As a newcomer to this community and someone approaching retirement age myself, this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea these Social Security phishing scams were so prevalent and sophisticated. The timing aspect you experienced, Landon, would have completely freaked me out too - it's such a relief to hear from multiple people (including an actual SSA employee) that this is just an unfortunate coincidence and not a sign of a security breach. The practical advice here is invaluable - I'm writing down all the red flags everyone mentioned: exclamation points in subject lines, urgent language like "Check Now!!", direct clickable links, and anything that doesn't come from an official @ssa.gov address. The fact that legitimate SSA communications only go through the message center and are always formal in tone is something I definitely wouldn't have known otherwise. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise. This is exactly the kind of knowledge-sharing that makes online communities so valuable, especially for those of us navigating these major life transitions for the first time!

As someone who's new to this community and will likely be applying for Social Security benefits in the coming months, this entire discussion has been incredibly educational! I can't imagine how alarming it must have been to receive that suspicious email so soon after submitting your application, Landon. The timing really would make anyone panic. What I find most valuable about this thread is how it shows the importance of community knowledge-sharing. Between the experienced members explaining the red flags and Melissa from the actual SSA office confirming the official protocols, I now feel much better prepared to handle these situations if they arise. The key takeaways I'm noting are: never click links in emails claiming to be from SSA, always go directly to ssa.gov, look for formal language and @ssa.gov addresses, and remember that legitimate communications come through the message center. It's unfortunate that scammers target people during such important life transitions, but knowing what to expect makes all the difference. Thank you to everyone who contributed their experiences and expertise - this is exactly why communities like this are so valuable!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm finding this thread incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation as Madison - working in education (I'm a substitute teacher) and trying to figure out Social Security timing. One thing that might be worth exploring is whether your school district participates in any Social Security Administration outreach programs. Some districts actually bring SSA representatives on-site during benefits enrollment periods to help employees understand how their specific employment situation affects Social Security benefits. If your district doesn't offer this, you might suggest it to your union representative or HR department - they often have collective bargaining power to request these kinds of educational sessions. Also, I've learned that some school employee unions have partnered with financial advisors who specialize in education sector retirement planning. They understand the unique challenges like 9-month work schedules, summer layoffs, and how different pension systems interact with Social Security. It might be worth checking if your local bus drivers' union or education association offers any retirement planning resources specifically tailored to school transportation workers. The generic Social Security advice is helpful, but having someone who understands the nuances of school employment could be invaluable for your specific situation!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to add something that might be helpful for your situation, Madison. I've been researching Social Security timing myself and learned about something called the "first-year monthly test" that could potentially work in your favor as a school bus driver. If you decide to claim benefits mid-year (say, in June when school ends), Social Security will use a monthly earnings test for the remainder of that calendar year instead of the annual test. The monthly limit for 2025 is $1,860 - so if you could arrange to not receive any paychecks during the summer months (June-August) by switching to the 9-month payment schedule, you might be able to collect full Social Security benefits for those months even if your total annual earnings exceed the yearly limit. This would only work for your first year of claiming benefits, but it could be a way to "test the waters" and see how the earnings test affects your specific situation. Of course, you'd need to weigh this against any loss of summer health benefits or other considerations, but it's another strategic option to explore. Have you had a chance to ask your payroll department about the flexibility of switching payment schedules mid-year?

I'm new to this community but have been following Social Security rules closely as I approach retirement myself. Based on everything I've researched and what others have confirmed here, your PTO payout definitely counts toward your 2025 earnings limit since you received it in 2025, regardless of when it was actually earned. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet that might be helpful - if you're using tax software like TurboTax or working with a tax preparer this year, make sure to mention your Social Security situation to them early. They can help you plan for the tax implications of having both SS benefits and work income, and some of the newer software versions actually have calculators that can help you model different earning scenarios throughout the year. Also, since you're being so methodical about tracking (which is smart!), consider setting up a simple alert on your phone for the last day of each month to update your earnings tracker. It only takes a few minutes but keeps you from falling behind on the math when you're busy with work and life. The $23,400 limit really doesn't leave much room for error, especially after that PTO payout, so staying on top of it monthly rather than trying to catch up quarterly will save you stress later.

