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THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST US!!! They purposely make these rules complicated so people don't get what they deserve! My husband and I missed out on this strategy by FIVE MONTHS because he was born in May 1954. FIVE MONTHS cost us thousands of dollars!!! And now they're practically impossible to reach by phone when you need help. The whole system needs to be torn down and rebuilt!!
Just wanted to update everyone - I successfully filed my restricted application yesterday! I used some of the advice here (especially bringing a printout of the POMS section) and was very explicit about wanting ONLY spousal benefits while my own continue to grow until 70. The representative initially seemed confused but after I showed the documentation, they understood. I double-checked the application before signing to make sure it only showed spousal benefits. It'll mean about $1,250/month for the next four years while my own benefit grows to about $3,400/month at age 70. Thanks everyone for your help! Hopefully this thread helps others in my generation who still qualify for this strategy.
Wait isn't the earnings limit going up for 2025? I thought I saw somewhere it was going to be more than $22,340?
You're right to question this. The 2025 limit hasn't been officially announced yet. The $22,340 figure is likely an estimate based on previous COLA increases. The actual 2025 limit will be announced in October 2024, and it will probably be a bit higher depending on the COLA for 2025. For planning purposes though, the $22,340 estimate is reasonable.
dont forget they also look at how many months before u reach FRA... the earnings limit is different in the year u reach full retirement age too
wait i thought IRA was better than individual 401k for most people? my brother in law said individual 401ks have more paperwork and fees. did your advisor explain why he recommended that instead?
Individual 401ks (also called Solo 401ks) actually have higher contribution limits than IRAs. For 2024, you can contribute up to $23,000 as employee deferral plus about 25% of your business income as employer contribution, up to a total of $69,000. IRAs are limited to $7,000/year ($8,000 if over 50). They do require more paperwork once they exceed $250k in assets, but for high-earning self-employed people, the higher contribution limits often outweigh the administrative burden.
Thanks to everyone for the helpful responses! This community is amazing. To summarize what I learned: 1. 401k rollovers don't affect SS benefit calculations in any way 2. Social Security only cares about my earnings record where I paid FICA/self-employment tax 3. I need to be careful about self-employment tax reporting to keep building my SS record 4. I'll need to file Form 5500-EZ once my individual 401k exceeds $250k 5. Retirement account withdrawals can affect how my SS benefits are taxed in retirement This gives me a lot more confidence moving forward with my rollover plan. I'll be creating an account on ssa.gov to check my earnings history too. Thanks again!
When my sister turned 66 (her FRA) she got a job and her benefit check went UP the next year! Something about recalculation of her benefits because she was working again. So working might actually help your benefit amount in the long run too!
That's correct. If you work after beginning benefits and your earnings are higher than one of your previous 35 highest earning years (which are used to calculate your benefit), SSA will automatically recalculate your benefit amount the following year. However, this applies to retirement benefits based on your own record, not necessarily survivor benefits.
I think what matters most is how much this job is gonna pay you. If it's just a few hours a week maybe you don't even hit the limit? My cousin works at Walmart just 15 hours a week and stays under just fine.
Chloe Martin
my frend had same problem she went 2 congressman office and they fixed everything in 2 weeks!! try that maybe?
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Emma Johnson
Thank you everyone for the suggestions! I'm going to try using the specific terminology that was recommended when I call next time - "Medicare Beneficiary Statement" and "Special Notice Flag" seem like the magic words I need. If I can't get through on the phone, I'll try that Claimyr service someone mentioned. As a last resort, I like the idea of contacting my congressman's office - I hadn't thought of that. It's somewhat comforting to know I'm not the only one dealing with this WEP/GPO communication black hole. I'll update here if I make progress!
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