!!! Don't let them rush her off the phone!!!

Thank you all SO much for the helpful responses! I'll definitely tell my friend to apply for her benefits now and not worry about her husband's income affecting her checks. And I'll warn her about the potential tax implications too. It's such a relief to have clear answers - this has been causing so much unnecessary stress during an already difficult time.

when you talk to ssa ask them what happens if u work part time instead of full time. i reduced to 25 hrs a week and now i get some survivors and its working better for me. less stress too

Thank you everyone for the helpful responses! I've scheduled an appointment at my local SSA office for next week, and I'm gathering all the documents suggested. I'm going to ask about various scenarios with reduced hours too. It sounds like my original understanding was mostly correct, but the earnings test will likely eliminate most of my survivor benefits unless I cut back on work. I'll update after my appointment in case it helps anyone else in a similar situation.