Just to add to what everyone else has said - you're absolutely right that 401k assets don't matter for regular Social Security retirement benefits! I went through this same process last year at 64. The online application was pretty smooth and they only asked about my work history and earnings, nothing about savings or retirement accounts. One tip: make sure you have your tax returns handy for the past couple years, especially if you had any self-employment income. They might ask you to verify some earnings if there are gaps in their records. Also, if you haven't already, definitely check your earnings record on your my Social Security account before applying to make sure everything looks accurate - I found a missing year from an old employer that I was able to get corrected before filing. Good luck with your application! The whole process was way easier than I expected.

Great question and I'm glad you asked! Everyone here has given you solid advice - you definitely DON'T need to report your 401k for regular Social Security retirement benefits. I went through this exact situation two years ago when I applied at 62. Just want to emphasize what a few others mentioned: make absolutely sure you understand the financial impact of filing at 63 vs waiting. That permanent reduction is no joke - for me it was worth it because of health concerns, but it's a big decision. Also, since you mentioned being unemployed, don't forget that once you start collecting SS, if you do find work later, there are earnings limits until you reach full retirement age that could temporarily reduce your benefits. But again, 401k withdrawals won't count toward those limits if you need to tap into that money. The online application really is straightforward - just have your employment history ready and double-check your earnings record first like others suggested. Good luck!

To summarize for the original poster: 1. The conversion from SSDI to retirement benefits will happen automatically in November - no action needed 2. The benefit amount will remain the same 3. Medicare coverage continues unchanged 4. Payment dates might shift slightly (retirement benefits have a different schedule than SSDI) 5. Working now (before FRA) involves navigating Trial Work Period rules and SGA limits 6. Working after reaching FRA in November has no earnings restrictions whatsoever Given these facts, and considering it's only a few months away, waiting until November to begin working is likely the simplest approach. This avoids any potential complications with TWP months, SGA limits, or triggering reviews.

As someone who recently went through this transition myself, I can confirm what others have said - the conversion really is seamless! One small tip: when the payment date changes, it might also show up under a slightly different description on your bank statement (mine changed from "SSA SSDI" to "SSA RETIREMENT"). Don't let that throw you off! Also wanted to add that if your wife does decide to work before November, make sure she keeps detailed records of ALL earnings and hours worked. The SSA can be very particular about documentation if any questions come up later. Since you're so close to FRA though, waiting really does seem like the smartest move to avoid any potential headaches. Good luck with everything - it sounds like you're being very thoughtful about planning this transition!

Thanks everyone for the excellent advice! I'm going to help my wife apply for SSI to document her disability status, even though we expect to be denied due to our household income. We'll also work on gathering all her medical records and making sure her condition is well-documented. And we'll definitely use that phone service to speak directly with SSA about our specific situation. This community has been incredibly helpful - I feel much better informed about our options now. Turning off comments.

I'm glad you found all this advice helpful! Just wanted to add one small but important detail - when your wife applies for SSI to establish her disability status, make sure she keeps copies of EVERYTHING she submits. The initial application, all medical records, denial letters, everything. If she ever needs to apply for disabled widow's benefits later, having that complete paper trail will save you both a lot of headaches. Also, don't be discouraged if the SSI application gets denied initially - that's actually expected in your case due to household income, but the important thing is getting her condition officially reviewed and documented by SSA. Good luck to both of you!

One other piece of advice - if you expect to earn over the limit, you can voluntarily suspend your benefits for any months you expect to exceed it, rather than having SSA calculate the withholding. This can give you more control over when the reductions occur. Just contact SSA before the month you want to suspend. You can then resume benefits in months where your earnings will be lower.

Just wanted to add one more consideration for your planning - make sure you understand how the earnings test calculates "earnings." It only counts wages and net self-employment income, NOT things like pensions, 401k withdrawals, investment income, rental income, or other retirement income. So if you're transitioning to part-time work but also have other income sources, only your actual work earnings count toward that $22,320 limit. This might give you more flexibility in your income planning than you initially thought!

Thanks everyone for your helpful responses! This clears up so much for me before my appointment. I'll definitely keep detailed notes of my meeting with SSA and may try that Claimyr service if I need to call them afterward with questions. It's comforting to know what to expect now.

I'm sorry for your loss, StarStrider. Based on what others have shared here, I wanted to add one more consideration that might help with your decision timing. Since you're 63, you might want to calculate whether delaying survivor benefits until your FRA (which would eliminate that ~19% reduction) makes financial sense compared to claiming now. The break-even point is usually around 12-14 years, so if you expect to live past age 76-77, waiting could provide more lifetime benefits. Of course, this assumes you can manage financially without the benefits for the next few years. Also, if your own work record would provide a higher benefit than the survivor benefit, you might consider the "claim and switch" strategy others mentioned - take reduced survivor benefits now, then switch to your own (unreduced) retirement benefit at your FRA if it's higher. The SSA office should be able to run projections for you showing different scenarios. Don't hesitate to ask them to explain the numbers until you fully understand your options.