As someone who just went through this process last year, I can confirm that those final paychecks will definitely count toward your Social Security record! The key thing to understand is that SSA does an automatic recomputation each year, typically processing these adjustments between October and December of the following year. Since you mentioned you have over 40 years of SS-covered work, those final 2025 earnings could potentially replace one of your lower-earning years from the 1980s or early 1990s, which would increase your benefit. Even though it's a partial year, if the indexed earnings are higher than your lowest year in the calculation, you'll see an increase. One tip: keep copies of all those final paystubs showing the SS taxes withheld. While the process is automatic, having documentation can be helpful if there are any discrepancies. And definitely follow up on that SSA-150 form - many school districts don't proactively provide it, but it's important for proper WEP calculations.

I'm in a very similar situation as a newcomer to this community! I'm planning to retire from teaching in Texas next year and will hit my FRA in June, but I'll also have some delayed summer paychecks coming after I start collecting SS benefits. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about the automatic recomputation process or the SSA-150 form that @ThunderBolt7 mentioned. The timing information from @Katherine Shultz about adjustments happening between October-December is particularly useful for planning purposes. I'm also facing the WEP reduction since Texas teachers don't pay into SS for their teaching work, though I have about 25 years of private sector work where I did pay in. One question I have after reading all this - has anyone here dealt with the interaction between state teacher retirement system timing and SS benefit start dates? I'm wondering if there are any coordination issues I should be aware of when both systems are processing retirement benefits simultaneously.

I'm new to this community but currently going through a very similar situation with my elderly father. Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly eye-opening - I had no idea that POA doesn't give you any authority with Social Security! I've been managing my dad's finances with POA for about 8 months now, and we recently had an issue with his Social Security payment that I couldn't resolve because SSA wouldn't talk to me. Now I understand why! The social worker at his assisted living facility mentioned representative payee status, but like you, I thought my POA covered everything. Based on all the advice shared here, it sounds like getting both designations is essential for comprehensive care management. The practical tips about calling SSA at 8am, going in person to the office, and having all documentation ready are so helpful. One thing I'm curious about - for those managing both roles, do you find that nursing homes and other care facilities understand the distinction between POA and rep payee authority? Or do you often have to explain which role applies to different financial matters? Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences in this thread - it's exactly the guidance I needed to move forward confidently with the rep payee application for my father!

As someone who went through this exact situation with my mother just six months ago, I can't emphasize enough how important it is to get the representative payee status established alongside your POA. You're absolutely right to pursue this! What really surprised me was learning that Social Security operates completely independently from other financial institutions when it comes to recognizing authority. Banks, investment companies, and healthcare providers all respected my POA, but SSA wouldn't even acknowledge I existed until I became her rep payee. The process was much more straightforward than I expected. I scheduled an appointment at our local SSA office (definitely recommend going in person if possible), brought all my documentation, and they walked me through Form SSA-11. Since your mother can still participate in simple decisions, this is actually the perfect time to do it - they may require more medical documentation if you wait until her condition progresses further. One practical tip: start gathering her expense information now (rent, utilities, food, medications, etc.) as they'll ask about how her benefits are currently being used. Having this ready shows you're already managing her finances responsibly. The annual reporting (Form SSA-623) really isn't burdensome - I just keep a simple spreadsheet throughout the year tracking her SS funds separately from other income. The peace of mind of being able to communicate directly with SSA when issues arise is absolutely worth the minimal extra paperwork. You're being a wonderful advocate for your mother by getting this sorted out proactively!

I'm actually in the middle of this process right now too! Applied online in late January for benefits starting in February, and just like everyone else here, I got the initial confirmation email and then... complete silence for weeks. I was getting really worried that something was wrong. But after reading all these experiences, I feel so much better! It sounds like 4-6 weeks of no communication followed by the payment just appearing is totally standard. I'm supposed to get paid on the 3rd Wednesday (birthday on the 15th), so I'm hoping to see my first payment show up this month. The MySocialSecurity account thing is so frustrating though - mine still just says "pending" with no payment amounts or dates shown. But based on what others have shared, it sounds like this updates closer to the actual payment date. Thanks everyone for sharing your timelines and experiences. It's such a relief to know this radio silence is normal and not a sign that something went wrong with the application!

I'm going through this exact same process right now! Applied online about 4 weeks ago for benefits starting this month, and like everyone else here, I've heard absolutely nothing from SSA since that initial confirmation email. Reading all these experiences has been such a huge relief - I was convinced something had gone wrong with my application. It's really reassuring to see that 4-6 weeks of complete radio silence followed by the payment just showing up is totally normal procedure for them. My MySocialSecurity account still shows "pending" with no payment information, but now I understand that's typical and it probably won't update until closer to the actual payment date. For anyone else going through this waiting period - this thread has been invaluable! Knowing that straightforward retirement applications processed online typically don't require any phone calls or additional communication really helps manage the anxiety. Seems like we just need to be patient and trust that the system is working behind the scenes.

