Something NO ONE has mentioned yet is that sometimes SSA will send you a letter saying what month your benefits officially start - keep this letter!!! You might need it to prove when you were entitled to benefits vs when you actually got paid. Especially if there's ever an audit or question later.

Just to add one more point of clarification - when the backpay arrives, the SSA-1099 will show the total amount paid to you during that calendar year. It won't specify which months the payments were for, just the total received. This is why it's important to keep your award letter that explains the breakdown of payments. Also, since you're asking about taxes, remember that depending on your combined income (adjusted gross income + nontaxable interest + half of SS benefits), up to 85% of your Social Security benefits may be taxable. Since you're still working, this is something to be aware of for your tax planning.

Update: I finally broke down and called SSA this morning (waited on hold for 1.5 hours!). The representative told me that spousal benefits are *supposed* to be automatic, but their system has been having issues lately with the automatic calculations. She recommended that I call back about 2 weeks after my husband's first payment arrives to check on the status of my spousal increase. She said there's a good chance I'll need to specifically request it, even though it should happen automatically. So frustrating! But at least now I know I need to be proactive about this. Will update again in October after his payments start.

my aunt had this problem too she was getting her own SS for years then uncle retired. took SSA 3 months to increase her check but they did pay the back money. dont worry too much but def call if october comes and nothing happens

my daughter got SSI not SSDI so its probably different for you. SSI doesn't do back payments the same way. but i think for SSDI and disabled adult child benefits they do pay you for those months they said she was eligible. also make sure you know if she got approved for medicare too because sometimes they don't tell you clearly about that part.

I just wanted to update everyone - the backpay arrived today! It came exactly 7 weeks after the approval letter, as a separate direct deposit labeled "SSA TREAS 310 XXSUPP". It covered all four months (October through January) in one lump sum. Thanks everyone for your helpful advice - it really helped me understand what to expect during this confusing time.

Sorry but I think your understanding of GPO changes is incorrect. Nothing has officially changed yet. The Social Security Fairness Act was introduced to Congress but hasn't passed. It's been introduced multiple times over the years without success. That said, it's ALWAYS worth checking benefit eligibility again because: 1) The calculation might have been done incorrectly in 2005 2) Her husband's benefit amount with COLAs might now exceed the GPO reduction Also, at 89, she should see if she qualifies for SSI which isn't affected by GPO.

I've been fighting this battle for my retired teacher sister for years. Even with the current awful GPO rules, make sure they calculate everything correctly. Get your friend to request a Benefit Verification Letter that shows exactly how they calculated everything. Sometimes they don't apply the correct COLA increases to the deceased spouse's benefit before applying the offset. Also, make sure they're using her GROSS pension amount, not her net take-home after health insurance and tax deductions. I've seen them make this mistake too!

To clarify some confusion in this thread: For the first year after you claim benefits, SSA applies the monthly earnings test. After that first year, they switch to an annual test, where they only look at your total earnings for the year. This means after your first year collecting, you could earn a lot in one month and nothing in another, and as long as your annual total stays under the yearly limit ($23,400 for 2025), you won't lose any benefits. For LLC income specifically, they count it when earned, not when paid - this is a common misunderstanding that leads to problems.

Thanks everyone for the helpful information! I think I understand better now - I need to track my monthly net earnings from the LLC (after expenses) plus any W-2 wages and keep the combined amount under $1,950 for each month during my first year. Then after that, I just need to keep my annual total under $23,400 until I reach full retirement age. I'm going to call SSA directly to confirm this is correct for my specific situation before I apply. Really appreciate all the advice!

To answer your latest question - no, you cannot switch later. Under current rules (changed in 2016), once you file for benefits, you're deemed to be filing for ALL benefits you're eligible for. The SSA will pay you the higher amount, but you cannot switch strategies later. This is why planning is so important. If your own benefit at FRA would be significantly higher than the divorced spouse benefit, it might be worth waiting. Your own benefit grows until age 70, while divorced spouse benefits max out at your FRA. I'd recommend creating a my Social Security account online if you haven't already. It will show your earnings history and benefit estimates based on different claiming ages.

