Just wondering - did she report her return to work to SSA when she started earning in 2022? I know someone who didn't report right away and ended up with a massive overpayment notice. Also, any idea how much you might owe back to SSA? With those high earnings and 2+ years of benefits, it could be substantial...

One more important thing I forgot to mention: If you're concerned about the overpayment, you should know that SSA will provide several options for repayment. They can: 1) Withhold from future benefits (but limited to no more than 10% of her monthly benefit unless you agree to more) 2) Set up a monthly payment plan 3) Take a partial lump sum payment and set up a plan for the remainder Given her high earnings, they might expect a more aggressive repayment schedule, but you still have rights regarding how much you can afford to pay back monthly. Also, the ARF recalculation I mentioned earlier is completely separate from the overpayment issue. They'll increase her ongoing benefit based on months withheld, regardless of whether the overpayment has been fully repaid.

Question - what if I'm already receiving SS (since 2023) but never set up withholding? Can I still submit a W-4V now or is it too late?

Thank you all for the helpful advice! Based on everyone's suggestions, I'll wait until I get my award letter (hopefully within the next month) and then immediately submit my W-4V form. I'm going to use certified mail with return receipt so I have proof they received it. I'm also going to reconsider my withholding percentage - I was planning on 10% but might bump it up to 12% based on the combined income with my pension. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences!

my brother said it doesn matter if u work after 60 cuz SS only counts ur top 35 years anyway

Thanks everyone for the helpful explanations! I understand now that: 1. Years BEFORE age 60 will remain indexed based on the year I turn 60 2. Years AT and AFTER age 60 are counted at face value without indexing 3. Only my highest 35 years count toward my benefit calculation Since I'm turning 60 next year, I think I'll work at least another year or two to replace some of my lower-earning years from when I was just starting out, even though those years are indexed.

One thing to consider in your decision-making: what happens when one of you passes away? The survivor benefit rules are different from spousal benefits. The surviving spouse receives the higher of their own benefit or the deceased spouse's ACTUAL benefit (including any reductions or increases from early/late claiming).So while your claiming early doesn't affect her spousal benefit, it DOES potentially affect her future survivor benefit if you pass away before she does.Making these decisions requires looking at the complete picture - your ages, health status, other income sources, and life expectancy. Consider speaking with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security claiming strategies.

Thank you all for the help. This has been really informative. We're going to try reaching SSA to get exact benefit amounts, but based on what I've learned here, it sounds like having her wait until FRA makes the most sense for our situation, especially since we can manage financially without her taking benefits early. Really appreciate all the insights!

anyone know if changing ur start date effects the medicare part b enrollment? i think theyre connected right?

UPDATE: Finally got through to SSA this morning! The agent confirmed they can easily change my start date from January to March 2025. She said it happens all the time and won't affect my application processing. She also mentioned I'll receive a letter confirming the change within 2 weeks. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!

My uncle said you can get a manager if you go to the actual office in person and say its a hardship. might be worth a try?

I forgot to mention, when I finally got approved after those 14 weeks, they actually had made a mistake in my PIA calculation! Double check EVERYTHING when you get your award letter. They calculated my AIME wrong and I had to call and get it fixed. Such a headache.

One additional point that hasn't been mentioned yet: Your wife's decision to claim at 62 will permanently reduce her own benefit by about 30% compared to her FRA amount. This won't affect your potential spousal benefit on her record (since you're waiting until your FRA), but it will reduce her monthly income for the rest of her life. If she can afford to wait even a year or two beyond 62, she could significantly increase her lifetime benefits. Each year she delays between 62 and her FRA adds about 6-8% to her monthly benefit amount.

When I was trying to figure all this out last year I actually downloaded the 2025 SSA calculator from their website and put in all our numbers. It was super helpful to see the actual dollar amounts we'd get under different scenarios! Highly recommend doing that.

my husband is on SSI not SSDI and i was told i cant get any spousal benefits at all!! is that different? why do disability people get different rules its so UNFAIR

Thank you all for this incredibly helpful information! I've decided to schedule an appointment with SSA to go through my specific numbers before making a decision. Based on your advice, I'll ask about: 1. The exact amount I'd receive at 62 vs. FRA for both my retirement and spousal benefits 2. How the deemed filing would work in my case 3. The long-term impact of taking reduced benefits now vs. waiting It sounds like there's no way to just take spousal and let my own grow (which is what I was hoping for), but I need to understand the exact numbers before deciding. I'll try that Claimyr service to avoid the phone wait nightmare!

wat about if u work part time after retiring? My neighbor works 2 days a week at walmart and still gets ss but shes over 67 i think

I just called my HR department and they actually weren't sure how this would be reported! They're checking with payroll. This is making me really nervous now. Should I just delay my SS application by a month to avoid this issue completely?

To your second question about applying in June - you'll get provisional credit for the DRCs you've earned when you apply, but the final recalculation happens the following January. It's usually a small adjustment. If your FRA monthly benefit would have been $2,500, and you've earned 6 months of DRCs (4% annually = 0.33% per month, so 2% total for 6 months), your initial payment would be about $2,550. If any minor adjustments are needed, they'll happen in January. For what it's worth, with today's longer lifespans, the math usually favors taking the DRCs over retroactive benefits unless you have serious health concerns or an immediate need for the lump sum.

The DRC annual recomputation ALWAYS happens in January, no matter when you apply during the year. That's just how their system works. It's one of the MANY confusing aspects of Social Security that they don't explain clearly! One more IMPORTANT point: when you apply, make ABSOLUTELY SURE the SSA representative understands what you want. Some reps automatically process retroactive benefits without fully explaining the DRC trade-off. Be VERY clear about whether you want retroactive benefits OR you want to preserve your DRCs. Get it in writing if possible!