I'm turning 70 in a few months and this whole thread has been incredibly reassuring! I've been second-guessing my decision to wait until 70, especially when friends who took early retirement keep telling me I'm "leaving money on the table." But seeing the math laid out here - that 32% increase from delayed retirement credits - really drives home why patience pays off. One thing I'm curious about: for those of you who have already gone through this process, did you notice any difference in how SSA treats applications from people turning 70 versus younger applicants? I'm wondering if they prioritize these since there's no further benefit to delaying past 70. Also, I've been keeping detailed records of my earnings history just in case, but it sounds like the online application process is pretty streamlined. Has anyone run into situations where their benefit calculation seemed off and they needed to provide additional documentation? Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - it's so helpful to hear from people who've actually walked this path!

As someone who recently navigated this exact same decision at age 70, I wanted to share a few insights that might help put your mind at ease! First, you're absolutely correct about the payment timing - December start date means your first payment arrives in January, specifically on the 4th Wednesday (January 22nd based on your December 24th birthday). And yes, you made the perfect call declining those retroactive benefits! At 70, there's literally zero advantage to taking retroactive payments since you've already maxed out your delayed retirement credits. One tip I wish someone had told me: after you submit your application, log into your my Social Security account periodically to watch for updates. It's incredibly satisfying to see your benefit amount officially reflect those delayed retirement credits you worked so hard to earn - that 32% boost over your full retirement age benefit really adds up! Also, if you haven't already, double-check that your direct deposit information is exactly right. A single digit error can cause delays, and after waiting this long to maximize your benefits, you don't want any hiccups with that first payment. Congratulations on having the discipline to wait until 70 - you're going to be rewarded with significantly higher monthly payments for life!

Update: I called the fraud hotline and filed a formal report. They gave me a case number and are sending written confirmation. I've also placed freezes with all three credit bureaus and filed the FTC report. Still waiting to hear if they can tell me how someone got my information in the first place, but at least I feel like I've taken steps to protect myself. Thanks again to everyone for the advice - this community has been incredibly helpful during a stressful situation!

I'm so sorry this happened to you! As someone who works in cybersecurity, I can tell you that Social Security fraud attempts have absolutely skyrocketed in recent years. You handled this perfectly by calling immediately and not ignoring that suspicious email. One additional step I'd recommend is requesting your Social Security Statement (Form SSA-7005) to verify that no unauthorized earnings have been reported under your SSN. You can do this through your mySocialSecurity account or by calling SSA. Also, consider signing up for credit monitoring services if you haven't already - many are free and will alert you to any new accounts or inquiries. Some banks and credit cards also offer identity theft protection services to their customers. The fact that you caught this so quickly is huge. Most fraudsters rely on people not noticing these things for weeks or months. You've likely prevented a much bigger headache down the road!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation (born in 1960, so FRA is 67) and have been trying to figure out the earnings limit rules. Reading through everyone's experiences and the clarifications about the $1 for every $3 reduction in the FRA year vs the usual $1 for every $2 really helps. One thing I wanted to add for anyone else reading this - I learned from my financial advisor that you can also request to have federal taxes withheld from your Social Security benefits when you apply. Since you'll still have significant earnings from work during those first few months, you might want to consider this to avoid a big tax bill in April 2027. The withholding rates are 7%, 10%, 12%, or 22% of your monthly benefit. Also, Amara, your point about tracking everything carefully is so important. I've started keeping a monthly spreadsheet of my gross earnings specifically for this purpose. Better to be over-prepared than scramble to reconstruct earnings records later if SSA has questions!

This has been such an informative discussion! As someone approaching my own retirement decisions, I've learned so much from reading through everyone's experiences. A few key takeaways that might help others in similar situations: 1. The Claimyr service mentioned seems like a game-changer for actually reaching SSA by phone - I've had the same frustrating experience with long hold times and disconnections. 2. The distinction between the regular earnings limit and the higher limit in your FRA year is crucial - I didn't realize there were two different thresholds. 3. The advice about being proactive with earnings estimates when filing is excellent - transparency upfront seems much better than dealing with overpayments later. For anyone else navigating this transition, it sounds like the key is getting official confirmation from SSA rather than trying to piece together information from multiple sources. The rules are complex enough that even well-meaning advice can sometimes miss important nuances. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - communities like this are invaluable for navigating these complicated government programs!

One more important point: The earnings limit applies only to earned income (wages or self-employment). It does NOT apply to investment income, pension payments, annuities, capital gains, or other government benefits. So if some of your $38,000 comes from these sources, it wouldn't count toward the earnings limit.

Don't panic! This is actually a pretty common situation and it's not as bad as it seems. The key thing is to report your expected earnings to SSA as soon as possible - don't wait until tax time. You can do this through your mySocialSecurity account online or by calling them. They'll adjust your payments going forward rather than demanding a lump sum repayment. Since you're earning $38K and the limit is $22,320, they'll withhold about $7,840 total ($15,680 over ÷ 2 = $7,840). This typically means they'll stop your monthly checks for several months until that amount is recovered, then resume payments. The silver lining is that when you reach your Full Retirement Age, SSA will recalculate your benefit to account for those withheld months, giving you a permanently higher monthly payment. So while it's stressful now, you're not actually losing that money long-term.

I went through a similar situation with my disabled adult child and multiple minors a few years ago. One thing that really helped me was creating a spreadsheet to track all the different scenarios before making applications. Here's what I'd suggest documenting: - Your current family maximum ($2,675) - Each person's theoretical full benefit amount (50% of your PIA) - The proportional reduction when everyone applies vs. different combinations For your disabled daughter specifically, make sure you understand that once she switches from SSI to DAC benefits, she can't easily switch back if the numbers don't work out as expected. The good news is that DAC benefits typically provide more stability and freedom than SSI long-term. Also, don't forget that your minor children's benefits come with an earnings test if they work - something to consider as your 14-year-old approaches working age. The key is getting those actual calculations from SSA rather than trying to estimate. Every family's situation is unique, and the bend points in the family maximum formula make it nearly impossible to calculate accurately without their system.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now - disabled adult child on SSI plus minor children eligible for benefits on my record. One thing I learned that might help you is that the Social Security Administration has local offices that can sometimes provide more detailed, personalized assistance than the national phone line. I made an appointment at my local SSA office and brought all my documentation - my disabled child's medical records, proof of disability onset before age 22, and information about everyone's current benefits. The representative was able to run actual calculations showing exactly how much each person would receive under different scenarios. What really surprised me was that even though the family maximum seemed like it would drastically reduce everyone's individual benefits, the total household income was still higher when everyone applied. The key factor was exactly what others mentioned - my disabled child's SSI just adjusted down to fill the gap, so we weren't really "losing" money, just shifting the source. The other huge advantage of switching from SSI to DAC benefits is that your daughter won't have to worry about those restrictive asset limits anymore. She could potentially save money, have a small inheritance, or even get married without losing benefits - none of which is possible with SSI. I'd definitely recommend making an in-person appointment if possible. The local office staff seemed much more knowledgeable about these complex family situations than the phone representatives.