Update: I finally got through to SSA after using the Claimyr service that someone suggested. The agent confirmed that with my projected pension of $4,200, I'll get zero spousal benefits (the GPO reduction exceeds what I would receive). However, she explained that if my husband passes away, I might still get some survivor benefits since those can be up to 100% of his benefit (before GPO reduction) instead of the 50% for spousal benefits. She also clarified that if I work a job with Social Security coverage for 5 more years (to get to at least 20 credits), it still won't help me get my own retirement benefit (need 40 credits), but it might slightly improve my situation with survivor benefits later. Knowing the real numbers is frustrating but at least now we can plan appropriately. Thanks everyone for your help!

Thanks for sharing your update! It's really helpful to see how this played out with actual numbers. I'm a teacher in California facing a similar situation - my husband has a strong SS record but I've only paid into CalSTRS for 18 years. Your experience confirms what I've been dreading about GPO completely eliminating spousal benefits when you have a decent pension. The survivor benefit angle is interesting though - I hadn't considered that the higher benefit amount (100% vs 50%) might still leave something after the GPO reduction even when spousal benefits get wiped out completely. Did the SSA agent give you any rough numbers on what survivor benefits might look like after GPO in your case? This whole system really does penalize teachers whose spouses contributed to SS their whole careers. But like you said, at least having real numbers lets you plan accordingly instead of hoping for benefits that won't materialize.

I'm in a very similar situation - started benefits at 62 this year while still doing some freelance work. The earnings test is definitely one of the most confusing aspects of early retirement! From everything I've learned (mostly from this helpful community), you're unfortunately going to be over the limit since ALL earnings from January count toward the annual $22,320 threshold. With your $18,500 + $10,000, you'll likely have about $3,090 withheld from future benefits. A few things that might help: First, definitely call SSA to report your expected annual earnings - their phone system is terrible but it beats getting surprised with suspended payments later. Second, since you're 1099, make sure you're tracking every legitimate business expense (home office, equipment, mileage, etc.) because it's your NET self-employment income that counts toward the limit, not gross receipts. Also look into that monthly earnings test option others mentioned for your first year - if you have months under $1,860 in earnings, you might qualify for full benefits those months even if your annual total exceeds the limit. For taxes, I'd definitely recommend a professional your first year. The combination of 1099 income, potentially taxable Social Security benefits, and quarterly estimated payments gets complex quickly. I found one who specialized in Social Security issues and it was worth every penny. Remember, any withheld benefits aren't lost forever - you get credit through higher payments once you reach full retirement age. The first year is definitely the steepest learning curve, but you'll get through it!

I'm also new to early Social Security benefits and dealing with the same earnings limit confusion! Reading through everyone's responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea that ALL earnings from January count toward the annual limit, not just earnings after benefits start. One thing I wanted to add that might help others in similar situations: I found the SSA publication "How Work Affects Your Benefits" (SSA-10069) on their website, which has some helpful examples of how they calculate the earnings test. It's still confusing, but seeing the actual math helped me understand how the $1-for-$2 withholding works. Also, for anyone struggling with SSA's phone system like I have been, I noticed some people mentioned specific times of day that work better for getting through. Has anyone found particular days of the week or times that are less busy? I've been trying mid-morning with no luck so far. The tax professional advice really resonates with me too. I've always done my own taxes but the combination of 1099 income, Social Security benefits, and these earnings limits seems like it's worth paying for expertise, at least this first year while I'm learning the ropes. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real-world experiences - it's so much more helpful than trying to decode the official SSA materials on your own!

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I feel much better about my decision to wait until my FRA next July before claiming. To summarize what I've learned: 1. At FRA, there is NO earnings limit whatsoever 2. Since I'll be claiming at 67 (my FRA), I can keep working and earning $32,000 with no reduction in SS benefits 3. I should still be aware of possible tax implications Really appreciate all the explanations - this community is incredibly helpful!

Great summary Connor! You've got it exactly right. Just wanted to add one more tip since you mentioned tax implications - when you do your taxes next year, keep in mind the "combined income" formula SSA uses to determine if your benefits are taxable. It's your Adjusted Gross Income + nontaxable interest + half of your SS benefits. If that total is over $25,000 (single) or $32,000 (married filing jointly), some of your benefits become taxable. With your $32,000 work income plus whatever your SS benefit will be, you'll likely cross that threshold, so just plan accordingly when setting aside money for taxes. But the good news is your benefits themselves won't be reduced at all!

This thread has been so helpful! I just experienced something similar - got an unexpected $743 deposit two days ago marked "SOC SEC" and have been nervous about what it could be. After reading Lauren's update about the COLA calculation errors, I went back and did some rough math on what my increase should have been since January, and $743 is pretty close to what I think I was underpaid. I also checked my online Social Security account like several people suggested, and there actually WAS a message in my Message Center from last week that I had missed - it mentioned a "benefit adjustment" but wasn't very detailed. I'm still planning to call them tomorrow to get the full explanation, but I feel much more confident now that this is legitimate back pay rather than an error. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and especially for the warnings about not spending it until confirmed!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I just got an unexpected $956 deposit yesterday from "US TREASURY SOC SEC" and was completely freaking out about whether it was a mistake. After reading everyone's experiences, especially Lauren's update about the COLA calculation errors, I'm feeling much more relieved. I did the math and that amount is actually pretty close to what I think I was underpaid since the January COLA adjustment. I checked my online Social Security account like several people suggested and found a brief message about a "benefit recalculation" that I had completely missed. I'm still going to call them to get the full details, but knowing that so many others are experiencing the same thing makes me feel like this is probably legitimate back pay rather than an error they'll want back. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories and the great advice about not spending it until confirmed - definitely saving me from potentially making a costly mistake!

I went through this exact same situation with my brother about 3 years ago! He's also intellectually disabled and was struggling with overdrafts and bill management. A few things that really helped us: 1. When you go to the appointment, bring a simple written timeline of the recent financial issues (overdrafts, late bills, etc.) - it helps demonstrate why the change is needed now. 2. The SSA worker asked my brother very gently if he wanted help managing his money, and he was actually relieved to say yes. Don't worry too much about that part of the interview. 3. Once you become his payee, consider setting up automatic payments for his regular bills (rent, utilities) so he doesn't have to worry about due dates. You can still give him spending money for personal items. 4. They'll give you a handbook about representative payee responsibilities - read it carefully! There are some things you can and can't use the SSI money for. The whole process took about 10 days for us, and it's made such a huge difference in his financial stability. You're doing the right thing by stepping in now. Good luck with your appointment!

I'm relatively new to dealing with SSA processes, but I wanted to share something that might help with the paperwork side of things. When I was helping my aunt with her disability benefits, we discovered that many SSA forms can be filled out online through their website before your appointment. Not only can you download the SSA-11 form, but you can also create a my Social Security account that lets you access a lot of information digitally. Also, I noticed someone mentioned keeping receipts for the annual reporting - consider taking photos of receipts with your phone and storing them in a dedicated folder. That way you have digital backups in case any physical receipts fade or get lost. Some people also use simple apps like Mint or even just a basic spreadsheet to track monthly expenses by category (housing, food, medical, etc.), which makes the annual accounting much easier. The fact that you already have guardianship papers should definitely work in your favor. From what I understand, SSA generally prefers family members as representative payees when possible, especially when there's already a legal relationship established. You're taking the right step by being proactive about this now!