As someone who just went through a similar ordeal applying for disability benefits while living in the UK, I can't emphasize enough how broken the international SSA system is right now. I had to make over 20 attempts to get through, and like many others here, had multiple "ghost appointments" where nobody called. What finally worked for me was a combination of several strategies mentioned here: calling right at 7am Eastern time, using the Claimyr service (which is legit and worth every penny), and having my sister in Florida also try calling on my behalf. The domestic lines really do seem to work better. One additional tip I haven't seen mentioned - if you're having trouble with the online my Social Security account due to foreign address formatting issues, try using a US address temporarily just to create the account and submit the initial contact request. You can update the address once you're actually speaking with someone. The important thing is getting into their system somehow. Ruby, congratulations on finally getting through! Your persistence paid off. For everyone else still struggling, don't give up. The system is absolutely terrible right now, but people are getting through eventually. Document everything, try multiple approaches, and be prepared to spend way more time on this than should be necessary.

This whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening about the state of SSA's international services. I'm a US citizen living in Australia and have been putting off applying for my retirement benefits because I keep hearing horror stories like these. Reading through everyone's experiences, it's clear this isn't just isolated incidents - there's a systematic breakdown in how SSA handles overseas applications. What really frustrates me is that we're not asking for special treatment here. We paid into the system our entire working lives just like domestic applicants, but we're getting drastically inferior service just because we live abroad. The fact that people have to pay third-party services like Claimyr just to reach their own government agency is absurd. Ruby, I'm so glad you finally got through and that your application is progressing! Your persistence is inspiring. For everyone else still fighting this battle - the strategies shared here seem to be the best available workarounds until SSA fixes their broken system. The early morning calling time, using the correct international numbers, and documenting everything seem to be the common threads among the success stories. Has anyone tried reaching out to their congressional representatives about these issues? I know we can't vote from overseas, but we're still constituents, and this seems like the kind of systematic failure that might warrant congressional oversight.

Wow, what a rollercoaster but so glad you got it resolved! This is a perfect example of why we need to trust our instincts when something doesn't look right. I've been working for a state agency for about 3 years and I've seen similar classification errors happen during system migrations or reorganizations. The fact that you were flagged as both regular AND special category employees is exactly the kind of glitch that can slip through the cracks. For anyone else reading this - if payroll or HR gives you the runaround on something that seems obviously wrong, don't give up! Ask for specifics, ask for written explanations, and keep escalating until you get someone who actually knows the system. Theodore saved himself potentially thousands of dollars by being persistent. Great job advocating for yourself!

This whole situation really highlights something important that I think gets overlooked - government payroll systems are often incredibly complex, especially when agencies go through reorganizations or technology upgrades. As a newcomer to government work, I had no idea that something like being accidentally classified in two different employee categories could even happen! Theodore's experience shows how crucial it is to really understand what every deduction on your paystub means, not just glance at the bottom line. It's also a great reminder that persistence pays off when you know something isn't right. The fact that this was happening for 8 months and could have continued indefinitely if he hadn't pushed back is pretty eye-opening. Thanks for documenting the whole process from problem to resolution - this thread is going to be super helpful for other government employees who might face similar issues!

Thank you all for the helpful responses! From what I understand: 1. We need to follow BOTH sets of rules since she receives both benefits 2. The SSI rules are stricter with the $2,000 asset limit and income reporting 3. My work income won't affect her benefits 4. When I file for retirement, they'll check if she'd get more on my record 5. ABLE accounts might be a solution for saving beyond the $2,000 limit I'm going to look into the ABLE account option right away and also consider whether keeping that small SSI payment is worth the restrictions. The Medicaid connection is important though, so I'll need to check with our state about that before making any decisions. This community is amazing - thank you for helping me understand this complicated situation!

