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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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my neighbor said she got her husbands last check in just 2 months last year so its definitely not the same for everyone
has anyone tried calling their congressperson? my friend did that for disability and it worked!!
Yes, Congressional inquiry is often effective when you've exhausted normal channels. Most Congressional offices have staff dedicated to helping constituents with federal agency problems. They can often get answers when individuals can't. Just be sure you've tried working directly with SSA first, documented those attempts, and can clearly explain what steps you've already taken.
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Smart financial decision! Many people don't realize how significant the reduction is for early filing. For every year before your FRA that you claim, benefits are permanently reduced by about 6.67% for the first 3 years and 5% for each additional year. As for your question, here's what the SSA website officially states: "If you completed and submitted your online benefit application, you cannot cancel it online. If you have not submitted your application and wish to delete it, sign into 'my Social Security' and select 'Delete Application' on your pending application." Since you never submitted it, you should be able to delete it, although it will automatically expire after a period of time.
Can i ask a sorta related question? If OP decides to work until FRA, does he need to pay attention to the earnings limit stuff at all? I'm confused about when that applies and when it doesn't.
Great question! The earnings limit only applies if you're collecting benefits before FRA and still working. If OP waits until FRA to collect benefits, there is NO earnings limit - they can earn any amount without affecting their Social Security benefits. The earnings limit for 2023 is $21,240 for those below FRA for the entire year. For every $2 earned above that limit, $1 is withheld from benefits. There's a different limit in the year you reach FRA. Once you reach FRA, you can earn unlimited amounts with no reduction in benefits.
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OK I'm a little confused here. Isn't SSI different from retirement benefits? I thought the earnings limits only applied to disability? Also doesn't SS check with IRS anyways so they know what you make?
You're mixing up several different programs. SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is needs-based and has very strict income and resource limits. Retirement benefits and SSDI (disability) both have the earnings test that applies before FRA, but the rules are different for each. And yes, SSA does eventually get information from the IRS, but that's after tax returns are filed and processed - which could be more than a year later. That's why they ask for estimates and why they sometimes have to send overpayment notices later if your actual earnings were higher than estimated.
Thank you all for the helpful information. I think I understand better now. I'll probably apply in April but request benefits to start in January (a few months after I turned 62). And I'll make sure to be totally clear about my earnings for 2025 so I don't get surprised with an overpayment notice. I'm going to call SSA next week to confirm all this. If I can't get through, I might try that Claimyr service someone mentioned. I really want to make sure I'm doing this correctly.
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i went to the webinar last year and it was good info for beginners. my only complaint is the presenter went through the slides way too fast! especially the ones about COLAs and benefit calculations. but when i asked about my specific situation (divorced after 9 years marriage) they were very helpful.
Omg yes they go way too fast!!! I had to keep asking my daughter how to rewind the presentation lol. But the info was pretty good overall.
Just remember that these webinars are designed to give you the BARE MINIMUM information! They DON'T tell you about all the loopholes and special filing strategies that could get you thousands more in benefits. My financial advisor showed me how to optimize my benefits in ways the SSA never mentioned. They're not going to tell you how to maximize your payout!
To be fair, most of those "loopholes" were closed by legislation in 2015. The file-and-suspend and restricted application strategies aren't available to most people retiring now. The webinar focuses on the rules as they currently exist, not outdated strategies that no longer work for most new retirees.
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btw make sure ur NOT confusing SSI and SSDI with retirement benefits. totally different rules for those programs
No confusion there - I'm definitely on regular retirement benefits. Thanks for checking though!
One more important point: When you reach your Full Retirement Age (FRA), the earnings test disappears completely. So once you turn 66, you can earn unlimited income without any reduction in benefits. Keep that in mind for your future planning.
That's great news! I turn 66 next July, so I only need to worry about the earnings limit for one more year. After that, I can take on more consulting work without restrictions. Thanks for pointing that out!
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One other thing to consider - if you're going to reach Full Retirement Age (FRA) this year, then there's a higher annual limit ($59,520 for 2025) and the reduction is only $1 for every $3 over the limit. After you reach FRA month, there's no limit at all! So your specific situation might be different depending on your age.
Thanks for mentioning this, but I'm only 63 so I still have a few years before FRA. I'm stuck with the lower limit for now unfortunately.
