I went through something similar last year. The increase happened automatically, but I was surprised how small it was. I worked 5 months in 2023 making about $45k which replaced a year where I only made about $8k in the 1980s. My monthly benefit only went up by about $28. Something about how they average and index older earnings made the impact smaller than I expected. Still worth getting though!

I'm a relatively new retiree myself and went through a similar situation last year. Based on my experience and research, the AERO process should handle your recalculation automatically, but I'd recommend keeping good records of your 2024 earnings just in case. One thing that helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet tracking my highest 35 years of earnings so I could estimate the potential impact. Your $58,500 replacing a much lower year should definitely result in an increase, though as others mentioned, it might be more modest than you'd expect due to how the benefit formula works. The peace of mind of knowing it's being handled is worth it though - Social Security benefits are meant to last your lifetime, so even a small monthly increase adds up significantly over the years!

wait ur blind? how r u typing all this?? just curious

Have you received any update on this situation? Were you able to reach someone at SSA to explain the payment?

As someone who went through a similar transition with my landscaping business at 62, I can confirm that the LLC taxed as S-corp structure works well for managing the earnings limit. The key things I learned: 1. Document EVERYTHING - keep detailed records of business meetings, decisions, and why you set your salary at a specific level 2. Don't go too low on salary - I used industry salary surveys to justify mine 3. Make sure you're actually running it like a corporation (separate bank accounts, proper record keeping, etc.) 4. Consider seasonal variations - nursery businesses often have peak seasons, so you might want to structure your salary to account for that One thing that helped me was joining the local nursery association and getting their salary survey data to support my compensation decisions. Also, since you mentioned your wife retiring in 3 years, think about whether she could become an employee or partner in the business - that might give you more flexibility with compensation strategies. The peace of mind of having everything properly structured is worth the extra accounting costs. Good luck with your retirement and growing the business!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful for this detailed discussion! I'm 61 and facing a similar situation with my small pottery business. Reading through everyone's experiences has clarified so many questions I had about the earnings limit and S-corp strategy. One thing I'm still trying to understand - for those who have successfully implemented this approach, how do you handle documentation for the "reasonable salary" determination? I see mentions of industry salary surveys and local market rates, but I'm wondering if there are specific resources or databases that SSA/IRS typically find most credible? Also, I noticed several people mentioned working with accountants who specialize in both Social Security and small business taxation. That seems crucial, but how do you find someone with that specific dual expertise? Most accountants I've talked to are strong in one area or the other, but not both. Thank you all for sharing your real-world experiences - this thread has been more helpful than months of trying to research this on my own!

Just want to add that if you're planning to apply for September 2025 benefits, you can actually submit your application up to 4 months in advance (so as early as May 2025). This gives SSA plenty of time to process everything and ensures your benefits start on time. I learned this the hard way when I applied too close to my desired start date and had to wait an extra month. The online application at ssa.gov walks you through everything step by step and clearly shows you're only selecting month/year, not specific days.

As someone who works as a benefits counselor, I can confirm everything that's been shared here is accurate! You only select the month, not a specific day. The SSA application form doesn't even have a field for the day because all retirement benefits automatically begin on the 1st of the selected month. One additional tip I'd offer: when you're ready to apply, consider doing it online at ssa.gov rather than in person or by phone. The online application saves your progress automatically, so you can take your time and come back to it if needed. It also gives you immediate confirmation of what you've submitted. Just remember that applying 3-4 months before your desired start date gives you the best chance of having everything processed smoothly and on time.

I'm new here but wanted to share my recent experience since it mirrors yours so closely! I just turned 65 in November and was absolutely terrified about the same thing - whether my widow benefits would automatically change or get converted to something else. I'm happy to report that nothing whatsoever changed with my Social Security payments! They continued exactly as they were before my birthday, just like everyone here has confirmed. The only thing I had to deal with was Medicare enrollment, which honestly ended up being much simpler than I'd built it up to be in my mind. What really gave me peace of mind was calling SSA about two months before my birthday (I did use that Claimyr service that's been mentioned - it really does work for getting through quickly) and having them walk me through exactly what to expect. Since you mentioned your husband worked in finance while you had years out of the workforce, your situation sounds very similar to mine - my late husband was in engineering while I had significant career gaps for childcare. The SSA representative confirmed that staying on his record was definitely the better financial choice for me long-term. Don't let the worry consume you like it did me - your widow benefits will absolutely continue unchanged at 65, and you maintain complete control over if and when to make any benefit switches in the future. You're asking all the right questions!

I'm new to this community but wanted to add my experience as someone who just went through this exact situation! I turned 65 three months ago and had the same fears about my widow benefits automatically changing. I'm happy to confirm what everyone here has said - absolutely nothing changed with my Social Security payments at 65! They continued exactly as before. The only thing I had to handle was Medicare enrollment, which turned out to be much more straightforward than I expected. What really helped me was using that my Social Security online account tool that several people mentioned to compare my potential retirement benefits vs my current widow benefits. Since my late husband had a strong career in accounting while I had years out of the workforce raising our children, staying on his record was clearly the better choice financially. I also called SSA about 8 weeks before my birthday using that Claimyr service (it really does work!) and the representative was very helpful in explaining that I have complete control over any future benefit decisions. Don't let the anxiety overwhelm you - your widow benefits will continue unchanged and you have plenty of time to make informed decisions on your own timeline!