As someone new to this community and approaching my own retirement planning, I want to echo what others have said - this thread has been incredibly educational! I'm about 8 months away from turning 67 and have been putting off dealing with the Social Security application because it seemed so overwhelming. Reading through everyone's experiences has really helped clarify the process. The 2-3 month application window seems to be the sweet spot, and knowing there are no penalties for working while receiving benefits past FRA takes a huge weight off my shoulders. One thing that really stood out to me was the mention of being able to specify which month you want benefits to start when you apply. That flexibility seems crucial for timing everything properly with your last paycheck. I also had no idea about the HSA restriction that @Yuki Kobayashi mentioned - that's definitely something I need to factor into my planning since I've been maxing out my HSA contributions. For those who have gone through this recently, did you find the my Social Security online account gave you accurate benefit estimates? I want to make sure I'm budgeting realistically for the transition period. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed, real-world advice. This kind of peer-to-peer guidance is invaluable when navigating these major life transitions!

As a newcomer to this community who's just starting to think about Social Security timing, this entire discussion has been absolutely invaluable! I'm about 6 months away from turning 67 and honestly felt pretty overwhelmed by the whole process until reading through everyone's experiences here. The consistency in advice is really reassuring - apply 2-3 months before you want benefits to start, no penalties for working past FRA, and plan for the payment delay. I had no idea about so many of the details mentioned here, like the HSA contribution restriction once you start receiving benefits, or how your birth date affects which Wednesday you get paid! I'm particularly grateful for the practical tips about creating a my Social Security account early, using the draft application feature, and checking your complete earnings history before applying. As someone who's worked multiple jobs over the years, that earnings verification step seems crucial. One question for the group - for those who successfully timed their applications, did you find it helpful to have a financial cushion beyond just planning for the payment delay? I'm trying to figure out how much extra savings I should have on hand during the transition period, especially given all the variables like potential PTO payouts, tax implications, etc. Thanks to everyone for creating such a comprehensive resource - this thread should be required reading for anyone approaching Social Security decisions!

Thanks everyone for all this information! Just to make sure I understand correctly - I need to inform SSA about my expected earnings for this year, and I can earn up to $24,960 without reduction. If I earn more, they'll reduce my benefit by $1 for every $2 over. This only applies to work income, not my wife's income or any investment income. And once I reach 67 (my FRA), there's no earnings limit at all.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that the earnings limit is based on your gross wages before taxes and deductions, not your take-home pay. So if you're offered that part-time position, make sure you're calculating based on your total earnings before any deductions. Also, if you're considering self-employment income (like consulting), that counts too and can be trickier to track throughout the year. I'd suggest keeping a simple spreadsheet to monitor your earnings as you go so you don't accidentally go over the $24,960 limit!

I'm 65 and have been on SSDI for about 3 years now, and this entire discussion has been incredibly valuable! I had no idea that the conversion was automatic or that the payment amount would stay exactly the same. I've been losing sleep worrying about having to reapply or potentially facing a reduction in benefits when I hit 67. The point about earnings restrictions being lifted is particularly exciting - I was a part-time bookkeeper before my disability and have been thinking it might be therapeutic to help a few small businesses with their books again, but I was terrified of jeopardizing my SSDI. Knowing that option will be available in a couple years without any risk to my benefits is such a relief. I'm definitely going to follow the advice about screenshotting my account details before the conversion and making sure my contact information is up to date. Thank you to everyone who shared their personal experiences - this community is so much more helpful than trying to navigate the SSA website alone!

I'm 66 and turning 67 in about 6 months, so this discussion couldn't have come at a better time! I've been on SSDI for 4 years and have been absolutely terrified about what would happen at my FRA. I kept imagining having to go through the whole application process again or potentially losing benefits. Reading everyone's real experiences about the automatic conversion and payment staying the same has lifted such a huge weight off my shoulders! What really excites me is learning about the earnings restrictions being removed. I used to teach piano lessons before my disability, and I've been thinking it might be nice to take on just a couple of students again - not for the money necessarily, but because I miss that connection and sense of purpose. Knowing I'll have that option at 67 without any risk to my benefits is incredible. I'm definitely going to screenshot my account details before the transition and make sure all my contact info is current. This community has provided more clear, practical information in one thread than I've been able to find anywhere else. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - it's made such a difference in my peace of mind!

As someone new to this community and trying to understand Social Security planning for my own family, this entire discussion has been absolutely invaluable! I came in thinking spousal and survivor benefits were the same thing, so learning that survivors can get up to 100% instead of just 50% is mind-blowing. What really stands out to me is how many people shared personal stories about claiming too early and losing significant monthly income - that $700/month example really hit home. It makes me realize that while the SSA website has the basic rules, you really need this kind of real-world insight from people who've actually navigated these decisions. I'm definitely going to explore both the Claimyr service for getting through to SSA and look for an RSSA-certified advisor. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical guidance that can prevent costly mistakes!

As someone completely new to Social Security planning, this thread has been absolutely eye-opening! I had no idea there was such a significant difference between spousal benefits (50%) and survivor benefits (up to 100%) - that's information that could literally mean the difference between financial security and hardship in retirement. What really concerns me is how many people shared stories about making decisions without fully understanding the long-term consequences, like the person who lost $700/month by claiming survivor benefits too early. It seems like there's a real gap between the official SSA information and the practical guidance people actually need to make these complex timing decisions. I'm grateful for communities like this where people share their real experiences - it's clear that having the right information and professional guidance can prevent costly mistakes that affect someone's financial security for decades. Thank you all for being so generous with your knowledge and experiences!

As someone who recently started the Social Security application process, this thread has been absolutely eye-opening! I had no idea these text scams were so widespread and targeted. What really concerns me is how sophisticated these scammers have become - they're not just sending random spam, but actually researching when people are most vulnerable and likely to believe these fake messages. I'm particularly grateful for all the specific red flags everyone has shared: - SSA NEVER sends texts with links (this seems to be the most important rule) - Legitimate SSA communications don't use urgent, panicky language - Real SSA messages come through official mail or your mySocialSecurity account - The timing of these scams is deliberately calculated to catch people waiting for benefit decisions The technical insights about "smishing" and URL spoofing were especially helpful - I never realized how sophisticated these fake websites could be. I'm definitely going to enable two-factor authentication on my account and be much more vigilant about verifying any unexpected communications independently. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise. This community's willingness to educate and protect each other is really remarkable. I feel so much more prepared to navigate both the legitimate SSA process AND avoid these predatory scams now!

I'm so glad you asked about this - your instincts were absolutely correct! This is definitely a scam. As someone who's been helping family members navigate Social Security benefits for years, I can confirm that SSA will NEVER send you text messages with links to click. What makes these scams particularly dangerous is that they're becoming incredibly targeted. Scammers are timing these messages to coincide with when people are most likely to be expecting legitimate communication from SSA - like when you've recently applied for benefits or are approaching retirement age. A few key points to remember: - All legitimate SSA communications come through official mail or your mySocialSecurity account - SSA will never ask you to verify personal information via text - They don't create artificial urgency with language like "immediate action required" - When in doubt, always log into your mySocialSecurity account directly or call the official SSA number You did exactly the right thing by not clicking and asking here first. I'd recommend reporting this scam to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and also forwarding the text to 7726 (SPAM) to help authorities track these campaigns. Stay vigilant - these scammers know exactly how to exploit our concerns about retirement benefits, but knowledge is our best defense!