One additional consideration I haven't seen mentioned yet - if your mom has any outstanding debts or loans, Social Security benefits are generally protected from creditors, but once she passes away, her estate becomes responsible for those debts. The timing of when you report her death to SSA versus settling estate matters can be important. Also, I'd recommend asking your mom if she's ever received any correspondence from SSA about overpayments or benefit adjustments in the past. Sometimes there can be old overpayment issues that resurface after death, and it's much easier to understand and resolve these if you know the history beforehand. One more practical tip - consider making a "death notification checklist" that includes not just SSA, but also Medicare, any supplemental insurance, banks, credit cards, utilities, etc. Having everything organized in one place will make an overwhelming time much more manageable. You can even start gathering contact phone numbers and account information now while your mom can help you. It sounds like you're being wonderfully proactive about preparing for this difficult but inevitable situation. Your mom is fortunate to have someone who cares enough to plan ahead like this.

I work at a local Social Security office and wanted to add a few insider tips that might help you when the time comes. First, if you need to visit an office in person, you can make an appointment online or by phone - this will save you hours of waiting compared to just walking in. Appointments typically get you seen within 15-30 minutes of your scheduled time. Second, bring multiple certified copies of the death certificate if you can afford it. We need to keep one for our records, and you'll likely need originals for banks, insurance companies, and other agencies. Getting extras upfront saves you from having to order more later. One thing people don't realize is that we can often handle simple death notifications over the phone, but more complex situations (like suspected overpayments or questions about survivor benefits) usually require an in-person visit or extensive phone verification. Also, if your mom ever moves or changes banks, make sure she updates her address and direct deposit information with us promptly. Outdated information can cause significant delays and complications after someone passes away. The fact that your mom is still managing her own affairs is actually ideal - it shows she's maintaining her independence and mental capacity, which makes the eventual transition much cleaner from an administrative standpoint.

I'm so sorry to hear about your brother's condition. This is such a difficult situation to navigate during an already stressful time. One thing I'd add to the excellent advice already given - make sure your sister-in-law understands that if she does decide to claim survivor benefits early at 60, the reduction is permanent even after she reaches FRA. She'd get about 71.5% of his full benefit amount if she claims at 60, versus 100% if she waits until her FRA at 67. Given her current income of $52,000, she'd likely lose most or all of her survivor benefit to the earnings test until she reaches FRA. It might make more sense for her to wait, but definitely get those specific calculations from SSA with her actual numbers. Also, when the time comes, make sure she applies for the survivor benefits within the proper timeframe - she can receive up to 6 months of retroactive benefits, but no more than that. The timing of the application matters. Wishing your family strength during this difficult time.

I'm really sorry about your brother's diagnosis. This is such a heavy situation for your whole family. Just wanted to add one more perspective as someone who works in benefits administration - your sister-in-law might also want to consider how her employer's group health insurance factors into this decision. If she's currently getting health benefits through her job at the dental practice, that could be a significant consideration in her overall financial planning. Also, I noticed others mentioned creating a my Social Security account online. When she does that, she should look specifically at her "retirement estimator" which will show her projected benefits at different claiming ages (62, FRA, and 70). Having those numbers will make the comparison with survivor benefits much clearer. One last thing - if your brother is currently receiving SSDI, his benefit amount is already at his full retirement age amount (not reduced for early claiming), so that's the base amount for calculating her survivor benefit percentage. That's actually advantageous compared to situations where someone claimed early retirement before passing away. Take care of yourselves during this difficult time.

After seeing the additional details, here's what you should know: Since your grandson's parents are alive (though unable to care for him), he likely wouldn't qualify for benefits on your record as a dependent grandchild. However, there's an important exception: if you've legally ADOPTED your grandson (not just conservatorship), then he could potentially qualify for benefits on your record. At that point, your wife could potentially qualify for child-in-care spousal benefits if your grandson is receiving benefits on your record. This is definitely a situation where you need to speak directly with SSA about your specific circumstances.

Just want to add that if you do decide to pursue adoption, make sure to keep all your legal documentation organized - court orders, conservatorship papers, etc. When I dealt with SSA for family benefits, they wanted to see everything multiple times. Also, the adoption process can take months, so if you're considering it anyway for your grandson's stability, it might be worth starting that process sooner rather than later. In the meantime, definitely explore those state programs that were mentioned - sometimes there are kinship care benefits or relative caregiver programs that can provide support while you're navigating the federal benefits situation.

As someone who just turned 63 and is navigating these same waters, this thread has been absolutely invaluable! I had no idea about the 45-hour monthly rule when I filed for early benefits last month. Like many others here, I thought I just needed to stay under the annual earnings limit. I do freelance marketing consulting with a very irregular schedule - some months I might work 60+ hours, others barely 10. After reading everyone's experiences, I'm definitely going to restructure my approach to batch work into specific months and forfeit benefits for those months rather than trying to juggle both throughout the year. One thing I'm still trying to figure out - when you notify SSA about expected substantial services months, do they adjust your benefit payments automatically going forward, or do you still get the full payments initially and then have to deal with overpayments later? I'd much rather have them withhold benefits upfront for my planned work months than deal with repayment issues down the road. Also, has anyone here worked with SSA to establish a regular pattern? Like if I plan to work intensively every January-March going forward, can I set that up as an ongoing arrangement or do I need to report it fresh each year? Thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences - this community is providing more practical guidance than anything I found in the official SSA materials!

This has been such an enlightening thread for someone just entering the early retirement phase! I'm 62 and planning to file for benefits next month while continuing some part-time accounting work. Like so many others here, I had absolutely no idea about the 45-hour monthly rule until reading this discussion. What really strikes me is how this community has provided more clear, practical guidance than anything available through official SSA channels. The real-world experiences people have shared - from @CosmicCaptain's brother's overpayment situation to @Dmitry Petrov's successful 4-month work schedule - are exactly the kind of concrete examples that help make sense of these complex rules. I'm definitely going to adopt the "batch work into specific months" strategy rather than trying to work consistently while collecting benefits. Based on what I've learned here, I'm planning to concentrate my tax season and year-end accounting work into just 4 months (January, February, March, and December) and collect benefits the other 8 months. One thing I want to emphasize for other newcomers - start tracking your hours immediately, even if you think you're under the limits! The documentation requirements seem much more extensive than SSA explains upfront, and having detailed records from the beginning will save you headaches later. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences. This thread should honestly be required reading for anyone considering early retirement with self-employment income!

Did u get a letter in the mail?? Usually SS sends something explaining any payment changes. Maybe the letter is just delayed? I'd hold onto that money until you're sure what it's for.... SS has been known to make mistakes and then demand repayment with penalties!!

This is really helpful information! As someone new to Social Security benefits, I had no idea that they automatically recalculate your benefits if you keep working. I'm planning to start collecting at my FRA next year but was hoping to continue working part-time for a few more years. It's encouraging to know that those additional earnings could actually boost my monthly benefit rather than just being "wasted." Quick question - does this automatic recalculation happen regardless of how much you earn while collecting, or is there a minimum threshold your new earnings need to meet to trigger the review? I'm wondering if my planned part-time work would be substantial enough to make a difference.