Just to follow up on the June situation: If you want to avoid going over the limit, you could ask your employer to shift one of your June shifts to July, or take one unpaid day off in June. At your hourly rate of $16.64, working about 117 hours would keep you just under the $1,950 limit. Alternatively, if this is a one-time situation and you'll be under the limit for all other months, you might actually be better off just working the extra hours, going slightly over in June, and having a small benefit reduction rather than losing a full day's wages.
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my cousin in florida just used some website to figure it all out... i think its called maximize my social security or something
You're probably referring to Maximize My Social Security. It's one of several good software tools (along with Social Security Solutions and others). These can be helpful, but often work best when combined with professional guidance, especially for complex situations like the OP described with pension offsets.
I forgot to mention - make sure whoever you work with understands the implications of the teaching pension. Georgia is one of those states where some teachers didn't pay into Social Security, which triggers the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and possibly the Government Pension Offset (GPO). These can significantly reduce your benefits, and many advisors don't have experience with these provisions.
This is really important - thank you! I did pay into Social Security for my teaching years (I was in a different state back then), but I definitely want someone who understands all these special provisions.
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One other thing nobody mentioned - part of your SS can become TAXABLE when your income goes up too!!! So the IRMAA isnt the only hit they might be taking!!!
Oh no, I didn't even think about the tax implications. I'll have to ask if they noticed a difference when filing taxes too. This is getting complicated fast!
Quick follow-up on tax implications: Up to 85% of Social Security benefits can become taxable when provisional income exceeds certain thresholds. Provisional income = Adjusted Gross Income + 50% of SS benefits + tax-exempt interest. For single filers: - Below $25,000: No tax on SS - $25,000-$34,000: Up to 50% taxable - Above $34,000: Up to 85% taxable For joint filers, thresholds are $32,000 and $44,000. So yes, selling large assets can create a double whammy - higher Medicare premiums AND more of their Social Security becoming taxable. Careful planning across multiple tax years is really important.
Great explanation. Just to clarify - when we talk about "85% of benefits being taxable," that doesn't mean 85% is taken away. It means up to 85% of the benefit amount gets added to taxable income, then taxed at their normal tax rate. Also worth noting is that these income thresholds for SS taxation have never been adjusted for inflation since they were set in the 1980s and 1990s, so they affect many more retirees now than originally intended.
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My husband just went through this. No special form but make sure to read carefully! There's a difference between WEP (affects YOUR benefits if you get a non-covered pension) and GPO (affects SPOUSAL/SURVIVOR benefits if you get a non-covered pension). Different rules apply to each one!
This is an excellent point. WEP and GPO are frequently confused: - WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision) reduces your OWN retirement benefit if you receive a pension from non-covered work - GPO (Government Pension Offset) reduces any SPOUSAL or SURVIVOR benefits you might be eligible for by 2/3 of your government pension amount Some people are affected by both provisions, while others might only be subject to one or the other depending on their specific situation.
Thanks everyone for the helpful information! I'm going to: 1) Check my earnings record for accuracy, 2) Complete the SSA-150 form to get an estimate with WEP calculated, 3) Be extremely clear about my pension when I apply for benefits, and 4) Keep documentation of everything. It sounds like there's no separate WEP application, but I need to make sure I answer all pension questions accurately on the regular retirement application. I'll also use Claimyr to talk to a representative before I file to double-check everything. This has been really helpful!
Great plan. One more tip: print out the Social Security Handbook section on WEP (Section 724) and bring it with you if you do an in-person appointment. Sometimes the field office staff aren't as familiar with WEP calculations as they should be. Having the official rules handy can help ensure you get accurate information.
Javier Gomez
These government agencies are so FRUSTRATING!!! My brother was in a similar situation but they wouldn't approve his benefits for MONTHS!!! Make sure you keep COPIES of EVERYTHING you submit to them!!! They "lost" my brother's divorce decree TWICE and he had to pay to get new copies!!! RIDICULOUS system!!!
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Emma Wilson
•yeah happened to me too. they lost my birth certificate and then told me i never sent it in the first place lol
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Keisha Jackson
Thank you all so much for your helpful advice. I'm going to try to schedule an appointment with SSA this week to get the process started. I'll make sure to bring all the documents mentioned and copies of everything. Based on your suggestions, I think I'll apply for the survivor benefits now since I'm not earning that much at my part-time job, and then possibly switch to my own retirement benefit later if it ends up being higher. And I'll definitely check out that Claimyr service if I have trouble getting through on the phone. I really appreciate all your help during this difficult time!
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