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you understand the timing implications when you do decide to file for your own retirement benefits. There's something called the "deemed filing" rules that might affect your strategy. If you file for your own retirement before your Full Retirement Age (FRA), you'll be required to file for any other benefits you're eligible for at the same time. This won't directly affect your daughter's benefits, but it's something to keep in mind for your overall planning. Also, regarding the ABLE account suggestion - absolutely look into this! Ohio has the STABLE Account program which is one of the better ABLE programs available. You don't have to use your own state's program - you can choose any state's ABLE program that accepts out-of-state residents. Some have better investment options or lower fees than others. One more tip: keep detailed records of everything related to both benefits. With dual benefits, documentation becomes even more important if there are ever questions or overpayments. SSA's computer systems sometimes don't handle dual benefit cases smoothly, so having your own records can save a lot of headaches later.

To answer your follow-up question: Yes, you should proactively report significant income changes to Social Security throughout the year. You can do this by calling them directly or visiting your local office. Many people don't realize this, but if you expect to earn over the limit, you can ask SSA to start withholding some benefits in advance to avoid an overpayment situation. They can adjust your benefits throughout the year based on your estimated earnings. And regarding your pension question - correct, regular pension income doesn't count toward the earnings limit. Only wages from jobs and net earnings from self-employment count.

Just wanted to add a few practical tips for anyone dealing with the earnings limit: 1. Keep detailed records of your monthly earnings - don't rely on SSA to track everything perfectly. I use a simple spreadsheet to monitor my year-to-date earnings. 2. If you're self-employed, remember they count NET earnings, not gross income. So you can deduct legitimate business expenses. 3. There's actually a "grace year" rule for the first year you claim retirement benefits where they use a monthly test ($1,896/month for 2025) instead of the annual limit. This can be helpful if you retire mid-year. 4. Bonuses, overtime, and vacation payouts all count toward the earnings limit, so factor those in when planning your work schedule. The system is definitely confusing, but once you understand the rules it becomes more manageable. Good luck with your part-time work plans!

Hi everyone! As a newcomer to this community, I've been following this discussion with great interest since my husband and I are facing a very similar decision. I'm 62 and he's 66, already collecting his Social Security. One aspect I haven't seen mentioned yet is the impact of the earnings test if your wife is still working. Since she's 63, if she's earning income from employment, there are annual limits on how much she can earn before her Social Security benefits get reduced (though they get credited back later). For 2024, I believe the limit is around $22,320 if you're under full retirement age. This could be another factor in deciding whether to claim early or wait. Also, I wanted to thank everyone for explaining the deemed filing rules so clearly. I had been confused about this "restricted application" strategy I'd heard about, but now I understand it's no longer available for people our age. Omar, your situation really mirrors ours, and based on everything I've read here, waiting until your wife's FRA seems like the smart move if you can swing it financially. The combination of getting the full 50% spousal benefit plus the annual COLA increases on that higher base amount makes a compelling case for patience. This community has been incredibly helpful - thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences!

Hi everyone! I'm new to this community and have been reading through this incredibly informative discussion. My situation is a bit different - I'm 64 and my husband is 61, so we're looking at this from the opposite perspective, but the spousal benefit calculations are just as confusing for us. One thing I wanted to add that might help others in similar situations: I recently attended a Social Security workshop at our local senior center, and they emphasized the importance of getting your official benefit estimates directly from SSA rather than relying on rough calculations. The presenter mentioned that there can sometimes be surprises in your earnings record (missing years, incorrect amounts, etc.) that could affect your benefit calculations. Also, for anyone still working like Raúl mentioned, don't forget that if you're planning to delay benefits, you might want to continue working those extra years since Social Security uses your highest 35 years of earnings. If your current earnings are higher than some of your earlier years, those additional years of work could actually increase your Primary Insurance Amount. Omar, your decision to have your wife wait until FRA sounds really smart based on all the great advice here. The math definitely seems to favor patience when you can afford to wait. This community is such a valuable resource - thank you all for sharing your experiences and knowledge!