I'm also dealing with the earnings limit as a newer Social Security recipient, and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I wanted to add one more resource that might help - the SSA has a specific publication called "How Work Affects Your Benefits" (Publication No. 05-10069) that goes into detail about the earnings test. You can download it for free from their website and it's much clearer than trying to navigate their main site. One thing I learned from my own experience is to also keep track of any state taxes that might be withheld from your Social Security benefits. Some states tax SS benefits and some don't, but it's another factor to consider when you're budgeting with both work income and benefits. Also, since you mentioned you're 65 and not yet at FRA, remember that the earnings limit increases significantly in the year you reach full retirement age (it goes up to $62,160 for 2025), and they only count earnings before the month you actually reach FRA. So depending on when your birthday is, you might have more flexibility later in the year you turn your full retirement age. Just something to keep in mind for future planning!

This is such valuable information! I'm 61 and in a similar situation - divorced after 15 years, ex-spouse passed away 8 years ago. I've been wondering about this exact strategy but wasn't sure if it was allowed. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful. I especially appreciate the tips about using specific terminology like "restricted application for survivor benefits only" and the reminder about gathering all the necessary documents early. One question I have - has anyone here actually gone through this process recently? I'm curious about how long it takes from application to receiving the first benefit payment. Also, does SSA automatically send you reminders when you're approaching 70 to switch to your own benefits, or is it really up to you to remember and initiate that change?

I'm 58 and recently widowed after being divorced from my ex-husband for 6 years. We were married for 14 years before the divorce. Reading through this thread has given me hope that I might have some options when I get older! I had no idea that divorced spouses could be eligible for survivor benefits. Does anyone know if there are any special considerations for people who become widows/widowers closer to age 60? I'm wondering if I should start gathering documents now or if there are other benefits I might be eligible for sooner than the full retirement age strategy discussed here. Also, is there a difference between being a "surviving divorced spouse" versus a regular surviving spouse in terms of benefit amounts? This is all so overwhelming but everyone's shared experiences here are really helping me understand what might be possible.

I'm in a similar situation and found that creating a simple spreadsheet really helped clarify things. I made columns for each claiming age (62, 67, 70) and calculated cumulative benefits received at different future ages (75, 80, 85, 90). What really opened my eyes was including a "health span" factor - not just life expectancy, but how many years I might realistically enjoy the money. Also, don't underestimate the psychological factor. My neighbor claimed at 62 and says the peace of mind of having guaranteed income (even if smaller) has been worth more than any break-even calculation. On the flip side, my dad waited until 70 and feels great about his larger checks, but he was fortunate to have other income sources during the wait. Have you considered doing a "test run" where you calculate your monthly budget needs at different benefit levels? Sometimes seeing the actual dollar impact on your lifestyle makes the decision clearer than abstract break-even ages.

Reading through all these responses has been incredibly eye-opening! As someone who's also approaching this decision (I'll be 63 next year), I wanted to share what I learned from my financial advisor that might help. She had me create what she called a "regret minimization framework." Basically, I imagined myself at 85 looking back - would I regret having taken smaller checks for 23 years, or would I regret having missed out on 3-8 years of benefits entirely if I don't live as long as expected? For me, the answer was clear once I framed it that way. My dad died at 74, and while I'm healthier than he was, I realized I'd rather have 20+ years of guaranteed income (even if smaller) than potentially miss out on years of benefits chasing a mathematically optimal solution. Also, something that hasn't been mentioned yet - consider your spouse's situation if you're married. The survivor gets the higher of the two benefits, so if you're the higher earner, delaying might make more sense to protect your spouse. But if you're the lower earner, claiming early while your spouse delays could provide household income without sacrificing the survivor benefit potential. @AstroExplorer given your family history, I'd seriously consider claiming sooner rather than later. Peace of mind has real value too.