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I'm in a very similar situation with irregular commission income! One thing that really helped me was creating a simple tracking spreadsheet from the start. I track every payment date, amount, and type (regular salary vs commission) as soon as I receive it. When I applied for benefits, I brought printouts showing my payment history for the past 6 months and estimates for the rest of the year. The SSA rep was really appreciative that I had everything organized and it made the interview go much smoother. Also, don't stress too much about the earnings test calculations - once you get your first annual report form from SSA, it walks you through everything step by step. The key is just keeping good records from day one so you're not scrambling later to remember when you got paid what amount. Your brother sounds like he's in good shape if he's only looking at 2 months over the limit for 2025!
This is exactly the kind of practical advice I was hoping to find! Creating a tracking spreadsheet from the beginning is such a smart idea. I'm going to help my brother set something up like that before he applies so we're organized from day one. It's reassuring to hear that the SSA rep appreciated having everything documented - we were worried they might think we were overthinking it. But it sounds like being prepared actually makes their job easier too. Thanks for sharing your experience with the annual report process. It's helpful to know what to expect down the road. With only 2 months projected over the limit, this is definitely more manageable than we initially thought!
As someone who recently went through this process with quarterly bonuses, I can confirm what others have said - SSA definitely goes by payment date, not when the income was earned. One additional tip: when your brother applies, he should ask the SSA representative to put a note in his file about his quarterly commission structure. This way, when he does his annual earnings report, there's already a record that his income pattern was discussed upfront. It can help avoid questions or delays during the review process. Also, since he's starting benefits mid-year in July, he'll want to be extra careful about those September and December commission months. Even though it's only 2 months over the limit, make sure he reports those expected amounts during his application interview so there are no surprises. Good luck to your brother!
That's such a valuable tip about asking SSA to put a note in his file about the quarterly commission structure! I hadn't thought about that but it makes total sense - having it documented upfront could save a lot of headaches later. We'll definitely make sure to mention that when he applies and ask them to add it to his record. You're absolutely right about being careful with those September and December months. Since those will be his first few months receiving benefits, we want to make sure everything is reported accurately from the start. Better to over-communicate about the commission structure than have them think we're trying to hide something. Thanks for sharing your experience with quarterly bonuses - it's really helpful to hear from people who have actually been through this process!
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To directly answer your original question - yes, the maximum benefit for someone filing at FRA is increasing for 2025, and yes, this is separate from the COLA adjustment. The COLA applies to people already receiving benefits, while the maximum benefit calculation applies to new filers. However, this doesn't mean you'll get more than a 2.5% increase overall. Your benefit is calculated based on your own earnings history, not on what the maximum potential benefit is. The only way this affects you personally is through small adjustments to the PIA calculation formula that happens each year. For most people, these formula adjustments result in very small differences - we're talking about maybe $5-15 per month different than if you had filed with the exact same earnings history the previous year. Your claiming age and earnings history are FAR more important factors in determining your benefit amount.
Thank you! This is exactly what I needed to know. Sounds like I should just proceed with my original plan to file when I reach my FRA in 2025, and not worry too much about these year-to-year formula changes.
Just to add another perspective here - I work in benefits consulting and help people navigate SS claims regularly. The confusion around maximum benefits vs COLA is super common, but here's the key thing to remember: unless you've been a very high earner for most of your career, these year-to-year changes in the maximum benefit calculation won't meaningfully impact your actual benefit amount. What WILL impact your benefit significantly is making sure you have an accurate earnings record with SSA before you file. I always tell my clients to create a my.ssa.gov account and review their earnings history at least 6 months before filing. I've seen cases where missing or incorrect earnings records cost people hundreds of dollars per month in benefits. Also, don't stress too much about timing your application to the exact month - focus more on whether you want to claim at FRA, delay for delayed retirement credits, or claim early with reduced benefits. That decision will have a much bigger impact on your monthly payment than any formula adjustments.
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I'm in a very similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm 64 and still working, earning about $80k annually, while my husband just turned 65 and his SSDI converted to retirement benefits. Reading through all these responses, it seems like the key factors are: 1. Your own benefit amount vs. spousal benefit amount 2. Your current earnings level 3. Whether you plan to keep working past FRA Based on what everyone's shared, it sounds like for most people still working with decent salaries, waiting until FRA makes the most sense. The earnings test would just wipe out most benefits anyway, and if your own benefit is higher than spousal, there's really no advantage to filing early. Has anyone here actually tried using that my.ssa.gov benefit calculator to compare scenarios? I've looked at mine but find it confusing to figure out exactly what I'd get under different timing options.
Welcome to the community! You've summarized the key points perfectly. I found the my.ssa.gov calculator pretty confusing at first too, but here's what helped me: focus on the "estimated monthly benefit" section and compare your projected benefit at FRA versus what 50% of your husband's benefit would be. The calculator also shows you what your reduced benefit would be if you filed early, but like everyone's mentioned, with your $80k salary, the earnings test would likely wipe out most payments anyway. One tip - you can also call SSA and ask them to mail you a more detailed benefit estimate that breaks down different scenarios, which some people find easier to understand than the online version. Given your situation mirrors the original poster's so closely, waiting until your FRA seems like the smart move!
