As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely stunned by this discussion! I'm 69 and have been working part-time consulting while putting off my Social Security application because I thought I was being financially responsible by not "taking" benefits while still earning income. Reading through everyone's experiences here - especially hearing from the retired SSA employee who confirmed the 70 cutoff rule - has been a complete game-changer for my understanding. I had no idea that delayed retirement credits stop at 70 or about the 6-month retroactive limit. Like so many others here, I genuinely believed the benefits would keep growing as long as I waited, similar to how they increase from full retirement age to 70. This thread has potentially saved me from a very expensive mistake! It's remarkable how many newcomers to this community are all discovering the same critical information. Thank you all for sharing your real-world experiences and expertise!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful for this discussion! I'm 68 and was planning to wait until I fully retire at 71 to apply for Social Security, thinking it would be smarter to let the benefits keep growing. Reading through everyone's experiences here - especially the confirmation from the retired SSA employee about the age 70 cutoff - has been a complete revelation. I had no idea that delayed retirement credits stop at 70 or that there's only a 6-month retroactive window. Like so many others who've commented, I genuinely thought you applied when you were "ready" to stop working, not based on these critical age milestones. It's alarming how many people seem to fall into this same expensive trap! This community is already proving invaluable for getting real-world insights that aren't clearly communicated in official sources. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and potentially saving me from a very costly mistake - I'll be applying right away!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm finding this thread incredibly valuable! I'm 64 and currently receiving SSDI after a back injury two years ago. My situation is a bit different - I'm unmarried and don't have survivor benefits to consider, but I'm also working part-time (carefully staying under the SGA limit after reading these comments!). What I'm wondering is: since my disability will automatically convert to retirement benefits at my FRA (67), should I be doing anything now to prepare for that transition? Will the amount stay exactly the same, or could there be changes? Also, for those who mentioned the Trial Work Period - does SSA track those months automatically, or do I need to keep my own records? I've been reporting my earnings through their app, but I want to make sure I'm not accidentally using up TWP months without realizing it. The advice about requesting a Technical Expert appointment is gold - I've been getting the runaround from regular representatives too. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and expertise!

As someone who's also new to navigating Social Security complexities, I want to thank everyone for this incredibly informative discussion! I'm in a somewhat similar situation - 63 years old, receiving SSDI for the past two years due to chronic health issues, and also receiving reduced survivor benefits from my late spouse. Reading through all these responses has been eye-opening, especially learning about the importance of requesting a Technical Expert rather than just any representative. I had no idea that SSA won't automatically give you the highest benefit - that's crucial information! I'm particularly concerned about the work income limits after seeing the discussion about SGA. I've been doing some freelance work to supplement my benefits, and now I'm worried I might be close to that $1,550 threshold. The advice about Trial Work Period months is something I definitely need to look into. One question for the community: has anyone had success getting clear information about their TWP status during a phone call, or is this something that really requires an in-person appointment? Also, for those who've worked with Technical Experts, how far in advance do you typically need to schedule those appointments? My local office has been just as backed up as the original poster mentioned. Thanks again to everyone sharing their experiences - this community is a lifesaver for those of us trying to make sense of this complex system!

Since your friend's husband hadn't started benefits yet, she should definitely understand the "deemed filing" rules don't apply to survivor benefits. This means she could potentially take reduced survivor benefits now at 62 and then switch to her own retirement benefit at 70 if it would be higher (or vice versa - take her reduced retirement now and switch to full survivor benefits at her full retirement age). This is one of the few remaining ways to use a "claim now, claim more later" strategy since the 2015 rule changes. The chart should help explain this, but it might be worth her consulting with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security to run the numbers for her specific situation.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm a widow myself (lost my husband 18 months ago) and I wish I had found that flowchart back then. I made some mistakes early on because I didn't understand all my options. Just wanted to add a few things that might help your friend: 1. She should definitely apply for the $255 death benefit if she hasn't already - it's a one-time payment but every bit helps during this difficult time. 2. If she's working, there are earnings limits that could affect her survivor benefits before her full retirement age (but NOT after FRA). 3. The Social Security office will want to see the death certificate, so make sure she has certified copies. 4. Don't let anyone pressure her into making quick decisions about when to claim - she has time to figure out the best strategy for her situation. The grief makes everything so much harder to process, so having visual aids like that flowchart really does help. Sending good thoughts to your friend during this tough time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Hannah. Losing your husband so young and having to navigate these complex Social Security rules while grieving is incredibly challenging. Everyone here has given you solid advice about the earnings test - with your $53K income, you'd definitely lose most of your widow benefit if you claim at 62. The 2025 earnings limit is around $23,040, so you'd be looking at losing about $15,000 in benefits annually. One thing I want to emphasize that others have touched on: your husband's benefit at 69 is significantly higher than what it would have been at his FRA of 66. Those delayed retirement credits from 66-69 add up to about 24% extra - that's a substantial amount that you don't want to leave on the table. Here's something practical that might help: before making any decisions, try to get a Social Security statement for both you and your husband (you'll need his death certificate and your marriage certificate). This will show you exactly what his benefit was worth at 69 and what yours would be at different claiming ages. Having those real numbers makes the decision much clearer. Given your situation, waiting until 67 to claim the widow benefit seems like the smartest financial move, even though I know waiting 5 years feels daunting right now. You can keep working without penalty and get 100% of what your husband earned with his delayed credits. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

Hannah, I'm deeply sorry for your loss. Losing your spouse at such a young age while navigating these complex benefit rules is truly overwhelming. Based on what you've shared, I want to reinforce what others have said about your husband's benefit amount - since he passed at 69, you'd receive what he would have gotten with ALL his delayed retirement credits from age 66-69. That's roughly 32% more than his full retirement age benefit (8% per year for 3 years plus the 8% he would have earned from 69-70). This is a significant amount that makes the waiting strategy even more worthwhile. However, with your $53K income, you're correct that the earnings test would be brutal. You'd lose about $1 for every $2 over the ~$23K limit, which could wipe out most of your benefit. One strategy to consider: you mentioned you're 62 now and your FRA is 67. Could you potentially reduce your work hours or income as you get closer to 67? Even dropping below the earnings limit for just the final year or two before your FRA could allow you to claim some benefits while still avoiding the full impact. But honestly, given the substantial amount you'd receive at 67 with no earnings test, waiting seems like the most financially sound approach. Just make sure to get those exact benefit calculations from SSA so you can see the real dollar impact of your decision. You're handling an incredibly difficult situation with great thoughtfulness.

As someone new to this community, I just wanted to say how helpful this discussion has been! I'm approaching retirement myself and had no idea about the monthly vs annual earnings test distinction for the first year. The advice about formally notifying SSA about mid-year retirement seems crucial - I'll definitely keep that in mind when my time comes. It's frustrating that such an important rule isn't more widely known or automatically applied. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and knowledge here!

As another newcomer to this community, I wanted to thank everyone for such a thorough discussion! This thread perfectly illustrates why having access to real experiences is so valuable. The distinction between the monthly and annual earnings tests for first-year retirees is something I would never have known to ask about, yet it could make a huge financial difference. @Scarlett Forster, your situation with the mid-year retirement due to health issues really resonates - it's reassuring to see how the community rallied with practical advice and personal experiences. The emphasis on proactive communication with SSA seems to be a recurring theme that all of us planning for retirement should take to heart!