My wife was confused about this same thing! We thought we had to claim right away to get the COLA. Turns out we didn't need to worry. Just FYI though - while COLA adjustments are applied whether you're collecting or not, earnings adjustments (if you're still working) only happen until you start collecting. At least that's what the SSA rep told us.

I'm glad you asked this question because it's such a common misconception! As others have confirmed, you absolutely do NOT need to be collecting benefits to receive COLA increases. The Social Security Administration automatically applies all COLAs to your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) from age 62 onward, whether you're collecting or not. Your strategy to wait until 67 is smart - you'll get: ✓ All COLA increases from age 62 forward ✓ Your full benefit amount (no early claiming reduction) ✓ Plus any delayed retirement credits if you wait past 67 Your brother-in-law means well, but he's giving you bad advice. The SSA's computer systems handle all of this automatically. You're making the financially sound decision by waiting, especially since you're still working. Don't let anyone pressure you into claiming early unless you actually need the income!

pls update us after u talk to SSA! we r in similar spot but im the higher earner (wife). wanna know what happens!

I went through this exact same situation last year! My wife took her benefits at 65 ($980/month) and I waited until my FRA at 67. When I filed, she did get a spousal increase, but it was calculated exactly like Hannah explained - they used our PIAs, not the actual benefit amounts. Her total went from $980 to $1,165, which was her reduced benefit plus the difference between 50% of my PIA and her full PIA. The key thing is to get your benefit estimates from SSA beforehand so you can calculate this yourself. Also, make sure to apply for the spousal benefit - it's not automatic! You have to specifically request it when the higher earner files. Good luck!

This whole system makes me SO ANGRY. Why do they make everything so confusing??? I swear they do it on purpose so people make mistakes and get less money. My neighbor told me there's actually a special handbook SSA employees use that has all the REAL rules that they don't tell us about.

I'm dealing with a similar situation and wanted to share what I learned from meeting with a fee-only financial planner who specializes in Social Security. Since you're only one month in, you have a unique opportunity that most people don't get. The withdrawal option (Form SSA-521) is definitely worth calculating carefully. Here's what to consider: your current $1,450 at 62 would grow to roughly $2,070 at your FRA of 67. That's an 8% annual increase for each year you delay - hard to find that kind of guaranteed return anywhere else. But the real game-changer might be coordinating with your husband's strategy. If his benefit at FRA will be $3,200, waiting until 70 would give him about $4,220/month. Since you'll likely inherit his benefit as a survivor benefit someday, maximizing HIS benefit could be more important than fixing your own. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier: consider consulting with a Social Security specialist before making any final decisions. The $300-500 consultation fee could save you tens of thousands over your lifetime. This stuff is way too complicated to figure out from online forums alone (though this community has been incredibly helpful!).

As a newcomer to this community who's currently dealing with survivor benefits and variable income, I want to thank everyone for creating such an incredibly helpful and comprehensive discussion! I work as a freelance wedding photographer and videographer, which means my income is heavily concentrated during wedding season (May through October), with much slower winter months when bookings are minimal. Like so many others here, I've been extremely worried that those busy wedding season months where I might earn $3,500+ would automatically trigger benefit reductions, even though my annual total will definitely stay under the $22,320 limit due to the significant drop-off in bookings during winter months. Reading through everyone's experiences has been so reassuring and educational. The "work activity report" option that @Oliver Schulz discovered through his SSA call is exactly what I needed to know about - I had no idea that seasonal income patterns could be documented proactively to prevent confusion and potential overpayment issues later. All the practical strategies shared here have given me a clear roadmap: track monthly earnings in a spreadsheet, contact SSA early to document my seasonal pattern, and use services like Claimyr if needed to actually reach a representative without waiting on hold for hours. It's such a relief to understand that the annual earnings limit is what ultimately matters for the test, not those temporary monthly spikes during peak wedding season. I'm planning to call SSA next week to set up my own work activity report for freelance wedding photography/videography work. The seasonal nature of the wedding industry should be very understandable to them - most weddings happen during warmer months, with a natural drop-off during winter. This thread has transformed my understanding from anxiety and confusion to confidence and clarity about how to properly navigate the survivor benefits system with variable income. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences and creating such a supportive community. This discussion is going to help countless people in seasonal work understand these complex benefit rules!

As a newcomer to this community who just started receiving survivor benefits last month, I want to express my deep gratitude for this incredibly thorough and reassuring discussion! I work as a freelance ski instructor and summer hiking guide, which creates an extreme seasonal income pattern - I earn most of my money during winter ski season (December-March) and summer hiking season (June-September), with very little income during the transition months of April-May and October-November. Like so many others who have shared here, I've been losing sleep worrying that those peak season months where I might earn $2,800-3,200+ would automatically trigger benefit reductions, even though my annual total will definitely stay well under the $22,320 limit due to those slower transition periods. This entire thread has been absolutely life-changing for my understanding of how survivor benefits actually work with variable income. The "work activity report" option that @Oliver Schulz discovered is exactly the solution I desperately needed to know about - I had no idea SSA could document these seasonal patterns proactively to prevent issues down the road. The wealth of practical advice shared here has given me such a clear path forward: monthly earnings tracking in a spreadsheet, proactive communication with SSA about my dual-season pattern, and using services like Claimyr to actually reach representatives efficiently. It's such a tremendous relief to learn that annual earnings are what ultimately determine eligibility, not temporary monthly fluctuations during peak seasons. I'm calling SSA this Friday to set up my own work activity report for seasonal outdoor recreation instruction. The dual-season nature of my work (winter skiing, summer hiking) should be very understandable as a natural pattern tied to weather and tourist seasons. This community has transformed my anxiety into confidence about properly navigating the survivor benefits system. Thank you all for creating such a supportive environment and sharing your real-world experiences. This discussion will undoubtedly help countless others in seasonal work understand these complex benefit rules!

I'm a newcomer here but wanted to share what I learned when I was in a similar situation last year. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to track both income sources and set aside money for taxes monthly. Since you're in Indiana, you're fortunate that the state doesn't reduce unemployment benefits for Social Security recipients. However, I'd strongly recommend: 1. Contact your local Indiana WorkOne office - they're usually more helpful than trying to get through to the state unemployment line 2. Consider whether delaying Social Security until your FRA might be worth it financially, especially if unemployment benefits can tide you over 3. If you do collect both, have taxes withheld from both sources if possible - it's much easier than dealing with quarterly payments The folks here have given you great advice about the legality and logistics. Just remember that being "able and available" for work on unemployment means you need to genuinely be job searching, even if you're also collecting Social Security. Good luck with everything!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share some additional resources that might help with your situation. I recently went through a similar transition and found a few things that made the process smoother: 1. The Indiana Department of Workforce Development has a really helpful online chat feature that's often faster than calling - you can access it through their website during business hours. 2. For Social Security questions, try calling first thing in the morning (8 AM EST) or right after lunch (1 PM EST) - those seem to be the times with shorter hold times. 3. Consider setting up online accounts for both systems now, before you need them. The my Social Security account at ssa.gov and the Uplink system for Indiana unemployment both let you manage things online and avoid some phone calls. 4. If you do end up collecting both, keep detailed records of all payments and any correspondence. It makes tax time much easier and protects you if there are any questions later. The advice everyone has given you about the legality and tax implications is spot-on. Indiana really is one of the better states for this situation since they don't offset the benefits against each other. Just make sure you stay compliant with the work search requirements for unemployment - they do audit those periodically. Good luck with everything!