Thanks everyone for the helpful information! I think I have a much better understanding now. I'll keep my earnings under $22,320 for 2025, and be mindful of that higher threshold in early 2026 before I hit my FRA in June. I'm going to set up a spreadsheet to track my earnings monthly to make sure I don't accidentally go over.

Just wanted to add a heads up about timing - if you're planning to retire mid-year in 2026 when you hit FRA, SSA uses a monthly earnings test for that transition year. So if your FRA is in June 2026, they'll look at your earnings from January-May separately from June onward. This means you could theoretically earn the full $59,520 in those first 5 months, then unlimited after June. But be careful with the monthly breakdown - if you earn too much in any single month before FRA, it can still trigger penalties even if your total for those months is under the limit.

This is such valuable information for those of us navigating work after FRA! I'm 68 and have been working part-time since starting my benefits. One thing I'd add is that you can also create an account at ssa.gov to track your earnings record and see how your benefits are calculated. It's really helpful to understand which years might get replaced by your current earnings. The portal shows your complete earnings history and you can estimate potential increases. Also, don't forget that you'll still pay Social Security taxes on your current earnings even though you're collecting benefits - but as everyone mentioned, those contributions can increase your future payments through the automatic recalculation. Keep working if you enjoy it and can handle it - the financial and health benefits are worth it!

This is such a helpful discussion! I'm 65 and planning to start benefits at my FRA next year while continuing to work. One question I haven't seen addressed - does the type of work matter for the AERO calculation? I'm considering switching from full-time W-2 employment to consulting work (1099). Would both types of earnings be treated the same way in the automatic recalculation, or are there any differences in how Social Security processes W-2 vs 1099 income for benefit adjustments? I want to make sure I understand this before making the transition. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - this gives me much more confidence about my retirement planning!

To summarize the key points that might help you decide: 1. Filing at 62 means a permanent 30% reduction to your retirement benefit 2. Later, when your husband files, you'll be eligible for spousal benefits equal to the greater of: - Your own reduced benefit, OR - A reduced spousal benefit 3. The reduced spousal benefit would be calculated as: [50% of your husband's PIA - 100% of your PIA] plus a reduction factor based on your age when you first filed (62) 4. Since your husband's benefit is about twice yours, you'll likely get some additional amount when he files, but it won't be the full difference between your benefit and 50% of his If possible, I'd recommend setting up an appointment with an SSA claims specialist who can run the exact numbers for your situation.

I'm in a somewhat similar situation and wanted to add a perspective on the health factor you mentioned. I had to make this decision last year due to a chronic condition that made full-time work difficult. While it's true that filing at 62 permanently reduces your benefits, sometimes the financial security of having that income stream outweighs the optimization calculations. The stress of not having income while dealing with health issues can be significant. One thing that helped me was calculating the "break-even" point - how many years I'd need to live to make up for the money I'd lose by not taking benefits early. Given your husband's higher benefit, you'll still get some boost when he files later, even though it won't be the full spousal amount. Have you looked into whether you might qualify for SSDI based on your health issues? Sometimes people overlook that option, and SSDI isn't subject to the early retirement reductions.

Update: We finally got through to SSA yesterday and started the application. The representative confirmed what several of you said - my nephew can receive both benefits, but the OPM benefit will be reduced by whatever he gets from Social Security. She estimated his monthly SS benefit will be around $1,875. We also got the OPM paperwork started with a benefits specialist (thank you for that suggestion!). They're estimating about $2,140 monthly, so if those numbers are accurate, he would get the full SS benefit ($1,875) plus the difference from OPM ($265). Thank you all SO much for the help and guidance. This has been an overwhelming time and your expertise made a huge difference.

I'm so sorry for your family's loss. As someone who works in federal benefits administration, I want to emphasize how important it is that you got the correct information from SSA. The HR person's initial explanation was misleading - while technically your nephew can't receive the "full" amount of both benefits simultaneously due to the offset, he absolutely should apply for both to ensure he receives the maximum possible benefit. One additional thing to keep in mind: make sure your sister understands that these benefits will continue until your nephew turns 18 (or 19 if still in high school). The OPM benefit can extend to 22 if he's a full-time college student, but the Social Security portion stops at 18/19. This might affect financial planning for his later college years. Also, definitely follow up on the FEGLI suggestion - federal employees often have basic life insurance that's separate from these survivor annuities, and that could provide additional financial support for your nephew's future.

btw don't send original documents!!! only send COPIES. my friend sent originals and ssa lost them all!! make sure u keep ur originals safe

Just wanted to add - make sure you request a copy of your complete SSA file well before your hearing if you haven't already! You can submit Form SSA-L725 to get your entire administrative file. This will show you exactly what the ALJ will be looking at and help you identify any missing documents. I did this for my hearing and discovered they were missing several key pieces of correspondence that proved my timeline. Having your own copy of their file also helps you reference specific documents during the hearing by their exhibit numbers. Good luck with your Monday deadline!