Finally figured out how to maximize my Social Security while buying a new home - working under earnings limit was key

Thank you! Yes, I've been carefully monitoring that combined income threshold. My financial advisor helped me calculate exactly how much to put in my 403(b) to keep me in the lower taxation bracket. It's amazing how many people don't realize you can strategically manage your income sources this way. I didn't know I needed to notify SSA when I fully retire - would I just call them or is there a form I need to complete? I want to make sure I don't mess anything up after all this planning!

The chickens are still a maybe - my neighbor has offered to let me help with hers first to see if I actually enjoy it or if it's too much work. I'm thinking 3-4 hens max if I do it. And yes, buying first was definitely the right move! Sorry about your sister's situation, that sounds stressful!

Not the OP, but I can help with this. You can absolutely claim on an ex-spouse's record if you were married for at least 10 years, you're at least 62, and you're currently unmarried. The key is that your ex's PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) needs to be higher than yours for this to make sense. To check what you'd get, you'll need to contact SSA directly. They won't tell you what your ex's actual benefit is, but they can tell you what YOU would get based on his record. Call early in the morning (before 9am) to avoid long wait times. If you get frustrated with the hold times, I used a service called Claimyr last month when I was trying to sort out my own spousal benefits situation. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - basically they get you a callback from SSA without waiting on hold for hours. Remember that if you claim ANY benefit before your FRA, it will be reduced. And if you're working while collecting, watch out for the earnings test limits.

The earnings limit isn't some big government secret - it's clearly published on SSA.gov each year when they announce the COLA. And while the CPI-W (what they use for COLA calculations) might not perfectly match everyone's personal inflation experience, it's not some conspiracy. The 2025 COLA was 3.2%, which was based on actual measured price increases. I do agree that waiting until 70 can be smart for people with longevity in their family or those who don't need the money earlier. But claiming at FRA or even 62 can be the right move for many people depending on their health, financial needs, and other factors. It's really an individual decision.

Great questions about working while collecting Social Security! Here's what you need to know: 1) Yes, you should report your estimated earnings when you apply. The SSA uses this to determine if they need to withhold any benefits throughout the year. Your employer reports your earnings too, but that happens after the fact with W-2s. Be proactive by reporting your estimate. 2) For the earnings test, SSA looks at your annual total earnings, not month-by-month amounts - with one exception. The year you first retire has a special "monthly earnings test" that can help if you have a high-earning period before retirement followed by much lower or zero earnings. In that case, you would only lose benefits for the months you earned over the monthly limit (about $4,960 for 2025 at FRA). Once you reach your FRA, you'll be subject to the higher earnings limit ($59,520 for 2025), and after your FRA month, there's no limit at all - you can earn any amount without reduction in benefits.

That's a good warning about the tax cascade effect! That's exactly why I increased my withholding this year - I didn't want any surprises. The housing market here has definitely increased, but I found a place that needed some cosmetic updates which kept the price more reasonable. Sorry your mom couldn't make it work in her area - the market is so location-dependent.

I hadn't even considered the IRMAA implications for Medicare - thank you for bringing that up! I'm still a few years away from Medicare age, but you're right that I should be thinking ahead. I've owned the condo for 18 years so I'll definitely qualify for the capital gains exclusion, and I'm not expecting the gain to exceed $250,000. But I'll definitely discuss the timing with my tax advisor now that you've mentioned these considerations. Really appreciate this thoughtful advice!

If anyone finds themselves in this situation where SSA is seeking repayment of benefits due to exceeding the earnings limit, you have options: 1) You can request a waiver if it wasn't your fault and repayment would cause financial hardship (Form SSA-632) 2) You can set up a payment plan if you can't repay all at once (Form SSA-634) 3) If you disagree with their determination, you can file for reconsideration (Form SSA-561) It's best to contact SSA directly to discuss your specific situation. Getting through to them can be challenging though. If you're having trouble reaching a representative, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get a callback when handling my mother's survivor benefits issue. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - saved me hours of hold time.

Thank you for mentioning Form W-4V - I'll definitely look into adjusting my withholding once I fully retire. And excellent point about severance! I am expecting a small package (2 weeks per year of service), so that will definitely count toward my earnings limit. I'll recalculate to make sure I stay under even with that included. I appreciate the reminder!