Same reasoning is why we did exactly as you posted also.
My effort was FAIL.
The reason: the way they calculate and the way they pay is wack. The calculations use the calendar year, as opposed to a one year time period. My benefits would start in April 2012, which results in 9 benefits months. But they calculate the entire year of income, resulting in “excess earnings” that exceed total benefits payments for 9 months,
The result: No SS benefits payments whatsoever.
But even for 2013, with payments beginning in January, the payments do not work the way I thought they would. Rather than subtracting 1/2 of excess earnings from total benefits for the year, dividing by 12, and sending the resulting amount each month, you get no benefit checks for almost an entire year, until the balance is at least one FULL benefit check.
So, I would receive one or two checks each year in December and maybe November.
Does that make sense?