As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to jump in and share something that might be helpful for everyone discussing Social Security calculations. I work in HR and help employees understand their benefits, and this misconception about everyone getting the same amount at 70 comes up ALL the time. One resource I always recommend is the Social Security Administration's "Break-Even Calculator" that's part of their online tools. It helps you compare the total lifetime benefits you'd receive by claiming at different ages (62, full retirement age, or 70). For someone like Yara with gaps in earnings, this can be especially valuable because it shows whether the delayed retirement credits from waiting until 70 actually make financial sense given your specific benefit amount. The other thing I'd add is that many people don't realize their earnings record might have errors. When you create that my Social Security account, definitely review your entire earnings history year by year. I've seen cases where employers didn't report earnings correctly, or where people's names didn't match exactly (maiden names, etc.) and some earnings weren't credited properly. You can dispute errors, but it's much easier to catch them before you claim benefits. For anyone with self-employment history like several people have mentioned, also double-check that your self-employment taxes were properly credited. Sometimes there are delays in processing, especially if you filed extensions or amended returns. Great discussion everyone - this is exactly the kind of real information people need instead of the myths that get passed around!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm amazed at how thorough and helpful this discussion has been! I'm currently 68 and was planning to wait until 70 to claim benefits, but like Yara, I had some completely wrong assumptions about how Social Security works. Reading everyone's responses has been a real wake-up call. I was under the impression that the benefit amount was largely standardized with maybe small variations based on income level. Learning that it's calculated using your highest 35 years of earnings and that gaps or low-earning years can significantly impact your benefit is news to me. I'm particularly concerned now because I took about 8 years off from the workforce to care for aging parents, and during that time I had zero Social Security earnings. Based on what everyone is saying, those zero years could be dragging down my average significantly. The practical advice about creating a my Social Security account resonates with me - I keep putting it off because government websites intimidate me, but clearly I need to face the music and see what my actual projected benefits look like. Justin's point about potential errors in the earnings record is also making me nervous - I've had several different employers over the decades and moved states multiple times. Thank you to everyone who shared their real numbers and experiences. It's sobering but necessary information for making informed decisions about when to claim!

I'm also going through this IRMAA adjustment process right now after retiring last month! This entire thread has been so incredibly helpful - thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and timelines. I filed my SSA-44 form about 10 days ago through my Social Security account online and have been anxiously checking my mail every day. Reading that the two-letter system is completely standard has really put my mind at ease. I was getting worried when I saw other people mentioning a "second letter" because I thought maybe I had missed something or filled out the form incorrectly. @Jessica Nolan - thank you so much for calling SSA directly and explaining why there are two separate letters! That makes perfect sense about the Medicare and Social Security systems not communicating in real-time. And the 3-week follow-up rule is really good to know. I'm definitely going to start checking my Medicare.gov account regularly and keeping a timeline log like @Caleb Bell suggested. The idea of monitoring my direct deposit amount for early changes is brilliant too - that might help with the anxiety of waiting for official paperwork. For those still waiting like me, it sounds like patience is key but the system does work. I'll report back once I start receiving letters to add another data point to this helpful thread!

I'm in the exact same situation! Just received my first IRMAA reduction letter last week after filing the life-changing event form following my retirement in January. Like you, I was confused about the "second letter" mention at the bottom and wasn't sure if that was normal procedure. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so reassuring - it sounds like this two-letter system is completely standard. The first letter confirms Medicare approved your IRMAA appeal, and the second shows how it affects your actual Social Security benefit payment. Based on what others have shared, it looks like I should expect my second letter within the next week or so. I'm definitely going to follow the advice about keeping a timeline log and checking my Medicare.gov account for early updates. The tip about monitoring direct deposit amounts is brilliant too - that might give us some peace of mind while waiting for the official paperwork. Thanks for starting this thread! It's so helpful to see that we're all going through the same process and that it actually works, even though the two-letter system seems unnecessarily complicated at first.

Anyone else feel like they need a law degree to understand all these rules and regulations? 🤯 Why do they gotta make it so complicated?

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone reading this thread. I applied for spousal benefits about 6 months ago and the whole process took around 3 months from start to finish. A couple things that helped me: • I made copies of EVERYTHING before submitting - saved me when they "lost" my marriage certificate the first time • The online application actually worked fine for me, but I called afterward to confirm they received everything • They'll send you a letter confirming your application - keep that safe! One thing I wish someone had told me: even if you're approved, there might be a delay before your first payment. Budget accordingly! Good luck to everyone going through this process. It's frustrating but totally worth it in the end 💪

ugh why does the government make everything so complicated? 🙄 good luck OP, hope you figure it out!

Another thing to keep in mind - if you're divorced, you might still be eligible for spousal benefits on your ex-spouse's record even if they've remarried! The marriage has to have lasted at least 10 years and you need to be unmarried currently. It's called "divorced spouse benefits" and a lot of people don't know about it. Definitely worth asking about if it applies to your situation.

Smart choice waiting until FRA! I made the same decision last year and it was absolutely the right call. The peace of mind alone was worth it - no tracking earnings, no worrying about overpayments, no confusing letters from SSA. One tip for when you do apply in August: even though there are no earnings limits after FRA, SSA will still ask about your work plans on the application. Just be honest about continuing to work through October. They need this info for tax purposes and Medicare coordination, but it won't affect your benefits at all. Also, don't forget that your benefits will be subject to federal income tax if your combined income (including work earnings) exceeds certain thresholds. Might want to discuss tax withholding options with SSA when you apply, especially since you'll have work income through October.

Just want to add another perspective as someone who went through this decision process. I was in almost the exact same situation - turning FRA in July 2024 and debating whether to start benefits early while working part-time. I ended up starting benefits 3 months before my FRA, and honestly, it worked out fine for me. The key was being VERY conservative with my earnings estimates and staying well below the higher earnings limit ($56,520 in 2024 for those reaching FRA that year). I earned about $35,000 in those first 7 months and had no issues with benefit withholding. That said, I completely understand why you're choosing to wait until FRA - the peace of mind factor is huge! The earnings test rules are genuinely confusing even when you think you understand them. Plus, you'll avoid the permanent reduction factor that applies to early benefits. One thing I'd suggest: even though you're waiting until August, go ahead and create your my Social Security account online NOW if you haven't already. This will make the application process much smoother when the time comes, and you can use the benefit calculators to see exactly what your full benefit amount will be.