This thread has been absolutely fantastic! As someone who works in retirement planning, I see so many people get tripped up by the earnings test rules, especially that crucial distinction between when wages are earned vs. when they're paid. I wanted to emphasize something that came up here - the importance of keeping meticulous records. I always tell my clients to create a simple spreadsheet tracking monthly earnings, especially in that first year when the special monthly test applies. Include the dates you worked, amounts earned, and dates paid. This becomes crucial if SSA ever questions your reported earnings. One additional tip: if you're switching from full-time to part-time work like many people here, make sure your new employer understands your situation. Some employers can be flexible about scheduling to help you stay under the monthly limit when needed. The advice about getting everything in writing from SSA cannot be overstated. I've seen too many cases where verbal confirmations led to problems later. Always follow up important phone calls with a secure message through your online account summarizing what was discussed.

This has been such an incredibly helpful discussion! As someone who's about to navigate this exact situation in the next few months, I can't thank everyone enough for sharing their real-world experiences. The clarification about wages being counted when earned vs. when paid is huge - that could have easily tripped me up. And learning about the special monthly test for the first year of retirement completely changes my planning. I had been worried about having to severely restrict my work options, but knowing I can receive full benefits for any month where I stay under $2,450 makes this so much more manageable. A few takeaways I'm noting for my own situation: - Set up the online SSA account early and screenshot all confirmations - Keep detailed monthly earnings records with dates worked vs. dates paid - Get written confirmation when reporting estimated earnings to SSA - Consider discussing schedule flexibility with potential part-time employers - Don't hesitate to call SSA back if something doesn't sound right @Ryder Ross - thanks for updating us with your confirmation call to SSA. It's so reassuring to see someone actually get through and get clear answers directly from the source! This community is amazing for providing this level of practical guidance that you just can't find in the official publications. You've all potentially saved me (and many others reading this) from costly mistakes!

I'm sorry for your loss, Liam. As a newcomer to this community, I've been reading through all these helpful responses and wanted to add one more piece of advice based on my experience helping my mother with similar issues. When you call SSA on Monday, also ask them about the exact cutoff date they use for determining benefit eligibility in the month of death. While everyone here is correct that benefits aren't payable for November (the month she passed), there can sometimes be confusion about how they handle deaths that occur very early in the month. Since your aunt passed on November 3rd, this shouldn't be an issue, but getting their official policy clarification will help you understand exactly why the October payment (paid in November) is legitimate while anything for November would not be. Also, if you haven't already done so, consider contacting her bank to ask about their procedures for handling direct deposits after account holder death - some banks freeze accounts immediately upon notification while others allow final government payments to process normally. Having this information upfront can help you avoid any surprises when that November payment comes through.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Liam. As a newcomer to this community, I've been following this conversation and I'm really impressed by how thorough and helpful everyone has been with their advice. You've received excellent guidance about the payment timing and process. I wanted to add one small but important detail from my own experience helping with my father's estate - when you call SSA on Monday, consider asking them for an estimated timeline for when the October payment might be processed. While others have mentioned it could take 2-3 weeks longer than usual, getting a specific timeframe from SSA can help you plan better and know when to follow up if the payment doesn't arrive as expected. Also, since you mentioned your aunt's payment was typically around $1,680, having that exact amount confirmed with SSA during your call can help ensure there are no discrepancies when the final payment does come through. You're clearly being very diligent about handling her affairs properly, and this community has given you a solid roadmap for navigating the SSA process. Wishing you the best as you work through this difficult time.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful to have found this thread! I'm currently in the early stages of considering adoption for my granddaughter after my daughter's passing, and I had absolutely no idea that switching benefit records was even an option. Reading through everyone's experiences has been so enlightening. The advice about getting written estimates before making any changes seems like the most important first step - I love how multiple people emphasized this point. It's clear that every situation is unique, and having those concrete numbers upfront is the only way to make an informed decision. What really stands out to me is how supportive and detailed everyone's responses have been. From the benefits counselor explaining the family maximum calculations to people sharing their personal timelines and challenges, this is exactly the kind of real-world information that you can't get from official SSA websites or pamphlets. I'm planning to call SSA next week to start gathering information, and thanks to this thread, I now know to ask for written estimates, inquire about student benefit extensions, and request a written summary of what they tell me over the phone. I also feel much better prepared for the possibility that I might need to explain my situation to multiple representatives before getting consistent information. Thank you all for creating such a helpful community. It's clear that navigating these benefits can feel overwhelming when you're already dealing with loss and major life changes, but having access to these shared experiences makes it so much more manageable!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to express my gratitude for finding such a comprehensive and supportive discussion! I'm currently facing a very similar situation with my adopted grandson, and this thread has provided more practical guidance than weeks of trying to navigate SSA resources on my own. What strikes me most is how consistently everyone emphasizes getting written estimates before making any changes. This seems like such a crucial step that I hadn't even considered - I was ready to just walk into the SSA office and ask them to switch the benefits without really understanding the implications. The point about family maximums is particularly eye-opening. I had no idea this could limit the potential benefits, but it sounds like SSA will automatically calculate both scenarios and choose the higher amount, which is reassuring. I'm also impressed by how many people mentioned the importance of scheduling appointments rather than walk-ins, and keeping meticulous records as a representative payee. These practical tips are exactly what someone new to this situation needs to know. One question for the community: For those who have successfully switched records, did you find that your local SSA office was generally supportive of the process, or did you encounter any resistance or skepticism about the benefits of making the change? I want to go in prepared for any potential pushback. Thank you all for sharing your experiences so openly. This community is truly invaluable for navigating these complex situations during already difficult times!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! My husband took early retirement at 62 about three years ago, and I'm turning 67 (my FRA) in a couple of months. I've been going back and forth trying to understand this spousal benefit calculation. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring - it sounds like there's strong consensus that I'll get 50% of his PIA (what he would have gotten at his FRA) rather than 50% of his reduced benefit. That's a significant difference for our household budget! What really struck me is how many people mentioned getting different answers from different SSA reps. That's been my experience too - I've called twice and gotten completely different explanations both times. Based on everyone's advice here, I'm planning to: 1. Call right when they open at 8am to minimize hold time 2. Be very specific about requesting "spousal benefits at my FRA" 3. Ask them to confirm they're using his PIA for the calculation 4. Get everything documented in writing The tip about potentially using a service like Claimyr to avoid the hold times is intriguing too - after my last 90-minute hold that ended in disconnection, I might look into that. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences and practical advice. It's so much more helpful than trying to decode the official SSA materials alone!

