As a federal employee who just started collecting benefits at 62, I wanted to add something about the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) that might help other government workers. Just like with 401k contributions in the private sector, your TSP contributions still count toward the earnings limit even though they're pre-tax. This caught me completely off guard because I was contributing the maximum catch-up amount ($30,000 total for 2025) thinking it would help keep me under the earnings limit - NOPE! The SSA looks at your gross pay before any TSP deductions, so all that money I was putting away for retirement was still being counted against the $22,320 limit. I had to quickly adjust my contribution percentage to avoid going over. Also, for any federal employees reading this - be extra careful about overtime, locality pay adjustments, and any special pay differentials. All of that gets included in your gross earnings calculation. The good news is that your federal pension (FERS annuity) payments don't count toward the earnings limit, so you can collect both your Social Security and your federal pension without the pension affecting the earnings test. Just wanted to share this since the federal pay system has some unique quirks that might not be obvious to everyone.

I've been collecting since turning 62 eight months ago and this thread has been incredibly helpful! One thing I learned the hard way that might help others - if you work for a company that gives you stock options or restricted stock that vests, those count toward the earnings limit too when they vest, even if you don't sell the shares. I got hit with a surprise $3,200 stock vesting in November that pushed me over the limit for the year. The company's payroll system treated it as regular wages and reported it to SSA, so it showed up in my Box 3 Social Security wages. I had completely forgotten about those shares since they were granted two years before I retired. My advice: check with HR about any outstanding equity compensation that might vest after you start collecting benefits - it's easy to overlook but can definitely cause problems with the earnings test!

As someone who recently went through this exact process with my grandfather, I can't stress enough how valuable this thread has been! I wanted to add one more practical tip that saved me a lot of trouble: When you get the SSA-1696 form processed, ask the SSA office for a copy with their official stamp or processing date on it. Some representatives at banks, medical offices, or other agencies have asked me to prove that the authorization is actually active with SSA, not just that the form was submitted. Also, regarding record-keeping - I started using a simple notebook to log every phone call, form submission, and interaction with SSA, VA, and other agencies. Include dates, representative names, and what was discussed. This has been incredibly helpful when I've had to reference previous conversations or when there were discrepancies in what different reps told me. The 1696 approach has worked really well for us so far. My grandfather is still able to receive his benefits normally, but I can handle all the communication and paperwork issues that come up. It's definitely the sweet spot between having no authority and taking on the full representative payee responsibilities. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this kind of real-world advice is so much more helpful than trying to figure out government websites alone!

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm in a similar situation with my 91-year-old father who's also in assisted living. Reading through everyone's experiences has really clarified the path forward. One question I have for those who've used the SSA-1696 form: How long did it typically take to get processed? I'm wondering if I should plan for a few weeks or if it's more like a few months. My dad is still competent but I can see some decline, so I want to get this done as soon as possible. Also, for those who mentioned keeping records - do you track just the major interactions or literally every phone call? I'm trying to figure out the right level of detail to maintain without driving myself crazy with paperwork. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences. This is exactly the kind of practical guidance you can't get from government websites!

I'm in a very similar situation - turning 62 in late November and trying to figure out the exact timing for my first payment! This thread has been incredibly helpful. One thing I wanted to ask about that I haven't seen mentioned yet - does the SSA send any kind of notification or confirmation letter when your first payment is processed? I know they'll send the payment itself, but I'm wondering if there's any advance notice so I know it's actually been approved and scheduled. Also, for those who have been through this process, how long after submitting your application did you actually receive confirmation that you were approved? I submitted mine about 3 weeks ago and haven't heard anything yet, which is making me a bit nervous about the timing. I want to make sure everything goes through smoothly so I'm not left scrambling financially in that gap month everyone mentioned.

I just want to emphasize something that might help with your planning - make sure you understand the earnings test if you're planning to continue working after claiming benefits at 62. For 2024, if you earn more than $22,320 while receiving Social Security benefits before your full retirement age, they'll withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above that limit. This could affect your payment amounts in those early months, so factor this into your budgeting if work income is part of your financial picture. Also, don't forget that your Social Security benefits may be subject to federal income tax depending on your total income level - this caught me off guard my first year! The combination of reduced benefits from claiming early, potential earnings test withholding, and taxes can make that first payment quite a bit different from what you might initially expect.

As someone who just went through the IRMAA adjustment process last year, I wanted to share a few additional details that might be helpful. The automatic system worked exactly as everyone described - I received my notice in early December and the adjustment took effect with my January Social Security payment. One thing I noticed is that the December notice includes a very clear breakdown showing your old premium amount, your new premium amount, and the monthly savings. It also explains which income year they used for the calculation, so you can easily verify they're using your 2023 tax data for the 2025 adjustment. Also, if you're like me and tend to overthink these things, you can actually call the Medicare helpline (1-800-MEDICARE) in addition to SSA if you have questions about how IRMAA brackets work. They were surprisingly helpful when I wanted to understand the income thresholds better. Your situation sounds very straightforward - a clear income drop from 2022 to 2023 should definitely trigger the automatic adjustment. Just follow the timeline everyone has outlined here and you should be all set!

I'm also new to Medicare and dealing with IRMAA for the first time this year! Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. I had a similar situation - received a large bonus in 2022 that triggered IRMAA for 2024, but my 2023 income dropped significantly below any threshold. What really stands out to me from this discussion is how the community has turned a potentially confusing process into a clear action plan: watch for the automatic adjustment notice in November/December, verify the January payment reflects the change, and keep good records in case there are any processing delays. The practical resources mentioned here - like the Medicare Plan Finder IRMAA calculator and the my Social Security online account - are exactly what I needed to feel more prepared. I'm also grateful for the heads up about potential timing issues and the Claimyr service for avoiding those brutal SSA hold times if needed. Even though the automatic process usually works well, it's nice to know there are solutions if problems arise. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed real-world experiences - I'll definitely update the community on how my adjustment goes to keep this knowledge sharing going!

I think ur overthinking this tbh. as long as ur daughters checks keep coming its fine

I understand your concern about the genetic carrier status! As someone who's dealt with similar genetic testing situations, I can share that being a Fragile X carrier typically doesn't meet SSA's disability criteria unless there are actual functional impairments. Many carriers of genetic conditions live completely normal lives without any symptoms that would affect their ability to work. SSA's disability determination is based on whether someone can perform "substantial gainful activity" - if your husband is working and functioning normally, the carrier status alone wouldn't qualify him as disabled under their definitions. The labeling on your daughter's paperwork was most likely either a clerical error or an internal coding issue related to family medical history tracking. You were right to correct it initially. If you're still concerned, a quick follow-up call to clarify the genetic carrier distinction might give you peace of mind, but it shouldn't impact your daughter's benefits since her own disability determination is separate from household member classifications.