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Thanks everyone for the thoughtful responses! You've given me a lot to consider that I hadn't thought about before - especially the earnings test, taxation issues, and the idea of choosing a middle ground rather than extremes. I'm going to try getting my exact numbers from SSA using that contact service someone mentioned, then sit down with these new considerations and make a more informed decision. This has been incredibly helpful!
Good luck! And remember there's no perfect answer - just the one that works best for your specific situation. Let us know what you decide!
One other thing to consider - your health insurance situation. Are you on your spouse's plan? Will you be eligible for Medicare soon? The health insurance factor can sometimes tip the scales one way or another depending on your situation.
That's another good point! I'm still on my employer's health plan through my part-time job. Medicare eligibility starts at 65 for me, so that's definitely another factor to consider in the timing. So many variables!
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i filed at 62 while working part time and regret it so much!!! they take back so much of my check some months i barely get anything. plus when i do fully retire my benefit is permanently lower. wish i had just waited.
If it's been less than 12 months since you first filed, you might be able to withdraw your application! It's called a Form SSA-521. You have to pay back all the benefits you've received, but then it's like you never applied at all and your benefit can grow again. Worth looking into if you're really regretting your decision! But if it's been over 12 months, unfortunately you're locked in.
Based on what you've shared, waiting until your consulting work ends makes the most financial sense. One additional factor to consider: tax implications. When you're working and also receiving Social Security benefits, up to 85% of your SS benefits may become taxable depending on your combined income. This is separate from the earnings test and is another reason many working people delay benefits. If you both have solid earnings records, a common strategy for married couples in good health is for the higher earner to delay until 70 (maximizing the eventual survivor benefit) while the lower earner claims at FRA. This provides some income flow while still optimizing your household's lifetime benefits.
I hadn't even thought about the tax angle! That's a really good point. And yes, my husband's benefit will be about 30% higher than mine based on our earnings histories. I'll definitely look more into the strategy you suggested about me claiming at FRA and him waiting until 70. Thank you for this detailed insight!
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i think they sometimes do this on purpose to save money. my neighbor had something similar and they kept "losing" his paperwork for like 6 months!! he had to get really mad and threaten to call his congressman before they finally fixed it. the whole system is rigged to make it hard for us seniors!!
EXACTLY!!! SS is trying to save money by making things so complicated that people give up! My moms friend waited 9 MONTHS for them to fix a payment issue. Its not an accident that there system is so broken!!!
Having worked at SSA for many years, I can assure you this isn't an intentional delay tactic. The reality is that SSA's computer systems were built in the 1980s and have been patched together with updates over decades. Different parts of the system don't communicate well with each other. Withdrawal cases are particularly complicated because they touch multiple systems - benefits, earnings records, treasury payments, and tax reporting. It's a genuine technical limitation, not a conspiracy to deny benefits. The agency is actually working on a massive systems overhaul, but it will take years to complete.
Update: I just got back from another office visit after using all the specific terminology suggested here. What a difference! I asked for a Technical Expert specifically and mentioned "Critical Payment Correction" and "Administrative Action Review." The TE actually found that my payment HAD been recorded but in a different part of their system than what shows on my online account. They're initiating a correction process that she said should take about 2 weeks to sync up their records. In the meantime, they're starting my survivor benefits provisionally! Thank you all SO MUCH for your help with this - I would never have known what to ask for without your suggestions.
That's fantastic news! I'm so glad you were able to get this resolved. This is exactly why it's important to use the correct terminology - it helps cut through layers of confusion. The provisional benefits are especially good news since that means you won't have to wait for the full administrative correction to be completed before receiving income. Be sure to keep documentation of everything, including the name of the Technical Expert who helped you, just in case there are any future questions about this situation.
Wow thats great!! So happy for you!! Its crazy how using the right words makes all the difference. Goes to show how broken their system is that regular people cant get help without knowing the secret language!! But glad it worked out for you!!
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what about that thing where if u worked for the government ur ss gets cut? my friend had that happen, windfall something?
That's the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). These have been part of Social Security law since the 1980s and only affect people who receive pensions from jobs where they didn't pay Social Security taxes. It's not a recent cut and doesn't apply to the vast majority of workers who paid into Social Security throughout their careers.
I really appreciate everyone's input. I think I'm going to take a breath and not make a hasty decision based on fear. The 25% permanent reduction would be a big hit to take just to avoid a theoretical future cut that might not even happen, especially since it sounds like near-retirees like me would likely be protected anyway. Still anxious about it, but at least I understand the situation better now. I'll talk to my financial planner again with this new perspective.
That's a wise approach. One additional point to consider: if you're still working, there's also an earnings limit until you reach full retirement age. In 2025, you'll lose $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above $22,750 (approximately). So if you're still earning decent income, that's another reason waiting might make financial sense in your situation.
Connor Byrne
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!
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Miguel Diaz
•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.
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Zainab Ahmed
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.
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Ava Johnson
•The position would be about 20 hours a week at $23/hour, so that would be around $1,840 monthly or approximately $16,560 before reaching FRA in October. Sounds like I'd still be under the limit based on what everyone has shared!
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