Can I still contribute to my HSA while collecting Social Security at age 62?

My brother went thru this last yr. You CAN contribute to HSA while collecting SS as long as ur NOT enrolled in Medicare yet. The confusion is because alot of people start Medicare at the same time as SS. If ur keeping ur employer insurance and delaying Medicare, ur good to keep using HSA.

This is a common question with Social Security and HSAs. I can clarify the rules for you: 1. Collecting Social Security retirement benefits itself does NOT prevent HSA contributions 2. Being enrolled in ANY part of Medicare (Part A, B, C, or D) DOES prevent HSA contributions 3. At age 65, you're automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A if you're receiving Social Security benefits So between 62-65, you can collect Social Security AND contribute to an HSA as long as you: - Have a qualifying high-deductible health plan (HDHP) - Are not enrolled in Medicare - Meet other HSA eligibility requirements Just be aware that when you do turn 65, if you're collecting Social Security, you'll be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A, which will end your HSA contribution eligibility (though you can still use existing HSA funds).

I thought once you start getting SS checks you HAD to take Medicare too?? That's what my neighbor told me when I was looking into all this stuff last summer. Is that wrong???

I just went through this exact situation! I started my SS benefits at 63 but kept working part-time. I confirmed with both my HR department and my tax accountant that I could CONTINUE contributing to my HSA until I enrolled in Medicare. What I did learn though is you need to be extra careful about stopping HSA contributions BEFORE your Medicare begins. Medicare Part A coverage can be retroactive up to 6 months when you enroll, which could invalidate HSA contributions made during that period. I'm planning to stop my HSA contributions about 7 months before I turn 65 just to be safe.

Been dealing with the SSA for weeks over a different issue. Tried calling literally 50+ times and either got disconnected or couldn't get through. FINALLY used this service called Claimyr that got me connected to an agent in about 20 minutes. Explained my situation about HSA contributions while on early retirement and got clear confirmation that collecting SS does NOT impact HSA eligibility - it's only Medicare enrollment that does. If anyone else needs to actually talk to SSA, check out claimyr.com - they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU

One important distinction that's causing confusion: there are different rules for MEDICARE eligibility vs. MEDICARE ENROLLMENT. At 65, if you're receiving Social Security benefits, you're automatically ENROLLED in Medicare Part A. Before 65, you can collect SS without being enrolled in Medicare. HSA contributions are prohibited if you have ANY Medicare coverage. So: 62-65 collecting SS but no Medicare = CAN contribute to HSA 65+ collecting SS with automatic Medicare Part A = CANNOT contribute to HSA The confusion happens because many people don't realize Medicare enrollment becomes automatic at 65 for SS recipients.

WAIT! make sure u double check with ur HR deparment!! Some employers stop letting u contribute to HSA if u tell them ur on SS even though its technically allowed. My cousin had this problem with her company last year and had to have payroll fix it becuz they assumed she was on Medicare too!

The whole system is RIDICULOUS!! Why does starting Medicare prevent HSA contributions anyway? I was forced to enroll in Medicare when I turned 65 even though I had better coverage through my job because I was already collecting SS. Now I can't use my HSA anymore which was saving me a ton on taxes. The government just wants more of our money!!!

Thanks everyone for the helpful information! I'm going to proceed with claiming my Social Security at 62 and continue my HSA contributions through work. I'll make sure to stop the HSA contributions well before I turn 65 to avoid any issues with Medicare Part A retroactive enrollment. I'll also double-check with my employer's HR department to make sure they won't automatically stop my HSA contributions when I report my Social Security benefits. This community has been incredibly helpful!

Great to hear you got all the clarity you needed! Just wanted to add one more tip - when you do stop your HSA contributions before turning 65, don't forget that you can still use your existing HSA funds for qualified medical expenses even after you're on Medicare. The account doesn't disappear, you just can't add new money to it. And after age 65, you can withdraw HSA funds for non-medical expenses without the 20% penalty (though you'll pay regular income tax). So that money will still be valuable to you throughout retirement!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who works in benefits administration - this is one of the most confusing areas for people approaching retirement! The key takeaway that everyone has covered well is that Social Security itself doesn't disqualify you from HSA contributions, but Medicare enrollment does. One additional thing to watch out for: if you're planning to delay Medicare enrollment past 65 while still working, make sure your employer's group health plan qualifies as "creditable coverage" so you don't face late enrollment penalties when you eventually do sign up for Medicare. Most employer plans do qualify, but it's worth confirming with your HR department. Also, keep all your HSA records organized - you'll want documentation showing when you stopped contributions if there are ever questions about the timing relative to Medicare enrollment. Better to be over-prepared than deal with IRS issues later!

