One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is timing - since you've been on LTD for 8 months already, you actually have some flexibility in when you apply for SSDI. While your LTD policy probably requires you to apply, most give you a reasonable timeframe (usually within 12-24 months of becoming disabled). This gives you time to make sure your medical documentation is rock solid before submitting. Don't rush into applying just because you're worried about the process - a well-documented initial application has a much better chance of approval than a hastily prepared one that gets denied and has to go through appeals. Also, keep in mind that SSDI has a "closed period" option if you think you might eventually return to work. This lets you claim benefits for a specific time period when you were disabled, rather than claiming ongoing disability. Given that you're dealing with accident injuries that might heal over time, this could be worth discussing with a disability attorney.

Does private short term disability paid as wages count as earned income towards earning limits for a 64 year old?

Welcome to the community, Giovanni! It's great to see another person making an informed decision based on all the excellent experiences shared here. You're absolutely right about the consistency of advice from people who've actually been through this process - that unanimity really speaks volumes about which option typically makes more financial sense. The survivor benefit angle you mentioned is such an important consideration that doesn't always get the attention it deserves in these discussions. With your spouse being 4 years younger, those enhanced DRCs could indeed provide significant additional security for her future. It's one of those factors that makes the long-term value of preserving DRCs even more compelling than just the personal benefit calculation. Your point about tax efficiency is spot-on too. Taking a lump sum of retroactive benefits when you're already managing other retirement income can create unnecessary tax complications. The higher monthly payments spread over time are usually much more manageable from a tax planning perspective. Best of luck with your application next week! Make sure to take screenshots of your responses (especially that retroactive benefits section) as others have suggested. It sounds like you're well-prepared to make the choice that will serve you and your spouse best in the long run. Thanks for adding your perspective to this incredibly helpful discussion!

This has been such an incredibly informative discussion! I've been reading through everyone's experiences and advice, and I'm feeling much more confident about my decision now. Based on all the real-world examples shared here - from Aisha's $160/month increase to Emma's $140+ boost - it's clear that preserving those DRCs is typically the smarter long-term financial choice. The math consistently shows that for someone in decent health expecting normal longevity, those delayed retirement credits are worth significantly more over a lifetime than a one-time retroactive payment. The additional considerations people brought up really sealed the deal for me: - Tax efficiency of higher monthly payments vs. a lump sum - How DRCs compound with future COLAs - The impact on survivor benefits for my spouse - The peace of mind of guaranteed higher monthly income I'm planning to apply online this week and will definitely be declining the retroactive benefits to preserve my DRCs. I'll make sure to take screenshots of every page (especially that retroactive benefits section) as several people recommended. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and real experiences - this community has been absolutely invaluable in helping me understand the nuances of this decision that I never would have figured out on my own. The consistency of advice from people who've actually been through this process really gives me confidence I'm making the right choice for my long-term financial security!

I've been following this thread closely because I'm in a somewhat similar situation, and I wanted to add a few thoughts based on my own research and experience navigating SSA. First, regarding the conflicting information you've gotten from SSA representatives - this is unfortunately very common with complex scenarios like yours. The rules around divorced spousal benefits, child-in-care provisions, and deemed filing are intricate, and not all phone representatives are equally knowledgeable about these nuances. I'd strongly recommend requesting to speak with a supervisor or scheduling an in-person appointment at your local SSA office where you can bring documentation and get more detailed assistance. Second, while everyone's correctly pointed out the deemed filing issue, I want to emphasize something that might give you some hope: the earnings test is only temporary. If you did decide to file for benefits now (despite the reduction), once you reach full retirement age at 67, SSA will recalculate your benefits to remove the reduction caused by the earnings test (though not the early filing reduction). This is called the "adjustment of reduction factor." Finally, don't overlook the possibility of appealing or requesting reconsideration if you receive information from SSA that doesn't seem right. Given how many different answers you've gotten, it might be worth getting a formal written determination that you can review carefully or have an attorney look at. The system is complicated, but you're asking all the right questions. Keep advocating for yourself and your child!

yes! child in care benefit are the exception to deem rule and do no effect your own retirement. Exceptions to deemed filing Regardless of the claimant’s DOB, you must consider the following two exceptions before applying deemed filing: a.  Child-in-care (C-I-C) A claimant who has in their care a child (under age 16 or disabled) entitled to a child’s insurance benefit on their spouse’s earnings record, and is filing for spouse's benefits is not deemed to have filed for RIB. They may exclude RIB from the scope of the application for spouse's benefits by providing an unequivocal statement.

Thank you for this update! I don't use Twitter so I would have missed this. At least there's an official timeline now. I appreciate everyone's help and suggestions!

I've been dealing with this exact same issue! Been locked out for about 10 days now with the same error message. I tried calling the 800 number yesterday and after waiting 2 hours and 45 minutes, I finally got through to someone who told me they're aware of the problem but couldn't give me any specifics on when it would be fixed. She did mention that if it's truly urgent (like needing to report a death or stop payments), they can sometimes handle certain things over the phone, but for most account access issues we just have to wait. So frustrating when you're trying to plan for retirement and can't access your own information!

I'm going through a CDR (diagnosed with bipolar, anxiety, diabetes and have been on disability since I was a child). I've worked part time jobs over the years (first paying job was in 2019) and I used up only four months of my trial work period. I graduated from college and university, and had special accommodations due to my disabilities (I don't know if this will be used against me). My last job which I was terminated from due to being "Too stressed" after three weeks and was part time and earned below the SGA. Filled out the long form right after I got the letter in the mail. I'm just scared and not trying to panic.

Hi Ruth, I can really understand your anxiety about the CDR - it's such a scary process even when you know you're still disabled. The fact that you were terminated from your job after just three weeks because of being "too stressed" actually demonstrates that you still can't sustain employment, even part-time work below SGA levels. That's important evidence that your disabilities still significantly impact your ability to work. Your educational achievements with accommodations shouldn't be used against you - they actually show that you needed special support to succeed academically, which is different from being able to handle the sustained demands of full-time employment. The fact that you've only used four months of your trial work period over several years shows you haven't been able to maintain consistent work. It sounds like you did the right thing by filling out the long form promptly. Since you mentioned multiple conditions (bipolar, anxiety, diabetes), make sure your documentation shows how these conditions work together to limit your functioning. The combination of mental health symptoms plus physical health issues can be particularly challenging. Try to focus on documenting your ongoing limitations and how they prevent you from working consistently, rather than worrying about things like your education. You've been on disability since childhood for valid reasons, and those underlying conditions haven't magically disappeared. Hang in there - you're not alone in this process!