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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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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.
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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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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this might sound stupid but i thought survivor benefits were only for ppl who never worked? if u were working and getting ssdi on ur own record why would u even qualify for anything from his record?
Not a stupid question at all! Many people misunderstand this. You can qualify for benefits on your own work record AND be eligible for survivor benefits from your deceased spouse's record. Social Security will pay you the higher of the two amounts, not both combined (with a few specific exceptions). For example, if your own retirement benefit is $1,800/month but your potential survivor benefit would be $2,100/month, you could receive the $2,100 instead. You're always entitled to the higher amount, regardless of whether you worked or not.
After reading through this thread, I'd like to add one important point: even if it turns out you can't get retroactive payments, you should still pursue this because if your survivor benefit is higher than your current benefit, you can switch to it now and increase your monthly payment going forward. At age 70, that could mean many years of higher benefits. One strategy to consider: when you contact SSA, first ask for an explanation of what your husband's benefit would have been if he had lived to claiming age, with all applicable COLAs. Get that specific number before discussing any retroactive claim issues. This separates the question of "what should I be receiving now" from the more complicated question of "what should I have received in the past.
That's really smart advice. Focus on getting the correct benefit amount going forward first, then worry about the past payments as a separate issue. I'll definitely take that approach. Thank you!
Ezra Bates
Wait isn't the earnings limit going up for 2025? I thought I saw somewhere it was going to be more than $22,340?
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Brooklyn Foley
•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.
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Keith Davidson
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
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Avery Saint
•Good point. I won't reach my FRA until 2029, so I'll have the lower earnings limit for several years. I'll need to be careful about any part-time work I might do after officially retiring.
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