As someone who just turned 63 and went through this exact situation last year, I can confirm what everyone else is saying - you absolutely CAN contribute to your HSA while collecting Social Security before age 65! The key thing I learned (the hard way) is to set a reminder for yourself about 6-7 months before you turn 65 to stop HSA contributions, just like Kayla mentioned. I almost got caught by the Medicare retroactive enrollment thing because I waited until the last minute to think about it. Also, one thing that helped me was getting the official IRS guidance in writing from my tax preparer. That way if my employer's payroll department ever questioned it, I had documentation. Some HR departments aren't familiar with these rules and might try to stop your contributions automatically when they hear "Social Security." You're smart to research this ahead of time instead of figuring it out after the fact like I did!

I'm in a similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm 61 and planning to start Social Security next year while continuing to work part-time. The distinction between Social Security benefits and Medicare enrollment affecting HSA eligibility was something I definitely didn't understand clearly before reading all these responses. One question - for those of you who went through this, did you notify Social Security that you were planning to delay Medicare enrollment until later, or does that happen automatically since you're not turning 65 yet? I want to make sure I don't accidentally get enrolled in anything that would affect my HSA contributions. Also planning to get that IRS documentation from my tax preparer like Hattie suggested - that's brilliant advice!

This thread has been incredibly informative! As someone approaching 62 myself, I had the exact same confusion about Social Security vs Medicare and HSA eligibility. The key points I'm taking away are: 1. Social Security benefits alone don't affect HSA contributions 2. Medicare enrollment (which is automatic at 65 if you're on SS) is what stops HSA eligibility 3. The retroactive Medicare coverage issue means stopping HSA contributions 6-7 months before turning 65 is smart 4. Getting official IRS guidance in writing and checking with HR are both crucial steps One additional tip I'd add - if you're working with a financial advisor, make sure they understand these rules too. I've heard stories of advisors giving incorrect information about HSAs and Social Security timing. It's worth double-checking with multiple sources (tax preparer, HR, SSA directly) to make sure everyone is on the same page. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this kind of real-world knowledge is so much more valuable than trying to decipher government websites alone!

This has been such an educational thread! I'm 60 and starting to plan for early retirement, so this HSA/Social Security question is exactly what I'll be facing in a couple years. What really stands out to me is how the official government resources don't clearly explain this distinction between Social Security benefits and Medicare enrollment. I've been on the SSA website multiple times and it's honestly confusing - they make it sound like everything is interconnected when really these are separate programs with different rules. The practical tips shared here are gold - especially the 6-7 month buffer before turning 65, getting IRS documentation in writing, and checking with HR to make sure they won't automatically stop HSA contributions. I'm definitely going to start a file now with all this information so I'm prepared when the time comes. One thing I'm wondering about - has anyone dealt with this if you have a spouse who might be in a different situation? Like if one spouse is collecting SS and contributing to HSA while the other isn't yet eligible for either? I imagine the rules are individual-based but wanted to check if there are any gotchas there too.

This discussion has been incredibly thorough and helpful! As someone who works in retirement planning, I can confirm that all the key points covered here are accurate. The confusion between Social Security and Medicare eligibility is probably the #1 issue I see with clients approaching 62-65. One additional resource I'd recommend is Publication 969 from the IRS, which specifically covers HSAs and has a section on Medicare coordination. It's dry reading, but having the official source can be helpful when dealing with employers or if questions come up during tax filing. Also, for those mentioning the challenge of reaching SSA by phone - many local AARP chapters offer free counseling sessions where volunteers help navigate Social Security and Medicare questions. They're usually very knowledgeable about these coordination issues and can help you understand your specific situation without the phone wait times. The documentation and timing strategies everyone has shared are spot-on. Planning ahead like many of you are doing will save so much stress later!

