my sister said she reported when she stopped working and then got a letter about her medicare premium going down the next year so maybe theres some benefit to telling them? idk how it all works tbh

I'm in a similar situation - just turned 68 and still working about 15 hours a week at a local bookstore. It's good to see all these responses confirming that we don't need to notify SSA when we fully retire! One thing I'd add is that if you're like me and have been putting off some medical procedures because you were still working, retiring might be a good time to schedule those since your income will drop and potentially affect your Medicare Part B premiums in a couple years. My financial advisor mentioned this could help with the IRMAA calculations down the road.

Just to give you some peace of mind - the delayed retirement credits WILL be retroactive to January 2025 even if the processing takes until February or March. Your payment will be adjusted accordingly, and you won't lose any money because of SSA's processing timeline. If your adjusted payment doesn't appear by your February payment (which would arrive in early March), then I would definitely reach out to SSA. But the vast majority of DRC calculations are completed by then.

I'm going through the exact same situation! I delayed 8 months past my FRA and started collecting in October 2024. My MySocialSecurity account still shows my original benefit amount with no sign of the delayed retirement credits being processed yet. After reading through all these responses, I'm feeling much more reassured that this is normal timing. It sounds like SSA's January processing can extend well into February before everything shows up online. I'm going to wait until mid-February like others have suggested before getting concerned. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's really helpful to know we're not alone in this waiting game! I'll update this thread if/when my DRCs finally appear in case it helps others who are wondering about timing.

Final advice - make an appointment with SSA specifically to discuss WEP and your situation. While the online tools are good, the WEP calculation is complex, and you want someone who understands the nuances. Bring documentation of your STRS pension amount and any information about your work history, especially evidence of your years with substantial earnings under Social Security. SSA uses a modified formula to calculate your benefit under WEP, and having an agent walk through that with you can help you understand exactly what you'll receive. Despite the reduction, receiving something from Social Security in addition to your STRS pension will definitely enhance your retirement security.

Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - consider using the Social Security Administration's online WEP calculator at ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/anyPiaWepjs04.html. It's more accurate than the general retirement estimators because it specifically accounts for the WEP reduction. You'll need your complete earnings history, but it can give you a better idea of what to expect before you meet with an agent. Also, if you're married, make sure to ask about how WEP might affect any spousal benefits - that's a whole other consideration that can impact your overall retirement planning strategy.

One more thing to consider - regardless of the earnings test, there's no financial advantage to waiting past your FRA unless you want to earn delayed retirement credits (8% per year until age 70). Since you're retiring anyway, if you're at FRA, you might as well start benefits in May because: 1. You'll get an extra month of benefits compared to starting in June 2. The earnings test won't impact you once you reach FRA 3. There's no advantage to waiting unless you're specifically trying to maximize your benefit by waiting until 70 You can apply up to 4 months before you want benefits to begin, so you could actually submit your application now and specify May as your start month.

Here's what the SSA website says exactly about the earnings test in the year you reach FRA: "In the year you reach full retirement age, we deduct $1 in benefits for every $3 you earn above a different limit, but we only count earnings before the month you reach your full retirement age." So just to be 100% clear - they only count earnings BEFORE the month you reach FRA. If you reach FRA in May, they only count January through April earnings. May earnings don't count AT ALL, even if your birthday is May 31st. This is one of the few Social Security rules that actually works in our favor!

Since you're at your Full Retirement Age, you'll get 100% of your benefit amount regardless of any other income. There's no earnings test once you reach FRA. So even if you decided to go back to work after recovery (part-time or whatever), it wouldn't reduce your Social Security payments at all.

Just wanted to add - make sure you keep good records of everything! When I was on short-term disability and started Social Security at the same time, I kept copies of all my paperwork, benefit statements, and correspondence. It made tax time much easier since both types of income have different reporting requirements. Also, if you have direct deposit set up with your employer for the disability payments, you might want to consider setting up a separate account for your Social Security payments so you can easily track each source of income. Good luck with your surgery and recovery!