Final update: You all have been so helpful through this stressful situation! I wanted to share what's happened after taking your advice. I filed all the recommended reports and placed credit freezes. The credit card companies closed the fraudulent accounts after I sent death certificates. The most progress came after using that Claimyr service someone suggested to reach SSA directly. I actually got through to a knowledgeable agent who confirmed my husband's death was properly recorded but explained the earnings issue slipped through during employer reporting. They're removing the false earnings and flagging his SSN in their system for enhanced monitoring. They also connected me with their OIG (Office of Inspector General) to ensure a thorough investigation. It's been exhausting but I feel like I've done everything possible to shut this down. Thank you all again for your guidance through this ordeal!

Thank you for sharing your experience and updates throughout this ordeal - it's incredibly helpful for others who might face similar situations. Your systematic approach to handling this identity theft was exactly right. I'm glad the Claimyr service helped you get through to a knowledgeable SSA agent who could actually resolve the earnings issue and set up enhanced monitoring. One additional tip for anyone reading this thread: if you're dealing with deceased family member identity theft, consider requesting annual Social Security statements for the deceased person (if you're the legal representative). This can help you catch fraudulent activity early before it becomes as extensive as what happened here with the credit cards. It's unfortunate that protecting deceased loved ones' identities requires so much effort, but your detailed documentation of the process will definitely help others navigate this same nightmare.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful for all the detailed information shared here! I'm in a very similar situation - 22 years with the California Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS) and 43 quarters of Social Security credits from working summers and before teaching. Reading through everyone's experiences and advice has been so enlightening. I had no idea about the 9-year phase-out timeline or the importance of timing when to file. The suggestion to create a documentation folder is something I'm going to start immediately. It's also reassuring to hear from benefits professionals like Dylan who can explain the technical details. I've been dreading the WEP reduction for years, so this repeal feels like a huge weight lifted. Thank you to everyone for creating such a supportive and informative community - I'm looking forward to learning more as we all navigate these changes together!

Hello everyone! I'm new to this community and have been reading through this incredibly informative thread. I'm also a teacher with a similar situation - 19 years with the Ohio Teachers' Retirement System (STRS Ohio) and 41 Social Security credits from various part-time and summer jobs over the years. This discussion has been so eye-opening! I had heard rumors about WEP repeal but didn't realize it was actually signed into law with a specific 9-year phase-out timeline. The advice about timing when to file for SS benefits and creating a documentation folder is invaluable. I'm wondering if anyone knows whether different state teacher retirement systems might have varying impacts during this transition? I know STRS Ohio has its own quirks compared to other state systems. Also, has anyone found good resources specifically for understanding how the phase-out percentages will be calculated each year? Thank you all for creating such a welcoming and knowledgeable community. It's reassuring to know there are people who understand these complex situations and are willing to help others navigate them!

Just wanted to add something that might be relevant - if your friend has any veterans benefits or disability payments in addition to Social Security, those also won't change based on state residency. I'm a veteran who moved from North Carolina to Alabama a few years ago, and all my federal benefits stayed exactly the same. However, Alabama does offer some nice perks for retirees that Georgia doesn't - like no state tax on retirement income from 401(k)s, IRAs, and pensions once you hit a certain age. So while her Social Security amount won't change, she might actually come out ahead financially overall. One small administrative tip - when she updates her address with SSA, she should also update it with Medicare, the IRS, and any private insurance companies at the same time. I made the mistake of forgetting to notify my supplemental insurance company and had a brief coverage gap that caused some confusion with a doctor's visit.

I'm glad to see so many helpful responses here! Just to add another perspective - I work with seniors regularly and help them navigate benefit transitions. One thing that's worth emphasizing is that your friend should definitely notify Social Security of her address change BEFORE she actually moves, not after. The SSA recommends doing this at least 30 days in advance if possible. Also, while everyone has correctly noted that the benefit amount stays the same, she should be prepared for her first payment or two after the move to potentially arrive a few days later than usual as the system updates. This is normal and temporary, but it's good to plan for just in case. If she's currently signed up for my Social Security online account (which I highly recommend), she can update her address there easily. If not, now would be a great time to create an account - it makes managing benefits so much easier, especially during transitions like moves.