As a newcomer to this community, I want to express how incredibly helpful this entire discussion has been! I'm in almost the exact same situation - my 16-year-old son wants to get a summer job at our local grocery store, and I've been so worried about how it might affect his survivor benefits. Reading through everyone's real experiences has been such a relief. The consistent message that typical part-time teenage work (15-20 hours at minimum wage) is very unlikely to hit those earnings limits really puts my mind at ease. At around $7.25-$12/hour for 15-20 hours weekly, he'd be earning maybe $500-900 monthly - well under that $1,950 monthly threshold everyone mentioned. What I find most encouraging is how many parents shared that the work experience actually made their teenagers MORE responsible overall - better time management, improved grades, increased maturity. I hadn't considered these positive developmental benefits because I was so focused on worrying about the SSA implications. The practical advice here is invaluable too: keeping simple tracking records, setting up separate accounts, being proactive with SSA communication rather than avoiding it, and working with employers on scheduling awareness. These feel like manageable steps rather than overwhelming bureaucratic hurdles. After reading all these experiences, I'm feeling confident about encouraging my son to take the grocery store job. The life skills, work ethic, and confidence he'll gain seem far more valuable than any minimal risk to his benefits. Thank you all for creating such a supportive community!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for this incredibly comprehensive discussion! I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation - my 17-year-old wants to work at a local restaurant while receiving survivor benefits, and I've been paralyzed with worry about potential impacts. What's been so reassuring is seeing how consistent everyone's experiences have been. The earnings limits ($23,400 annually, ~$1,950 monthly) are very reasonable for typical teenage part-time work, and it's clear that most kids working 15-25 hours per week at standard wages stay well under these thresholds. But what really changed my perspective was reading about all the unexpected benefits - improved time management, better grades, increased confidence and responsibility. I was so focused on the "what if something goes wrong with SSA" that I wasn't considering how much my son could gain from the work experience itself. The practical tips shared here are fantastic: simple tracking systems (love the notebook idea!), separate bank accounts for organization, proactive communication with SSA rather than avoidance, and working with employers who are usually understanding about scheduling constraints. One thing I'm curious about - for those who've had teenagers work in food service specifically, have you found any particular challenges or benefits compared to retail? My son is interested in both restaurant and retail positions, so I'm wondering if there are any differences to consider. After reading all these experiences, I feel much more confident about supporting his desire to work. Thank you for creating such a helpful, supportive community!

I'm 63 and went through almost this exact situation 8 months ago after my cardiac surgery. I was on employer-paid medical leave and decided to file for SS retirement benefits rather than go back to work. Here's what I learned: **Yes, you can receive both benefits simultaneously** - they're separate income sources and there's no automatic prohibition from SSA. **Key things to verify with your employer:** 1. How is your PML classified on your W-2? (wages vs. non-wages affects the earnings test) 2. Are there any company-specific policies about benefit coordination that could affect your PML if you start collecting SS? 3. What's the difference between being on leave "planning to return" vs. officially retiring? **My experience:** I successfully received both for 12 weeks. My PML counted as wages, so my SS was temporarily reduced by about $165/month due to the earnings test. Once my leave ended, full SS benefits resumed. The advice about getting written confirmation from HR is absolutely critical - I had everything documented which prevented confusion later when payroll had questions. One additional tip: when you call SSA to apply, be upfront about your ongoing PML payments. They'll want to know the amounts and duration for earnings test calculations. Given your health situation and being so close to FRA anyway, the financial security now might outweigh waiting for the slightly higher benefit later. Good luck with your recovery!

I'm 65 and went through this exact situation 6 months ago after my hip surgery! I was on paid medical leave for about 10 weeks and decided to file for SS retirement benefits halfway through my leave period. **The good news:** You absolutely CAN receive both your employer's PML and SS retirement benefits at the same time - they're treated as separate income sources by SSA. **What I learned the hard way:** 1. **Ask HR specifically how your PML is reported** - Mine was classified as wages on my W-2, which meant it triggered the earnings test and temporarily reduced my SS payments by about $140/month until my leave ended. 2. **Get EVERYTHING in writing** - I requested written confirmation from HR about: how PML is classified, whether starting SS affects my leave eligibility, and what happens if I officially retire vs. planning to return. 3. **Be prepared for paperwork coordination** - When I applied for SS, I had to report my ongoing PML income for their earnings calculations. **My timeline:** I collected both benefits for 5 weeks without any major issues. Once my PML ended, my full SS benefit amount kicked in. The 7.8% permanent reduction for filing 14 months early was something I wrestled with, but given my health concerns and wanting financial security during recovery, it felt like the right choice for my situation. The key is getting clear documentation upfront and being transparent with both your employer and SSA about your situation. Hope your recovery goes well!