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If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
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An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
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Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
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I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
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I just want to say THANK YOU to everyone who fought for years to get the GPO eliminated!!! My mother was a teacher for 35 years and lost out on THOUSANDS of dollars because of this unfair policy. She passed away last year never getting what she deserved. At least future generations of public servants won't have to suffer the same injustice. 😢
So sorry about your mom. My aunt was in the same situation. These changes came too late for so many people.
Tate Jensen
One additional point that hasn't been mentioned: Make sure to formally apply for these benefits as soon as you're eligible. The SSA will not automatically recalculate benefits for people affected by the GPO elimination. You need to initiate the process, and benefits are generally not retroactive beyond 6 months. With the phase-out schedule, determining the optimal application timing can be complex, so you might want to consult with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security planning to maximize your lifetime benefits.
This is extremely helpful information! I didn't realize I needed to proactively apply - I assumed they would automatically adjust. I'll definitely look into filing right away. Do you know if I need to bring anything specific to prove my pension amount when I apply?
Tate Jensen
•Yes, bring documentation showing your current pension amount, such as a recent benefit statement or payment stub. Also bring your marriage certificate, both your and your husband's Social Security cards, and birth certificates if possible. The more documentation you have ready, the smoother the process will be. You might also want to bring any documents showing your own Social Security-covered work history.
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One important factor many break-even calculators miss is the impact of required minimum distributions (RMDs) from retirement accounts. If you delay Social Security and use retirement account withdrawals to fund early retirement, you'll reduce future RMDs, potentially lowering your tax bracket in your 70s and beyond. Conversely, if you claim early and preserve retirement accounts, your RMDs could be larger, potentially pushing you into higher tax brackets and causing more of your Social Security to be taxable. This tax interaction effect can shift the break-even point by several years, typically making delaying benefits more advantageous than simple calculators suggest.
Dylan Cooper
•This is such an excellent point that most people miss! I worked with a financial planner who showed me that taking SS early while preserving my 401(k) would actually cost me more in taxes later due to larger RMDs pushing me into a higher bracket. The tax implications shifted my breakeven age by almost 4 years compared to the basic calculation.
my neighbor took ss at 62 and invested all of it in bitcoin and now hes rich lol. no calculator shows THAT option!!
This is TERRIBLE advice! Gambling your retirement security on cryptocurrency is EXACTLY how seniors end up broke and desperate! Social Security is meant for ESSENTIAL needs, not speculation. Your neighbor got lucky, but for every story like his, there are THOUSANDS who lost everything!
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Ava Martinez
I'm so jealous! I tried to do something similar but messed up my earnings calculation and went over the limit by about $4,800. Now SS is making me pay back some benefits and it's a whole hassle. Make sure you track your income REALLY carefully especially if you get any bonuses or overtime that might push you over unexpectedly.
If anyone finds themselves in this situation where SSA is seeking repayment of benefits due to exceeding the earnings limit, you have options: 1) You can request a waiver if it wasn't your fault and repayment would cause financial hardship (Form SSA-632) 2) You can set up a payment plan if you can't repay all at once (Form SSA-634) 3) If you disagree with their determination, you can file for reconsideration (Form SSA-561) It's best to contact SSA directly to discuss your specific situation. Getting through to them can be challenging though. If you're having trouble reaching a representative, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get a callback when handling my mother's survivor benefits issue. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - saved me hours of hold time.
This is a textbook example of how to strategically time your Social Security benefits while managing the transition to retirement. Well done! One thing to consider: once you fully retire in July, you'll want to adjust your withholding on your Social Security benefits. Since you'll have lower total income for the second half of the year, you might be overwithholding. You can file Form W-4V to change your federal tax withholding rate on your Social Security benefits to either 7%, 10%, 12%, or 22% of your monthly benefit. Also, keep in mind that any severance package from your employer would count toward the earnings test limit in the year received. If you're expecting any significant payout when you leave your job, factor that into your calculations. Your strategy shows how powerful it can be to understand the nuances of Social Security rules!
Amara Okafor
•Thank you for mentioning Form W-4V - I'll definitely look into adjusting my withholding once I fully retire. And excellent point about severance! I am expecting a small package (2 weeks per year of service), so that will definitely count toward my earnings limit. I'll recalculate to make sure I stay under even with that included. I appreciate the reminder!
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Hazel Garcia
Thanks for all the great advice, everyone! I think I'm going to hold off on claiming for now since I'm still working and don't absolutely need the SS income yet. That 8% guaranteed increase each year seems too good to pass up. I'll check out that tax withholding calculator too since I definitely don't want a surprise tax bill. Really appreciate all your help!
Simon White
Smart choice! One final tip - even though you're delaying benefits, I'd recommend creating your my.ssa.gov account now if you haven't already. It's a good way to check your earnings record for accuracy and get updated benefit estimates as you continue working. Those additional earnings might further increase your eventual benefit amount.
Hazel Garcia
•Just set up my account! You're right - very helpful. Shows what my benefit would be at different ages. Thanks again!
Luca Greco
anybody know if military service counts extra for social security? i heard something about special credits but dont know if thats real
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StellarSurfer
•Yes, military service can potentially provide special credits that boost your Social Security earnings record, especially for service during certain periods. It's a bit off-topic from the original question about calculating benefits after stopping work at 45, but if you served in the military, you should definitely look into these credits when calculating your own benefit.
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Omar Fawzi
Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I'm going to try the detailed calculator and also consider whether I might be able to do some part-time work to replace some of those zero years. It sounds like even modest earnings could help improve my benefit calculation significantly. I'm also going to try reaching out directly to SSA to get a more personalized estimate given my specific situation. Really appreciate all the insights!
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