Reading through this entire discussion has been so helpful! I'm in a similar situation - starting SS benefits at 62 in a few months while continuing to work part-time. The monthly vs annual tracking question was really confusing me too. What I'm taking away from everyone's experiences is that the key factors are: 1) If you start benefits at the beginning of the year, focus on the annual $23,400 limit, 2) Monthly fluctuations don't matter as long as your yearly total stays under the limit, and 3) The monthly earnings test mainly applies to people who retire mid-year. The spreadsheet tracking idea that several people mentioned is genius - I'm definitely going to set that up. And knowing that any withheld benefits get credited back at FRA makes the whole system feel much less scary. Thanks Grace for asking this question and to everyone who shared their real-world experiences! This thread should be bookmarked for anyone dealing with Social Security earnings limits and seasonal work patterns.

This has been such a comprehensive discussion! As someone who started Social Security at 64 while continuing seasonal work, I can confirm what most people here have said - the annual tracking system is much more manageable than trying to stay under monthly limits. One thing I wanted to add that hasn't been mentioned yet: if you're doing seasonal work like landscaping, consider opening a separate savings account specifically for your "earnings limit buffer." During your busy months when you're earning more, set aside a portion in this account. Then during slower months, you can supplement your income from these savings without it counting toward the earnings limit (since it's not wages or self-employment income). This strategy helped me smooth out my income throughout the year while staying comfortably under the $23,400 annual limit. Plus it gave me peace of mind knowing I had a cushion for unexpected expenses during the slower winter months. Grace, your landscaping situation sounds very similar to what I dealt with - the annual system will work perfectly for your seasonal income pattern. Just keep tracking that running total and you'll be fine!

my friend said she just waited til 70 no filing or suspending or nothing just applied when she was 70 and got the bigger amount automatically

Thanks everyone for the helpful information! I'm going to just wait until 70 to file since that seems to be the consensus. With my family history of longevity and the potential survivor benefits for my wife, the 24% increase seems worth waiting for. Plus I'm still working and can afford to wait. Really appreciate all the insights!

Reading through this entire discussion has been incredibly educational! As someone who's 64 and considering starting Social Security benefits in the next few months, I'm taking notes on all these strategies for managing unexpected income situations. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is whether there are any differences in how SSA handles bonuses for people in different industries. I work in sales where commission structures can be really unpredictable - sometimes I'll get a big commission check months after closing a deal. Does anyone know if SSA has specific guidelines for sales commissions versus regular performance bonuses when it comes to the earnings test? Also, @Diego Mendoza, I'm really impressed by how thoroughly you're approaching this situation. Your proactive planning is exactly the kind of example I need as I prepare for my own Social Security journey. Please do keep us updated on how your conversation with SSA goes and what solution you end up choosing! @Eva St. Cyr, thank you so much for sharing your professional insights from working in the SSA earnings department. It's incredibly reassuring to hear from someone with inside knowledge that these situations are routine and manageable. This community is such a valuable resource for navigating these complex Social Security rules. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread as a reference for when I start my own benefits!

I'm really grateful to have found this community and this incredibly detailed discussion! As someone who's 65 and just started collecting Social Security benefits three months ago, I had no idea about all these nuances around the earnings limit and bonus payments. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both educational and reassuring. @Diego Mendoza, your situation sounds so stressful, but it's clear you're handling it exactly right by exploring all your options proactively. The fact that you're only 4 months from your full retirement age means you have some really good options with the special FRA year earnings rules that several people mentioned. @Eva St. Cyr, your professional perspective from working in the SSA earnings department was incredibly valuable - knowing that these situations are common and that SSA has established procedures for handling them takes so much of the fear out of it. I'm particularly interested in the strategies people shared about working with employers to restructure bonus payments through HSA contributions and 401k matching. I never would have thought of those approaches, but they seem like win-win solutions for both the employee and employer. One question I have: for those who successfully got through to SSA during this type of situation, did you find that having multiple potential solutions prepared (unpaid leave, bonus restructuring, etc.) helped in your conversation with the representative? I'm wondering if showing SSA that you're actively working on compliance makes them more willing to work with you on timing and calculations. This thread should be required reading for anyone approaching Social Security eligibility! Thank you all for sharing such detailed, practical advice.

Update: I'm halfway through filling out these forms and they're so detailed! The migraine questionnaire asks about aura symptoms, frequency, duration, and triggers. I'm being super detailed as everyone suggested. One thing I'm confused about - on the Adult Function Report, do I describe what I CAN do or what I CANNOT do? Some days I can do basic chores but other days I can barely get out of bed.

I'm dealing with a similar situation - just applied for SSDI with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome last month and got my forms within days too. Initially panicked thinking it meant bad news, but after reading everyone's responses here I feel much more reassured that it's just normal processing. One thing that's really helping me with filling out the forms is keeping a daily symptom diary like @Olivia Martinez suggested. I'm tracking not just pain levels but also brain fog episodes, how many times I need to rest during simple tasks, and which activities I have to skip entirely on bad days. It's eye-opening to see the patterns when you write it all down. For the Adult Function Report, I'm following the advice about being specific with limitations rather than just listing what I can do. Instead of "I can do laundry," I'm writing "I can start a load of laundry but often need my spouse to finish it because standing to fold clothes causes severe pain flares that last hours." Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is so helpful for navigating this confusing process!

As someone completely new to Social Security planning, this discussion has been absolutely invaluable! I stumbled across this thread while researching claiming strategies for my parents, who are in a very similar situation to Noah's - significant earnings gap, and we've been debating whether my mom should claim early while my dad delays. The explanation about how survivor benefits work was a total game-changer for me. I had always assumed that claiming early meant permanently accepting lower benefits, period. Learning that the surviving spouse eventually steps up to the higher earner's full delayed benefit amount (including all those delayed retirement credits) completely reframes the decision. It makes the early filing reduction feel much more strategic rather than just "settling for less." I'm also blown away by all the interconnected factors that came up in this discussion - from the earnings test calculations to tax planning opportunities during those intermediate years. The idea of using the gap period for Roth conversions while in lower tax brackets is brilliant and something I never would have considered. For others just starting to navigate this like me, this thread really reinforces the importance of looking at the complete picture rather than just the Social Security benefits in isolation. The complexity definitely seems to warrant professional analysis, but having this foundation of understanding makes me feel much more prepared to have those conversations. Thank you to everyone who contributed such detailed insights - this community is an amazing resource for understanding these crucial financial decisions!

As someone brand new to Social Security planning, this entire discussion has been an incredible education! I came here trying to understand the basics of when to claim benefits, and this thread has opened my eyes to so many factors I never knew existed. The biggest revelation for me was learning how survivor benefits work - that the early filing reduction essentially becomes "temporary" because the surviving spouse steps up to the higher earner's full delayed benefit amount. That completely changes how I think about these claiming decisions for couples with earnings gaps. I'm also amazed at all the additional layers that were discussed - the earnings test specifics, tax planning opportunities like Roth conversions during the gap years, Medicare premium considerations, and even the emotional aspects of accepting reduced benefits. It really shows how these decisions affect every part of retirement planning, not just Social Security. Reading about Noah's situation and seeing how the community worked through all the angles has given me a much better framework for approaching my own family's planning. The strategy of having the lower earner claim early while the higher earner delays to maximize survivor benefits makes so much sense when you understand all the moving pieces. Thank you to everyone who shared their expertise and experiences. This is exactly the kind of real-world insight that helps newcomers like me navigate these complex but crucial financial decisions. I feel much more informed about what questions to ask and factors to consider as I start my own Social Security planning journey!