This has been such an enlightening discussion to read through! As someone who's still a few years away from FRA but already thinking about these decisions, I'm amazed by the wealth of practical knowledge shared here. The consistent message from everyone - both those who've lived through this transition and the professionals who guide people through it - is incredibly reassuring: once you reach your Full Retirement Age, you can earn unlimited income while receiving your full Social Security benefits with absolutely no reductions. What I find most valuable is how this thread has evolved into a complete action plan for anyone considering this path. The key takeaways I'm noting for my future planning are: 1) Apply up to 4 months before your FRA for smooth processing, 2) Set up automatic tax savings (that 20% rule seems smart), 3) Use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator, 4) Update your W-4 immediately, 5) Establish your my Social Security account early, and 6) Keep detailed records for potential benefit recalculations. The fact that continued earnings can actually increase your benefit amount over time through annual recalculations is an added bonus I hadn't fully appreciated before reading this discussion. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise. This community truly provides the kind of real-world guidance that's impossible to find elsewhere. For anyone facing this decision, this thread is basically a masterclass in how to successfully combine Social Security benefits with continued employment!

This thread has been absolutely phenomenal! As someone who works in retirement planning, I can confirm everything discussed here is spot-on. The earnings limit elimination at FRA is one of the most misunderstood aspects of Social Security - I regularly work with clients who are unnecessarily worried about this. I'd like to add one more practical consideration that I don't think has been mentioned: if you're planning to work several years past your FRA while collecting benefits, consider the impact on your Medicare premiums. High earners may be subject to IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount) surcharges on Medicare Part B and Part D premiums, which are based on your modified adjusted gross income from two years prior. This doesn't change the Social Security calculation at all, but it's worth factoring into your overall financial planning when you're combining a full salary with SS benefits. The good news is that these surcharges only apply at fairly high income levels, and even then, the financial benefits of working while collecting SS typically far outweigh the additional Medicare costs. For anyone still reading this incredible discussion - you're witnessing exactly why reaching FRA while continuing to work is considered the "golden years" of retirement planning. Guaranteed income plus unlimited earning potential is truly the best of both worlds!

I'm so glad you were able to find the peace of mind you needed here! This is exactly the kind of situation where this community really shines - when government agencies send confusing letters that could affect someone's livelihood, having knowledgeable people who can explain things clearly is absolutely invaluable. Your experience is unfortunately very common when people transition from SSI to retirement benefits. The Ticket to Work cancellation happens automatically because the program only applies to disability beneficiaries (SSI/SSDI), not retirees. It's purely administrative and has absolutely no effect on your monthly retirement payments. What's really frustrating is how easily SSA could prevent this kind of panic. Something as simple as adding "This cancellation does not affect your monthly benefit payments" right at the top of the letter would save so many people from the terror you experienced. When Social Security is your only income source, any official notice mentioning "cancellation" understandably feels like a threat to your survival. I'm sure your story will help many other community members who might receive similar letters in the future. It's a perfect example of why we need spaces like this where people can get reliable information about confusing government communications. Your benefits are secure - you can definitely rest easy!

I'm so glad you were able to get such thorough and reassuring answers from this community! As someone who's new to understanding Social Security benefits, your experience really highlights how confusing and scary these government letters can be. When you're living on a fixed income and see "cancellation" in official correspondence, it's completely natural to fear the worst. Everyone here has done an excellent job explaining that Ticket to Work is just a voluntary employment support program that's entirely separate from your actual benefit payments. The automatic cancellation when you transitioned from SSI to retirement benefits is purely administrative - like being removed from a college alumni mailing list when you move to a different category. What really strikes me is how much unnecessary anxiety SSA creates with their poor communication. Adding one simple sentence like "This does not affect your monthly retirement payments" could prevent so much stress for vulnerable people who depend on these benefits. Your willingness to share this experience will definitely help other community members who might receive similar confusing notices. Thank you for creating such a valuable discussion that shows how this community can provide crucial support when dealing with bureaucratic confusion!