Thanks everyone for the incredibly helpful advice! I've learned so much: 1. I can claim divorced spouse benefits at 62 based on my ex's SSDI record 2. I'll get either my own benefit OR up to 50% of my ex's benefit (reduced for early claiming), not both 3. Filing at 62 means about a 30% reduction from what I'd get at my FRA 4. Once I file, I can't switch strategies later I'm going to create a my Social Security account and use the benefit estimator to run some numbers. Then I'll try to schedule an appointment specifically to discuss my divorced spouse options. This has been so much more helpful than the confusing information on the SSA website!

dont get 2 excited they probably just processing it. my status said approved for like a month before i got the actual approval letter and then another 3 weeks for first payment

Since you mentioned you have stage 4 lymphoma, your case likely qualified for expedited processing under the Compassionate Allowances program. This is working exactly as designed - SSA created this program specifically to fast-track obvious disability cases. One important thing to know: there's a 5-month waiting period from your disability onset date before payments begin. So even with quick approval, you might still have a short wait for the first payment depending on when your disability officially began according to SSA. Also, keep documentation of all your medical treatments. SSA will conduct periodic Continuing Disability Reviews, though with your condition these might be less frequent.

Hi there! Just wanted to say I was in a similar boat last year. One thing nobody mentioned yet - the earnings limit is ANNUAL, but they apply it MONTHLY for payment purposes. So if you have uneven earnings throughout the year (like if you get a big bonus in one month), it can affect which months you get paid and which you don't. Super confusing system!!

Since you're planning to apply very soon (January 2025), I'd recommend doing two things right away: 1. Contact SSA now and get an official benefits estimate based on your current earnings record. Make sure all your earnings are correctly recorded. 2. When you apply, be VERY clear about your expected 2025 earnings. Ask them to withhold benefits as needed rather than paying you too much that you'll have to pay back. This is definitely one of the most confusing aspects of Social Security, and unfortunately, a lot of people at SSA don't explain it clearly either.

lol why would anyone think they could get ss benefits at 57? thats not retirement age anywhere in the U.S system

To summarize what's been discussed and add a bit more clarity: 1. The earliest your husband could receive spousal benefits is age 62, with a reduction (approximately 30-35% less than at his FRA). 2. If he significantly reduces his work or stops completely at 57, this could affect his own future benefit calculation since SSA uses the highest 35 years of earnings. Low-earning or zero years could reduce his personal benefit. 3. The spousal benefit would be up to 50% of your Primary Insurance Amount (your benefit at your FRA), but is reduced if claimed before his FRA. 4. He will always receive the higher of either his own benefit or the spousal benefit, not both. 5. For survivor benefits, he could claim as early as age 60 if you predeceased him, with a reduction. At his FRA, he would receive 100% of your benefit. 6. If your husband is considering reducing work significantly at 57, you might want to evaluate other retirement income sources to bridge the gap until he can claim Social Security benefits.

Whenever I call social security its a nightmare!!! waited 3 hours last time before I hung up. Anybody found a way to actually talk to a real person there without wasting your whole day??

Quick update after speaking with SSA (finally got through!): The agent confirmed that my husband's reduced benefit is counting against the Family Maximum, which is why our son's DAC benefit and my child-in-care spousal benefit are both reduced. The agent explained that the Family Maximum is approximately 175% of my husband's PIA in our case. Since he took retirement 2 years early, his benefit is reduced to about 87% of his PIA. This means our son and I are splitting the remaining portion of the maximum (about 88% of PIA), and it's being divided proportionally between us. I also learned that if I were to wait until my FRA to claim regular spousal benefits (not child-in-care), my benefit would increase, but our son's would decrease further to stay within the maximum. The whole system seems designed to keep families from receiving full benefits! Thank you all for your help in understanding this complex issue.