This has been such an incredibly helpful thread to read through! As someone who's new to this community and will be eligible for Social Security in about 18 months, I'm really grateful for all the detailed experiences everyone has shared. What's particularly reassuring is learning that these adjustment payments are actually evidence of SSA's systems working *better*, not worse. The pattern of recent beneficiaries receiving small supplemental payments due to Q4 2024 earnings reconciliation shows that their automated processes are now catching discrepancies that might have gone undetected for years in the past. I'm definitely taking notes on all the practical advice here: keep detailed records from day one, monitor the mySocialSecurity account regularly, don't panic about unexpected payments but also don't spend them until getting official documentation, and consider services like Claimyr if calling SSA directly becomes necessary. The tip about encouraging employers to submit quarterly reports promptly is also something I hadn't considered but makes perfect sense. This kind of real-world, community-driven information is so much more valuable than trying to navigate the official SSA website alone. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and create such a comprehensive resource for others going through similar situations!

This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm relatively new to navigating Social Security and was completely confused when my mom received an unexpected $97 payment last week (she started benefits in January 2025). After reading through everyone's experiences, I now understand this is likely part of the same Q4 2024 earnings adjustment pattern rather than an error to worry about. What really stands out to me is how this community has turned what could be a stressful situation into an educational opportunity. The consistent pattern across all these cases - recent beneficiaries getting small adjustment payments as SSA's automated systems catch up with late-reported earnings - shows that these are actually signs of improved processing, not system failures. I'm going to have my mom check her mySocialSecurity account daily for an explanation letter and will definitely try the Claimyr service if we need to call SSA directly. The advice about keeping detailed documentation and not spending unexpected payments until getting official confirmation is exactly what we needed to hear. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this kind of real-world guidance is so much more helpful than anything on the official SSA website!

Welcome to all the newcomers sharing their stories! I'm also new to this community but have been following this discussion closely as I'm in a very similar situation. I'm 61 and have been waiting 7 months for my SSDI decision for multiple sclerosis - the unpredictable nature of my symptoms makes it impossible to maintain steady work, but the financial stress of waiting is making everything worse. This entire thread has been incredibly educational and reassuring! Like so many others, I had no idea concurrent claims were even possible, and I was absolutely terrified that filing for early retirement would somehow sabotage my disability case. But seeing story after story of people who successfully filed for both, had SSA automatically adjust to the higher disability payment when approved, and even received retroactive pay has completely changed my perspective. The practical advice everyone has shared is invaluable - using terms like "concurrent claim" and "dual entitlement," being crystal clear that you want both processed, documenting everything, and following up regularly. I'm definitely going to start that notebook tracking system before making my first call to SSA. What really stands out to me is how many people mentioned that SSA representatives actually encouraged this approach and said it was common. That takes away so much of the guilt and worry about somehow "gaming the system" - it's clear this is exactly what these programs are designed for. Thank you all for sharing your experiences so openly. Reading about your successes has given me the confidence to move forward with filing for retirement at 62 while continuing my disability fight. The peace of mind of having some guaranteed income while waiting for that disability decision will be life-changing. This community is such a valuable resource!

I just wanted to add my experience to this incredibly helpful discussion! I was in almost the exact same situation as the original poster - filed for SSDI for chronic pain about 8 months ago, turning 62 soon, and really struggling financially. After reading through all these responses, I decided to go ahead and file for retirement benefits while keeping my disability claim active. The process went much smoother than I expected! The SSA representative was very familiar with concurrent claims and actually told me it was a smart move. She made sure both applications were properly linked in their system and gave me confirmation numbers for everything. My retirement benefits started about 5 weeks later, which was such a relief financially. What really surprised me was how supportive the SSA staff was - they didn't make me feel like I was doing anything wrong or trying to cheat the system. They explained that this is exactly what these programs are designed for and that many people file concurrent claims. For anyone still on the fence about this, I can't recommend it enough. The financial stability has reduced so much stress, which has actually helped with my pain levels. And knowing that if my disability gets approved, SSA will automatically adjust everything and pay me the difference gives me complete peace of mind. Don't let yourself go broke waiting for a disability decision - file for both and protect yourself financially while continuing to fight for what you deserve!