I'm in a very similar situation - applied for divorced spouse benefits about 2 weeks ago and have been wondering what happens next! This thread has been incredibly helpful in setting realistic expectations. Based on everyone's experiences, it sounds like we should expect that document request letter in the next week or two. I really appreciate all the detailed advice about submitting documents in person - getting a receipt and having originals returned immediately definitely seems like the safest approach. One thing I'm planning to do while I wait is double-check that my mailing address is current in my mySocialSecurity account. A few people mentioned almost missing their letters due to address issues, so that seems like a smart precaution. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences! It's so much more helpful than trying to figure this out from the official SSA information alone. The waiting is definitely stressful when you don't know what to expect, but this discussion has really put my mind at ease.

I just wanted to jump in and say how incredibly helpful this entire discussion has been! I'm not currently going through this process myself, but my sister is planning to apply for divorced spouse benefits later this year, and I've been trying to help her understand what to expect. Reading through everyone's detailed experiences has given us such a clear picture of the timeline and process. The consistent advice about submitting documents in person, making copies beforehand, and getting receipts is exactly the kind of practical guidance that's impossible to find on the SSA website. It's really wonderful to see community members sharing their real experiences to help others navigate this confusing system. The waiting and uncertainty is clearly the most stressful part for everyone, but knowing what's normal versus what should be cause for concern makes such a difference. For anyone still in the waiting phase - it sounds like you're all doing everything right and are well within normal timeframes. The consensus seems to be that patience is key, but there are good options (like that Claimyr service someone mentioned) if you need to be more proactive after the 6-8 week mark. Thank you all for creating such a supportive and informative discussion!

One thing that might help clarify this is to think of it in terms of timing strategy. Since you're 60 and your husband is 62, you have some time to plan this out optimally. Here's what I'd suggest considering: 1. Your husband could file at 62 and get his reduced benefit (~75% of his PIA) 2. You could wait until your FRA at 67 to claim spousal benefits and get the full 50% of his PIA ($1,400 based on your numbers) 3. This gives you 5 years to potentially work part-time and build up some of your own Social Security credits if desired The key insight that helped me was realizing that spousal benefits are calculated independently from what your spouse is actually receiving. So even if he takes the early filing reduction, your spousal benefit potential stays at that full 50% of his PIA as long as you wait until your FRA. Also, definitely get a my Social Security account set up online if you haven't already. The benefit estimators there will give you personalized numbers based on both of your actual earnings records, which is much more accurate than trying to calculate it manually.

Just wanted to add something that might be helpful - if you're considering working part-time over the next few years before claiming spousal benefits, keep in mind that you only need 40 quarters (10 years) of work to be eligible for your own retirement benefit. Even if it's small, having your own benefit gives you more flexibility and potentially higher total benefits in some situations. Also, I'd strongly recommend getting an appointment at your local SSA office rather than trying to handle this over the phone. The wait times are terrible, but the in-person representatives tend to be much more knowledgeable and can run actual benefit calculations using both you and your husband's real earnings records. They can also explain exactly how the dual entitlement rules would work in your specific situation if you do have some work credits. One last tip - when you do go to the office, bring both of your complete work histories and ask them to show you the calculations on paper. That way you'll have documentation of exactly how they arrived at your benefit amounts, which can be really helpful for planning purposes.

As someone who recently went through the early retirement process at 62, I can confirm what others have said - gambling winnings won't affect your Social Security earnings test! I was worried about the same thing when I won $3,200 at a local casino right after I started collecting benefits. The SSA only counts wages and self-employment income for the earnings limit. However, do keep in mind that large winnings could bump you into a higher tax bracket for that year and potentially make more of your Social Security benefits taxable. But honestly, that's still a good problem to have! Enjoy your cruise and don't let tax worries stop you from having fun - just be prepared to set aside some money for taxes if you do hit it big.

Great question! I just went through this exact situation last year when I started collecting at 62. Won $4,800 on a Caribbean cruise and was panicking about whether it would mess up my benefits. Good news - gambling winnings are NOT counted as "earnings" for the Social Security earnings test, so they won't reduce your monthly payments. The earnings test only applies to wages and self-employment income. However, the winnings ARE taxable income and will be included in determining how much of your Social Security benefits get taxed. If you win big, the cruise ship will give you tax forms (W-2G if over certain thresholds) and they might even withhold federal taxes on the spot. My advice: enjoy the cruise, try your luck, and if you win, just set aside about 25-30% for taxes to be safe. The worst that happens is you have a "good problem" of owing taxes on your winnings! Have fun and good luck!