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did u know that if u work for a state that doesnt pay into SS (like some do and some dont) it can really mess up ur benefits? my cousin lost like half his SS because of something called windfall elimination provision. just mentioning in case ur state job is one of those???
Good point about WEP. To clarify: the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) reduces Social Security benefits for people who receive pensions from work where they didn't pay Social Security taxes (like some state/local government jobs). However, the reduction is eliminated if you have 30+ years of "substantial earnings" under Social Security. The Government Pension Offset (GPO) is a separate provision that can affect spousal/survivor benefits. Both are important considerations for state employees approaching retirement.
I'm just starting to think about my own retirement planning and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea about IRMAA or how complex the timing could be with Social Security and Medicare. @Chloe Mitchell - it sounds like you're being really smart to pause and recalculate everything before moving forward. I'm curious though - when you do withdraw your application with form SSA-521, do you have to wait any specific amount of time before you can reapply? Or can you turn around and file a new application right away for a different start date? Also, for everyone who's mentioned financial advisors - are there any specific certifications or specializations I should look for when finding someone who really understands Social Security and government pensions? I work for a local municipality and want to make sure I don't make the same mistakes when my time comes. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice you can't get from the official websites!
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@original poster - did you ever get this resolved? I'm curious what you decided to do since I'm facing a similar decision next year. My financial advisor actually suggested the same strategy you're considering.
Yes! After weighing everyone's input and meeting with my financial advisor, I decided to go ahead with taking benefits at 62. The key factors in my decision were: 1) the relatively small difference between early and FRA benefits in my specific case, 2) learning that survivor benefits wouldn't be affected if my husband waits until his FRA, and 3) realizing I'd still get a partial spousal bump when my husband files even though I took my own benefits early. I'll be filing next month when I turn 62! Fingers crossed it works out.
Congratulations on making your decision! It sounds like you did your homework and considered all the important factors. Since you're moving forward with filing at 62, here are a couple of practical tips from someone who went through the process recently: 1. File online if possible - it's much faster than trying to get through on the phone 2. Keep good records of your investment strategy and returns for tax purposes 3. Consider setting up automatic investing for your SS payments so you stay disciplined with the plan One last thing - you mentioned being worried about Medicare premiums earlier. Just FYI, your Social Security benefit amount doesn't directly affect Medicare Part B premiums, but if your investment income pushes your total income above certain thresholds, you could face IRMAA surcharges on Medicare premiums later. Something to keep in mind as you manage those investments! Best of luck with your strategy - hope it works out well for you!
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I'm in a very similar situation! I'm also a widow receiving child-in-care benefits for my disabled adult son who became disabled at age 19. I turned 63 last year and chose to stay on the child-in-care benefits rather than switch to survivor benefits, specifically because of the earnings limit issue. One thing that really helped me was requesting a benefit estimate comparison from SSA showing what I'd receive under each option. They can calculate your survivor benefit amount at 62 (reduced) versus your current child-in-care benefit amount, and factor in how the earnings limit would affect you based on your expected income. Also, don't forget that if you do switch to survivor benefits at 62, you can always switch back to your own retirement benefits later if that becomes more advantageous. But you can't undo the permanent reduction from taking survivor benefits early. I ended up staying on child-in-care benefits and now work part-time without any earnings restrictions. It's been a huge relief not having to worry about calculating earnings limits every month!
This is incredibly helpful to hear from someone who's actually been through this decision! The benefit estimate comparison sounds like exactly what I need to make an informed choice. Did you have to request that in writing or were they able to provide it over the phone? I'm so relieved to know that staying on child-in-care benefits worked out well for you - it sounds like that might be the best path for me too since I really want the flexibility to work without constantly worrying about earnings limits.
As someone who works with Social Security disability cases, I want to emphasize something that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you document your caregiving role thoroughly. SSA may periodically review whether you're still providing "care" for your disabled adult daughter, especially as she gets older. Keep records of medical appointments you attend with her, assistance you provide with daily activities, financial management, etc. This documentation becomes crucial if SSA ever questions your eligibility for child-in-care benefits. Also, if you do decide to work, consider how your work schedule might affect your ability to provide care. SSA defines "care" pretty broadly, but they want to see that you're still actively involved in her daily needs, not just living in the same household. The flexibility of child-in-care benefits with no earnings limit is definitely valuable, but just make sure you can demonstrate ongoing caregiving if SSA asks.
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My husband faced the same question last year. Just want to add that when you apply online they actually help walk you through picking the right start date. The system asks when you want your benefits to begin and has information explaining how benefits are paid for each month. Super straightforward process once you get there!
Just went through this exact situation last year! The key thing to remember is that Social Security benefits are calculated and paid by full months, not by specific dates. Since you reached FRA on July 18, 2024, if you want to work exactly one additional year, you should apply for benefits to start on August 1, 2025. This ensures you get full delayed retirement credit for July 2025. The application process is actually pretty user-friendly online - they walk you through selecting the right start date. I'd recommend applying about 3 months ahead of time (around May 2025) to avoid any processing delays. You'll get that nice 8% annual boost for each year you delay past FRA!
This is really reassuring to hear from someone who just went through it! Quick question - when you applied 3 months ahead, did you notice any issues with the timing or processing? I'm worried about applying too early and having something go wrong with the start date.
Luca Esposito
My wife is also July 1958 and we just went through this whole thing with planning her retirement. Her FRA is definitely 66+8 months, so March 2025 is right. But remember that Social Security pays a month behind, so her first FULL payment at FRA would be in April 2025 (for March).
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Zara Ahmed
•Oh that's a really good point about the month behind payment! I hadn't factored that into my cash flow planning. Looks like I need to account for that one-month delay. Thanks for mentioning it!
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Nia Thompson
Everyone here is focusing just on your FRA date, but have you considered whether waiting until your FRA is actually the best strategy for you? Depending on your health, family longevity, current savings, and whether you're still working, filing before or after FRA might be better. I initially planned to file at my FRA (66+4mo), but after running the numbers, I decided to wait until 70 for the maximum benefit since I'm still working part-time and don't need the income yet. Just something to think about beyond just confirming your correct FRA date.
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Zara Ahmed
•That's a really good point. I'm actually planning to work until 68, but I wanted to confirm my FRA first as a baseline. My financial advisor suggested I might want to start spousal benefits at FRA while delaying my own benefit until later. It's complicated but knowing the exact FRA date helps with the planning.
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Ethan Wilson
•I should point out that restricted application for spousal benefits only (while delaying your own) is no longer available for people born after January 1, 1954. For someone born in 1958, when you file, you'll be deemed to be filing for all available benefits. This is a common misconception that persists among many financial advisors who haven't kept up with the rule changes from the 2015 Bipartisan Budget Act.
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