topic Re: Social security sign up question in Community Chat

Social security sign up question

gidgetgh — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 23:29:57 GMT

I'm already on social security but am trying to help a friend with her sign up. She will be 62 next month. She still works part time, as an independent contractor.

She is doing the sign up online tonight. She got all the way through to the end and it asked her "what is your retirement date"? She doesn't know what to put in there. She is going to continue to work part time, but there isn't an option for her to choose that.

I have googled till I'm blue in the face and have tried you tube. Can anyone here help me?

Re: Social security sign up question

chrystaltree — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 23:36:26 GMT

I think she should call SSA customer service with that question or call/visit her local SSA office.

Re: Social security sign up question

MorningLover — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 00:36:28 GMT

What is your retirement date?

ssa. gov

Normal Retirement Age

Year of birth Age

1937 and prior	65
1938	65 and 2 months
1939	65 and 4 months
1940	65 and 6 months
1941	65 and 8 months
1942	65 and 10 months
1943-54	66
1955	66 and 2 months
1956	66 and 4 months
1957	66 and 6 months
1958	66 and 8 months
1959	66 and 10 months
1960 and later	67
Notes: 1. Persons born on January 1 of any year should refer to the normal retirement age for the previous year. 2. For the purpose of determining benefit reductions for early retirement, widows and widowers whose entitlement is based on having attained age 60 should add 2 years to the year of birth shown in the table.

Re: Social security sign up question

spumoni99 — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 23:49:30 GMT

I just recently signed up, I got frustrated trying to do it online and I was in IT for 37 years! I finally set up an appt over the phone, she was very helpful but my date was my 62nd birthday, she even backdated it since my appt was a few months after that.

I ended up supplementing my husbands SS also because he had his own business and didn't contribute a lot, since I made over twice as much SS as he did they gave him enough to equal half as much as I did, I would have never known that so her help was invaluable.

Re: Social security sign up question

spumoni99 — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 23:52:31 GMT

I chose to get SS early, I don't have longevity in ,my genes and I have heard you have to live till 88 or something like that for it to be worth waiting until you are the age for SS that is not early. I make a lot more retired now that when I worked! I'm sure at some point if I live long enough it will work out to be less with COL. I do get cola's with myretirment though.

Re: Social security sign up question

gidgetgh — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 23:54:44 GMT

At the end, it asks why she is applying for social security and then gives her 3 choices:

1-I am working and planning to retire on this date.

2- no longer working

3- other

when she clicks on 3 she can type what she wants it looks like. So I would suppose she would put that she still plans to continue working part time.

Re: Social security sign up question

On It — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 23:57:02 GMT

I scheduled an appointment and went to the local office.

Re: Social security sign up question

gidgetgh — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 23:58:14 GMT

@On It wrote:
I scheduled an appointment and went to the local office.

she physically is not able to do that. I did my signup online and it was easy, but she is stumped by this question.

Re: Social security sign up question

NicksmomESQ — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 00:04:16 GMT

Both DH & I signed up via telephone appointment. Easy peasy. I suggest your friend do that.

Re: Social security sign up question

spumoni99 — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 00:06:34 GMT

Yes the telephone appointment was a breeze, she was very nice. I even forgot about it but thank goodness I had given the house phone number and heard her message, she was even understanding about that, all I needed was my checking account info.

Re: Social security sign up question

socialgirl — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 00:24:47 GMT

The reason for the question is to try to determine if she is eligible for any retirement benefits this year. For someone under their full retirement age, if they have earnings for the entire year of $21240 or less they are eligible for the benefits. That includes her earnings prior to attaining age 62 and her earnings until 12/31/23. If she earns over that amount, $1 for every $2 she is over. She can possibly be eligible for some months using the monthly earnings test. It is a little complicated if she is not going to stop working completely.

As others have suggested, she should call the 800 number and schedule a telephone appointment to file her application.

Before she has the interview, she should calcuate her estimated earnings for 2023 both her full time work as well as her part time work.

The rep will assist her in determing if it is advantageous for her to file at age 62,

Re: Social security sign up question

gidgetgh — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 00:54:39 GMT

@socialgirl wrote:
The reason for the question is to try to determine if she is eligible for any retirement benefits this year. For someone under their full retirement age, if they have earnings for the entire year of $21240 or less they are eligible for the benefits. That includes her earnings prior to attaining age 62 and her earnings until 12/31/23. If she earns over that amount, $1 for every $2 she is over. She can possibly be eligible for some months using the monthly earnings test. It is a little complicated if she is not going to stop working completely.

As others have suggested, she should call the 800 number and schedule a telephone appointment to file her application.

Before she has the interview, she should calcuate her estimated earnings for 2023 both her full time work as well as her part time work.

The rep will assist her in determing if it is advantageous for her to file at age 62,

@socialgirl - thanks very much. Her income for the year will be under that. She works part time, from home a few hours, 5 days a week. I appreciate the detailed response.

Re: Social security sign up question

Spacrazy — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 03:29:17 GMT

In agreeance with the other posters. Contact them with these questions - they were really helpful with me and eager to assist.

Re: Social security sign up question

CalminHeart — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 10:38:47 GMT

@gidgetgh wrote:
I'm already on social security but am trying to help a friend with her sign up. She will be 62 next month. She still works part time, as an independent contractor.

She is doing the sign up online tonight. She got all the way through to the end and it asked her "what is your retirement date"? She doesn't know what to put in there. She is going to continue to work part time, but there isn't an option for her to choose that.

I have googled till I'm blue in the face and have tried you tube. Can anyone here help me?

I did it all online. Go to socialsecurity.gov and set up a MySocialSecurity account. Look for the info on signing up and fill it out. I thought it was super easy.

Re: Social security sign up question

chrystaltree — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 15:17:15 GMT

@gidgetgh wrote:
@On It wrote:
I scheduled an appointment and went to the local office.

she physically is not able to do that. I did my signup online and it was easy, but she is stumped by this question.

She can't go to an SSA office but she still works? Ok... If she's housebound, she can call SSA and schedule a telephone interview. A Rep will help her with her application over the phone.

Re: Social security sign up question

CelticCrafter — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 17:08:29 GMT

@chrystaltree wrote:
@gidgetgh wrote:
@On It wrote:
I scheduled an appointment and went to the local office.

she physically is not able to do that. I did my signup online and it was easy, but she is stumped by this question.

She can't go to an SSA office but she still works? Ok... If she's housebound, she can call SSA and schedule a telephone interview. A Rep will help her with her application over the phone.

@chrystaltree if you had read the entire thread you would have known she works from home, so yes, probability is she is housebound.

Re: Social security sign up question

gidgetgh — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 18:49:30 GMT

@chrystaltree wrote:
@gidgetgh wrote:
@On It wrote:
I scheduled an appointment and went to the local office.

she physically is not able to do that. I did my signup online and it was easy, but she is stumped by this question.

She can't go to an SSA office but she still works? Ok... If she's housebound, she can call SSA and schedule a telephone interview. A Rep will help her with her application over the phone.

@chrystaltree - yes, she still works a few hours from home. She is housebound, except for doctor's appts. She did the app online last night and answered the question that threw her and I'm sure they will call her with questions.