I'm new to this community but going through almost the exact same situation! I'm 65, still working full-time making about $68,000, and my husband's SSDI just converted to retirement benefits when he turned 65 last month. Reading through all these responses has been so enlightening - I had no idea about the "deemed filing" rule or how the earnings test actually works. I've been stressing about whether I should apply for something NOW, but it sounds like with my salary level, most benefits would just get withheld anyway. One question I haven't seen addressed - if I wait until my FRA to file, will there be any issues with the fact that my husband's benefits converted from SSDI to retirement? Does that timing affect my eligibility for spousal benefits at all, or is it just treated the same as if he had regular retirement benefits all along? Also, has anyone here actually received those calculation worksheets that were mentioned? I called SSA twice but couldn't get through, and I'm wondering if it's worth trying that Claimyr service that was suggested or if I should just be patient and keep trying the regular number. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - this has been more helpful than anything I found on the SSA website!
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just want 2 add - make sure u keep good records! my mom had issues proving my dads income when he passed & it took MONTHS to sort out with SS. keep copies of EVERYTHING
That's excellent advice. I'll make sure our important documents are organized and that my wife knows where everything is. Thank you!
This thread has been super helpful! I'm in a similar situation where I'm considering delaying my benefits to maximize what my husband would get as a survivor. One thing I'm curious about - does anyone know if there are any tax implications we should consider? Like, would the higher survivor benefit amount put my husband in a different tax bracket that might affect the overall value? I know Social Security benefits can be taxable depending on other income, but I'm not sure how that works with survivor benefits specifically.
That's a really good question about the tax implications! I hadn't thought about that angle. From what I understand, survivor benefits are taxed the same way as regular Social Security benefits - so if your husband has other income sources like pensions or retirement account withdrawals, the higher survivor benefit could potentially push more of his Social Security into taxable territory. The thresholds are pretty low too - I think it's around $25,000 for single filers where benefits start becoming taxable. You might want to run some numbers or talk to a tax professional to see how the higher benefit amount would affect his overall tax situation. It's probably still worth it in most cases, but definitely something to factor into the decision!
Great point about the tax implications! You're right that it's worth considering. From my understanding, survivor benefits are subject to the same taxation rules as regular Social Security - up to 85% can be taxable depending on your "combined income" (adjusted gross income + nontaxable interest + half of Social Security benefits). For single filers, if combined income is between $25,000-$34,000, up to 50% of benefits are taxable, and above $34,000, up to 85% can be taxable. So yes, a higher survivor benefit could potentially push more into taxable territory, but you'd still come out ahead overall. The extra $1,100/month would need to result in a pretty significant tax increase to negate the benefit. Definitely worth running the numbers though - maybe use a tax calculator or consult with a tax professional to see the real impact in your specific situation!
Rebecca Johnston
Based on what you've shared, here's what I recommend as your next steps: 1. Help your daughter create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov to check her work credits. 2. Gather comprehensive medical evidence: - Clinical records from therapists/doctors - Psychological evaluations if available - Prescription medication history - Treatment notes documenting symptoms and limitations - Any hospitalizations or intensive outpatient treatment 3. Document how her conditions affect daily functioning: - Failed work attempts with specific details - Difficulties with daily activities - Social functioning limitations - Episodes of decompensation (periods when symptoms worsen) 4. Apply for both SSDI and SSI simultaneously online or by calling SSA. 5. Consider getting a disability attorney if initially denied (most work on contingency). The combination of multiple mental health conditions plus asthma could strengthen her case, especially if you can document how they interact to further limit her functioning.
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Angelina Farar
•This is incredibly helpful, thank you! I'm going to start gathering all this documentation right away. One more question - she's currently on my health insurance (thankfully). If she gets approved for disability, would she eventually qualify for Medicare or Medicaid? I'm wondering how her healthcare would work long-term.
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Maya Jackson
With SSDI, she would get Medicare after 24 months of receiving benefits. With SSI, she would likely get Medicaid immediately in most states. Either way, she would eventually have health coverage, which is important for maintaining the treatment she needs. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet: make sure her doctors are specifically documenting how her conditions limit her ability to work. Many doctors focus on symptoms and treatment but don't explicitly address work capacity in their notes. You might want to ask her providers to complete a Medical Source Statement or Residual Functional Capacity form that specifically addresses work-related limitations. Also, if she's denied initially (which is common), don't give up! Request reconsideration within 60 days, and if denied again, request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. Success rates increase significantly at the hearing level, especially with proper representation.
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Angelina Farar
•Thank you for this information about healthcare coverage - that's been a major concern. I'll definitely talk to her therapist about documenting work limitations specifically. Would it be helpful to get statements from previous employers about the accommodations they tried to make for her and why they weren't sufficient?
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