I just want to echo what everyone else has said here - you'll definitely get 50% of your husband's PIA (his full retirement age amount of $2,400), so around $1,200/month, not the reduced amount. I went through this same situation last year and it took three different phone calls to get a rep who understood the rule correctly. The most important thing I learned is to be extremely specific when you apply. Don't just say "spousal benefits" - say "spousal benefits at my full retirement age based on my husband's Primary Insurance Amount." That seems to trigger the right calculation in their system. Also, I'd strongly recommend visiting your local SSA office in person if possible, in addition to calling. I found the in-person staff were generally more knowledgeable and I could get everything documented properly. Plus no hold times! One last tip: when they give you the benefit estimate, ask them to show you exactly how they calculated it. If they say it's based on his reduced $1,850 benefit, that's wrong and you'll need to correct them. The calculation should clearly show 50% of his $2,400 PIA. You're asking all the right questions and with your own benefit being $1,050, the spousal benefit at $1,200 will definitely be the better choice. Good luck!

This whole thread has been incredibly educational! I'm in almost the exact same boat - turning 69 in late November and wanting to maximize my DRCs without waiting until 70. Based on everyone's advice here, I'm planning to apply in August for November benefits. One question I haven't seen asked yet: for those who successfully did this, did you receive any kind of interim communication between submitting your application and getting the final award letter? I'm the type who worries about things falling through the cracks, so I'm wondering if there are any status updates along the way or if you just have to wait patiently for that 6-week confirmation letter. Also, I wanted to mention for anyone else reading this thread - I found it helpful to call my local SSA office just to verify they're processing applications normally and ask about current wait times. The person I spoke with confirmed that October applications for December start dates are very common and they're well-equipped to handle that timing. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world information that makes all the difference when navigating this process!

This thread has been incredibly valuable! I'm in a similar situation - turning 69 in March and have been worried about the timing. Reading through everyone's experiences has really helped clarify the process. One thing I wanted to add for anyone else following this discussion: I recently discovered that you can actually estimate your benefit amount with DRCs using the calculator in your my Social Security account. It lets you input different claiming ages and shows how the DRCs affect your monthly benefit. This helped me feel more confident about my decision to claim at 69 rather than waiting until 70. For the original poster - it sounds like your October application timing for December benefits is absolutely perfect based on everyone's feedback here. I'm planning to follow the same approach and apply in December for March benefits. The consensus seems clear that the 2-3 month advance application window works well, and knowing that Social Security calculates benefits monthly (not daily) takes a lot of the pressure off getting the exact timing perfect. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - this kind of practical advice is so much more helpful than trying to navigate the SSA website alone!