I'm going through the exact same thing! Just got one of these letters about my old IBM 401k from 2002 and have been putting off dealing with it for weeks. Reading everyone's experiences here is such a huge relief - sounds like 99% of the time it's just money we already rolled over. The tax return trick that @Sofia Price suggested is brilliant! I'm definitely going to dig out my old returns tonight to look for that IBM 1099-R instead of trying to navigate their phone system. @Ava Rodriguez thanks for the federal employee perspective - knowing that 90%+ of these cases are false alarms makes me feel so much better. It's kind of absurd that the SSA is sending out these anxiety-inducing letters about money we already have, but at least this community has been incredibly helpful! I'll report back if I find anything surprising, but based on everyone's stories I'm expecting to find that 1099-R and put this whole thing to rest. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - you've probably saved me hours of unnecessary stress and phone calls!

Just wanted to follow up on this thread since so many people are dealing with the same situation! I finally dug out my 2017 tax return and found the 1099-R from PwC showing a rollover distribution of $33,847. Given that the SSA letter mentioned $32,606, this is clearly the same money - the difference is probably just market fluctuations between when PwC reported the benefit amount to SSA versus when I actually rolled it over. @Sofia Price your tax return suggestion was absolutely perfect! Took me 15 minutes to find the form versus what would have been hours on the phone with PwC benefits. For anyone else dealing with these letters: check your tax returns from the year you did your rollover first. Look for a 1099-R from the employer mentioned in the SSA letter. If the amounts are reasonably close, you can put the letter in your "resolved" pile and move on with your life. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread turned a potentially stressful situation into a quick 15-minute confirmation!

I had another question about this - if I file for benefits mid-year, does the earnings limit apply to all my earnings for the entire year, or just what I earn after I start receiving benefits?

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation - turning 66 next year and trying to figure out the best strategy. One thing I wanted to add is that if you do end up going over the earnings limit, the "lost" benefits aren't actually lost forever. Once you reach your full retirement age, SSA recalculates your benefit and gives you credit for those withheld months by increasing your monthly payment. So if you're close to FRA anyway, the temporary reduction might not be as bad as it seems. Has anyone here actually experienced this recalculation process?

To summarize what everyone is saying (correctly): 1. The 45-hour per month limitation is ONLY for self-employed individuals who own or have substantial interest in a business. 2. As a 1099 independent contractor with no ownership stake, you're only subject to the annual earnings limit ($24,780 for 2025 if you're under full retirement age). 3. You can work any number of hours as long as your earnings stay under that threshold. 4. Make sure you have documentation that clearly shows you're truly an independent contractor and not a disguised business owner. 5. Be aware that if you exceed the annual limit, SSA will withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above the limit. One additional note: Keep track of your projected annual earnings carefully. If you think you might exceed the limit, it's better to report this to SSA proactively than to face an overpayment notice later.

Yes, that's correct about the monthly earnings test in your first year. For the remainder of 2025 after you start receiving benefits in April, you'll be subject to a monthly limit (approximately $2,065 based on the $24,780 annual limit) rather than the annual limit. So from April-December 2025, you'd need to keep your earnings under $2,065 each month. Then in 2026, it switches to the annual limit instead of monthly. This is actually helpful for many people because it allows you to earn whatever you want in the months before you start collecting benefits (January-March 2025 in your case).

Thank you everyone for the responses. I'm going to try the mobile app first for reporting, and then try to get an appointment with a Claims Specialist who understands concurrent entitlement situations. I'll make sure to get everything in writing and keep good records of all our reporting. Just to clarify - my spouse benefits are definitely under the child-in-care provision because of our disabled adult daughter, not regular spousal benefits (which I know I couldn't get until 62). It sounds like both my wife and daughter need to report their earnings directly to SSA, regardless of employer reporting. I appreciate all the helpful information!

You've got a solid plan! Just wanted to add a few tips from my experience dealing with similar reporting situations: 1. When using the mobile app, screenshot everything after you submit your wage reports - the confirmation numbers and dates. SSA's system sometimes doesn't save properly and having proof you reported can save you headaches later. 2. For your daughter's DAC benefits, keep detailed records of her work hours and earnings. If she ever approaches the SGA limit ($1,550/month in 2025), you'll want to show SSA the pattern of her earnings to demonstrate it's part-time/intermittent work rather than substantial gainful activity. 3. Consider setting calendar reminders to report quarterly rather than waiting for annual estimates. This helps avoid large overpayments if earnings are higher than expected. 4. Since your situation involves child-in-care benefits with an adult disabled child, make sure the Claims Specialist documents in your file that this is an ongoing DAC case, not a regular child's case. This prevents future confusion when staff reviews your benefits. Good luck! The fact that you're being proactive about this puts you ahead of most people in similar situations.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Justin. This is exactly the kind of frustrating bureaucracy that families shouldn't have to deal with while grieving. You are absolutely correct - your mother's July Social Security payment should NOT be returned to SSA. The rule is crystal clear: beneficiaries are entitled to Social Security benefits for any complete month they were alive, regardless of when the payment is deposited. Since your mother lived through all of July, that payment (deposited in August) rightfully belongs to her estate. Banks often have blanket policies to return ALL Social Security payments when notified of a death, but they're not trained to understand the timing nuances. What you need is official documentation from SSA to override their standard procedure. I'd recommend visiting your local Social Security office in person rather than trying to get through on the phone - the wait times are brutal right now. Bring her death certificate and request written confirmation that the July payment is legitimate. Once you have that documentation, take it to the bank manager (not just a regular teller) and firmly explain that this is not an overpayment. Don't let them bully you into returning money that legally belongs to your mother's estate. You have enough to handle right now without giving up funds that are rightfully yours. Stay strong and advocate for what's correct - the law is on your side here.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Justin. This is such a common and frustrating issue that adds unnecessary stress during an already overwhelming time. You are absolutely right to question the bank's decision - your mother's July Social Security payment should definitely remain in her estate. The rule is straightforward: Social Security beneficiaries are entitled to benefits for any complete month they lived through, regardless of when the actual payment is deposited. Since your mother was alive for all of July, that payment belongs to her estate, even though it arrived in August after her passing. Banks often have automatic procedures to return ALL Social Security payments upon death notification, but they don't always understand the nuances of the timing rules. What they should be preventing is any August payment (which would typically arrive in September), since she passed away partway through August. Based on what others have shared here, I'd strongly recommend visiting your local Social Security office in person rather than trying to get through on their overwhelmed phone lines. Bring her death certificate and request written documentation confirming that the July payment is legitimate and belongs to her estate. This official paperwork will give you the leverage you need when dealing with the bank manager. Don't let them pressure you into returning money that's rightfully part of your mother's estate. You're dealing with enough right now without having to fight for what's already legally yours. Stand firm - the law is definitely on your side here.