So glad to hear your brother was able to get through to SSA and get this sorted out! This is actually a really valuable thread for anyone else who might find themselves in a similar situation. Just wanted to add one more tip - if anyone else is considering Social Security timing, the SSA website has a really helpful "Retirement Estimator" tool that can show you exactly how much your monthly benefit would be at different ages (62, full retirement age, 70, etc.). It's at ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/estimator.html and can help you make a more informed decision upfront. Your brother is smart to wait until his FRA - that extra $450/month really adds up over time!

Great to see this worked out! As someone who works in retirement planning, I see this situation ALL the time. The Social Security claiming decision is one of the most important financial choices people make, and unfortunately the system doesn't make it easy to understand the long-term impact. A few additional thoughts for anyone reading this: 1) The "break-even" analysis is crucial - figure out how many years you'd need to live to make waiting worthwhile (usually around 12-15 years), 2) Don't forget about spousal claiming strategies if you're married, and 3) Consider your other retirement income sources. Sometimes it makes sense to delay SS and draw from 401k/IRA first. The SSA-521 form mentioned here is definitely the right move when you catch the mistake early like this!

As someone who works in banking operations and has helped countless customers through direct deposit changes, I wanted to add a few professional insights that might ease everyone's concerns about this process. The SSA direct deposit system is actually quite robust - most of the "horror stories" we hear about stem from user error (wrong account numbers, closed accounts, etc.) rather than system failures. The key is really preparation and attention to detail, which this thread has covered beautifully. A few additional tips from the banking side: 1) Always verify your new account is fully open and active before making the SSA change - some people try to switch before their new account has cleared all setup requirements 2) If you're switching from a large national bank to a smaller credit union, give yourself extra time as smaller institutions sometimes take 24-48 hours to fully process incoming ACH deposits 3) Many banks/credit unions can provide you with a "test deposit" verification - they'll send a small amount to confirm the account details are working correctly One thing that might reassure people: banks are required to return incorrectly routed ACH payments within specific timeframes, so even if there's an error, the money doesn't just disappear forever. SSA has recovery procedures for these situations. The online method really is the most reliable when done carefully. Just take your time, use official bank documentation for your numbers, and keep both accounts open during the transition. You've got this!

I just completed this exact process about a month ago and wanted to share my experience since I see so many great tips here! I was switching from a big bank to a credit union after 18 years and was absolutely terrified about my benefits getting disrupted. Here's what worked perfectly for me: I combined the online method with extra verification steps. First, I visited my new credit union and got their official direct deposit form with pre-printed account information. Then I called their customer service line and had them read me every digit of both the routing and account numbers while I verified against the printed form. When I did the online change through my SSA account, I followed @Giovanni Rossi's "practice run" advice - I logged in a few days earlier just to see the interface without actually making changes. This made the real process so much smoother since I wasn't figuring out the website while handling something so important. The actual change took about 8 minutes online. I took screenshots of every page, including that final confirmation screen. My payment arrived exactly on schedule with no delays whatsoever. I kept both accounts open for 6 weeks just to be absolutely certain everything was working correctly. For anyone still nervous about this - the preparation really is everything. Having official bank documentation, taking your time with data entry, and keeping backup accounts open eliminates almost all the risk. The system works well when you're methodical about it!

Correct - you don't get both benefits added together. The way it actually works is: 1. You get your own retirement benefit amount 2. If 50% of your spouse's benefit is higher than your own benefit, you get the DIFFERENCE added on So in your example with your $45K salary vs his $96K salary: - Your benefit might be around $1,500/month - His might be around $3,200/month - 50% of his would be $1,600 - You would receive your $1,500 + $100 extra = $1,600 total This is why for couples with very disparate incomes (like one spouse who didn't work much or at all), the spousal benefit is more significant.

Great advice in this thread! One additional consideration for you and your husband: since you're 58 and he's 60, you might want to look into the "restricted application" strategy if either of you were born before January 2, 1954. This allows someone at Full Retirement Age to file for spousal benefits only while letting their own benefit continue to grow with delayed retirement credits until age 70. However, this strategy was mostly phased out for people born after that date. Also, don't forget that if your husband passes away first, you could potentially receive 100% of his benefit as a survivor benefit (rather than the 50% spousal benefit), which is why it's important to consider both of your claiming strategies together as a couple, not just individually.

I've been on SSDI for about 2 years and had this exact same concern when I started plasma donation 8 months ago. After reading through all these responses, I can confirm what everyone is saying about the earned vs unearned income distinction. What really helped me was creating a simple folder system - I keep all my plasma center receipts in one folder and take monthly screenshots of my debit card balance. When I had my phone review with SSA a few months ago, I mentioned the plasma donations upfront and the representative said "that's fine, it's not employment income so it doesn't affect your SSDI." One tip I'd add - if you have multiple plasma centers in your area, definitely shop around! I found that the rates can vary by $20-30 per donation between different companies. Also, some centers are much better about respecting your time - nobody wants to be stuck waiting 2+ hours when you're already dealing with health issues. The extra money has been a lifesaver for prescription copays and unexpected medical expenses. Just make sure to pace yourself health-wise - I learned the hard way that donating when you're having a flare-up or feeling run down isn't worth the money. @Emma Wilson - you're handling this perfectly by documenting everything and being transparent. That approach has worked really well for me!

I've been on SSDI for about a year and was actually just researching this same question last week! After reading through everyone's experiences here, I feel so much more confident about starting plasma donation myself. What really stood out to me is how consistent everyone's advice has been about the earned vs unearned income distinction. I had no idea that plasma donations are considered compensation for biological material rather than employment income - that's such an important difference when it comes to the SGA limits for SSDI. I love all the practical documentation tips people have shared - keeping receipts, taking photos of debit card balances, using spreadsheets or apps to track everything. It's clear that being organized and transparent is key, even though the payments won't actually affect our SSDI eligibility. @Emma Wilson - thank you so much for asking this question! I'm sure there are many of us in similar situations who needed this clarification. The extra income would really help me with prescription costs and other medical expenses that my fixed benefit doesn't quite cover. I'm planning to start with once a week like several people suggested, and I'll definitely call around to different centers to compare rates and wait times. This community has been incredibly helpful in giving me the knowledge and confidence to move forward safely!

As someone new to Social Security, I'm finding this conversation really helpful! I just started receiving benefits last month and had no idea about COLA letters or how the process works. Reading through everyone's experiences gives me a much better understanding of what to expect. I'll definitely set up my MySocialSecurity account before December so I can check online first. Thanks to everyone sharing their knowledge and timelines - it's exactly what newcomers like me need to know!

I'm also new to receiving Social Security benefits and this thread has been incredibly informative! I started my retirement benefits in September and had no clue about the COLA process or timing. It's reassuring to know that the December timeline for letters is normal and not a delay specific to my situation. I was getting worried when I didn't see anything yet, but now I understand it's just part of the regular annual process. I'll definitely create my MySocialSecurity account this week so I can check online before the physical letter arrives. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps those of us who are new to navigate this system!