Just wanted to add a quick note about timing your HSA contribution changes with your payroll department. When I went through this process last year, I discovered that my employer's payroll system had a lag time for HSA contribution changes - they needed about 2 pay periods notice to stop contributions completely. So when you're planning that 6-7 month buffer before turning 65 that several people mentioned, make sure to factor in your company's payroll change processing time too. You don't want to accidentally have contributions coming out after your Medicare coverage begins, even if you submitted the stop request on time. I'd recommend checking with your HR or payroll department now about their change procedures, so you know exactly how much advance notice they need when the time comes to stop your HSA contributions.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm 61 and was completely confused about this topic until I read through all these responses. The distinction between Social Security benefits and Medicare enrollment is so much clearer now. What really strikes me is how many people seem to run into the same confusion - the government websites really don't do a good job explaining that these are separate things with different rules. I've been on the SSA site multiple times and always came away thinking that starting Social Security meant automatic Medicare enrollment. I'm definitely going to follow the advice here about getting IRS documentation from my tax preparer and setting up those early reminders about stopping HSA contributions. The payroll processing delay point that Nathaniel mentioned is something I never would have considered - that's the kind of detail that could really cause problems if you're not aware of it. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences. This is exactly the kind of practical information you can't get from official sources, and it's going to save me a lot of stress when I navigate this process myself in the next year or two!

As someone who's been helping people navigate Social Security and Medicare enrollment for over a decade, I want to emphasize a few critical points that have been touched on but are worth highlighting: 1. **Document everything** - When you do start collecting Social Security at 62, get a letter from SSA confirming you are NOT enrolled in Medicare. This can be helpful if your employer's benefits team questions your HSA eligibility. 2. **Watch for automatic Medicare enrollment triggers** - If you're collecting Social Security and turn 65, you'll be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A with coverage starting the first day of your 65th birthday month. There's no opt-out while keeping SS benefits. 3. **Consider the "last month rule"** - For HSA contributions, if you're not HSA-eligible on December 1st of any tax year, you may need to pro-rate your annual contributions for that year. The guidance everyone has shared is spot-on. Just wanted to add these documentation and timing details since even small oversights can create tax complications later. The IRS is very strict about HSA eligibility rules, so being overly cautious with timing and record-keeping is always the right approach. Great question and excellent community responses - this thread should help many people avoid costly mistakes!

Wow, this thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm 59 and starting to think seriously about my retirement timeline, and the HSA/Social Security question has been keeping me up at night. Reading through all these real experiences and expert advice has given me so much clarity. What really stands out to me is how many professional tips have been shared here that you just can't find in official government resources - like the payroll processing delays, getting SSA documentation confirming no Medicare enrollment, and the December 1st "last month rule" for HSA contributions. These are the kinds of details that could make or break your tax situation. I'm definitely going to start preparing now by: - Creating a file with all the key dates and documentation requirements - Checking with my HR department about payroll change processing times - Finding a tax preparer who really understands these HSA/Medicare coordination rules - Looking into those local AARP counseling sessions mentioned This community is amazing - thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences so generously. I feel so much more confident about navigating this process when my time comes!

This has been such a comprehensive and helpful discussion! As someone who's new to this community and just starting to research early retirement options, I had this exact same confusion about HSA contributions and Social Security benefits. What I'm taking away from all the excellent advice shared here is that the key is understanding the difference between Social Security benefits (which don't affect HSA eligibility) and Medicare enrollment (which does). The practical tips everyone has shared are incredibly valuable - especially the timing strategies like stopping HSA contributions 6-7 months before turning 65 to account for Medicare's potential retroactive coverage, and checking payroll processing delays with HR. I'm particularly grateful for the professional insights about getting documentation from SSA confirming no Medicare enrollment, and learning about resources like IRS Publication 969 and local AARP counseling sessions. These are exactly the kinds of details you can't find on government websites but could make all the difference in avoiding costly mistakes. This thread should really be pinned as a reference - it covers every angle of HSA/Social Security coordination that someone approaching retirement might encounter. Thank you to everyone who shared their real-world experiences and expertise!