My father-in-law went through something like this. What they don't tell you is that once you're at full retirement age, you should check again with SS. Sometimes the calculations change and you might be eligible for more. The whole system is designed to be confusing so people don't get everything they're entitled to!

I'm dealing with a similar mess right now. My husband has a federal pension and I'm on SSDI. The whole system seems designed to punish people who worked in public service. Have you talked to a financial advisor who specializes in federal benefits? We found one who really helped us understand our options better than any SSA rep could.

This all sounds complicated! Wouldnt it be easier just to take the survivor benifits now? Why wait?

When you do make the switch at 67, start the process at least 3 months before your birthday. I waited until the month of my FRA to switch strategies, and there was a gap in my payments that created some financial stress. The SSA backdated everything eventually, but I went almost 2 months without any benefits while they processed the change. Just something to plan for.

just wondering - did your sister check if she qualifies for the one-time death payment of $255? its not much but at least its somthing while she figures out the survivor benefits

To summarize what your sister should do now: 1. File for survivor benefits immediately (even if she'll receive $0 now) 2. Request detailed calculations showing how the earnings test applies to her specific case 3. Consider reducing work hours if financially feasible 4. Plan ahead for whether to take full survivor benefits at FRA or switch between benefits 5. Apply for the $255 death payment if she hasn't already The most important thing is getting an application on file. Benefits can be retroactive for up to six months for survivors, but only if the application is filed.

The earnings limit is SUCH A HEADACHE! My advice? Have your husband tell his boss he needs to be paid MONTHLY, with the pay periods matching calendar months. That would solve everything. Not sure why companies can't figure this out when so many older workers have this exact problem with Social Security!

Since several people mentioned reporting: Your husband should call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to report his return to work. Alternatively, he can report estimated earnings online through his my Social Security account or in person at a local office. For calculating his earnings during his first year of retirement, SSA uses the "Grace Year" rule. This means they'll look at his monthly earnings for the remainder of 2024. For each month he earns under the limit ($1,860), he'll receive his full benefit regardless of annual totals. Starting in 2025, SSA will switch to annual accounting. They'll estimate his expected earnings for the year and may adjust his benefits accordingly. If the estimate changes, he should update SSA to avoid overpayments. Keeping detailed records is absolutely critical - especially the breakdown of exactly which days' work falls into which calendar month.

what happens if u earn MORE than u expected? do they make u pay it back or just take it from future benefits?

I went through the exact same thing last yr trying to figure this all out. My advise is go to the ssa.gov site and use their retirement calculators. They were really helpful for me to see all the different scenarios.