I just want to echo what others have said about being proactive with follow-up. I went through this process last year and the automatic recalculation did work, but it took almost 10 months to see the adjustment. One thing I'd add that I haven't seen mentioned yet: when you're reporting your 2024 earnings in the application, make sure you also note any bonuses or overtime pay you received that year. Sometimes people forget to include these when estimating their annual earnings, but they can make a meaningful difference in your benefit calculation. Also, if you do decide to wait until your 2024 earnings show up in the system naturally, keep in mind that this typically happens after tax season when employers submit their W-2 data. So you might be looking at waiting until summer or even fall of 2025 for it to appear on your record organically. Given your August FRA date, filing sooner rather than later and then following up on the recalculation seems like the smarter move to me. You'll start receiving benefits and can always advocate for the adjustment once your 2024 data is processed.

I work for a local SSA office and can confirm that yes, we do include current year earnings even when they haven't posted to your record yet. When you file your application, there's a specific section where you'll report your 2024 earnings - make sure you're as accurate as possible with that number. The recalculation process is automatic once your W-2 data gets processed into our system (usually by late spring/early summer of the following year), but I always recommend people follow up if they don't see an adjustment by fall. Sometimes the automated recalculation gets stuck and needs a manual review. Given your situation with the lower earnings from 2018-2020, your $87,000 from 2024 will definitely help your benefit calculation since it will replace one of those lower years in your highest 35 years of earnings. Don't delay filing if you need the income - just keep good records and be prepared to follow up if needed.

Andre, I just wanted to add one more consideration that might be helpful for your situation. Since you mentioned mortgage payments as part of your decision to take early benefits, make sure you factor in that Social Security benefits may be partially taxable depending on your total income. If you have other income sources (pension, part-time work, investment income, etc.), up to 85% of your Social Security benefits could be subject to federal income tax. The thresholds are pretty low - for single filers, if your combined income is over $25,000, some of your benefits become taxable. This doesn't mean you shouldn't take early benefits - just something to plan for when budgeting with your reduced benefit amount. You might want to have a little extra set aside for taxes or adjust your withholding if you have other income. Also, since several people mentioned the mySocialSecurity account - if you haven't logged in recently, I'd recommend checking it now to make sure all your personal information is current (address, phone number, etc.). It'll save time when you're ready to apply in September. The 4-month advance timeline everyone's mentioned is definitely the way to go based on all the experiences shared here. You're really smart to start planning this early!

Hi Andre! I just wanted to add something that might help with your timeline planning. I applied exactly 4 months early like everyone's recommending, but what really made the difference was being super organized with my paperwork beforehand. Here's my suggestion: Start gathering your documents NOW, even though you won't apply until September. You'll need your birth certificate, Social Security card, bank information for direct deposit, recent tax returns, and W-2s from the last couple years. Having everything ready in a folder will make the actual application process much smoother. Also, I noticed you mentioned trying to call SSA with no luck. If you do need to speak with someone before applying, try calling your local field office directly rather than the national number. You can find your local office on the SSA website - they often have much shorter wait times. One last thing - when you do apply in September, make absolutely sure you select January 2025 as your benefit START month, not your application month. This is different from when you're submitting the application and confuses a lot of people. You're being really smart to plan this far ahead. With your health situation factored in, taking benefits at 62 sounds like the right decision for your circumstances. Good luck with everything!

I'm 63 and have been on SSDI for about 5 years now. This thread is exactly what I needed to read! I've been worrying about this conversion for months, especially after hearing different stories from friends and reading confusing information online. What really gives me confidence is how absolutely consistent everyone's experience has been - automatic conversion at FRA, same exact payment amount, just an internal reclassification by SSA. The fact that so many people describe the identical smooth process really shows this is how it actually works, not just how it's supposed to work. I'm particularly relieved to know that Medicare continues unchanged and that I don't need to do anything on my end. The notification letter timeline (about 6 weeks before FRA) is also really helpful to know in advance. My FRA is 67, so I have about 4 years to go, but now I can budget with complete confidence that my current SSDI amount will continue unchanged. This thread has been a goldmine of real-world information - thank you to everyone who shared their personal experiences! It's so much more valuable than trying to navigate the official SSA website.

This thread has been such an incredible resource! I'm 59 and have been receiving SSDI for about 14 months now, and I had the exact same concerns as @Ella Thompson about what happens at FRA. Reading through everyone's consistent experiences has completely put my mind at ease. The fact that literally every single person who's been through this conversion describes the identical process - automatic at FRA, same payment amount, just a simple reclassification - gives me total confidence in planning my finances for the next 8 years. I was especially worried about potential benefit reductions or having to navigate complicated paperwork, but knowing that SSA handles everything automatically and just sends a notification letter makes this seem so much less daunting. The tip about keeping that letter for documentation purposes is brilliant too! What really stands out to me is how this community has turned one person's question into such a comprehensive guide that's helping so many of us understand this important transition. The real-world experiences shared here are worth more than all the confusing government websites combined. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their stories - you've helped more people plan for their futures than you probably realize!

I'm a newcomer to this community but have been dealing with Social Security for years as a benefits counselor, and I wanted to add some perspective on your situation. One critical point that hasn't been fully addressed is that your Family Maximum Benefit calculation might actually be wrong from the start. The FMB formula is complex and based on "bend points" that change annually. For someone with a PIA of $3,250, an FMB of $6,085 seems unusually low - you might want to ask them to recalculate the FMB itself, not just the distribution. Also, regarding your disabled daughter's DAC benefits - there's a special rule called the "combined Family Maximum" that applies when someone is receiving DAC benefits on a living parent's record. This can sometimes result in a higher overall family maximum than the standard calculation, especially if your daughter had significant work history before becoming disabled. I'd strongly recommend asking the Technical Expert to verify: 1. That your FMB was calculated using the correct bend points for 2024 2. Whether the Combined Family Maximum rule applies to your daughter's DAC benefits 3. If the "Child Disability Freeze" provisions affect any of the calculations These technical details are often overlooked but can significantly impact benefit amounts. The fact that multiple representatives have given you conflicting information suggests they're not applying the more complex rules that might apply to your specific situation. Don't accept "that's just how it's calculated" as an answer - demand to see the actual mathematical computation with the specific rules and bend points they used.

Welcome to the community! I'm new here but have been lurking and reading about similar situations. Your case sounds incredibly frustrating but also really educational for those of us trying to understand these complex benefit calculations. After reading through all the excellent advice in this thread, it's clear you've gotten some really solid guidance about specific documents to request and technical rules that might apply. The fact that you have three different types of beneficiaries (child student, DAC, and CIC) plus the SSI transition timing issues creates a perfect storm of complexity. One small thing I wanted to add - when you do get that face-to-face appointment with a Technical Expert, consider bringing printed copies of some of the key POMS sections that others mentioned (like RS 00615.020). Having the actual policy language with you can be helpful if you encounter any pushback or confusion during the appointment. Also, based on Olivia's point about the FMB potentially being calculated incorrectly, it might be worth asking them to show you the actual bend point formula they used. If your base Family Maximum is wrong, then all the downstream calculations for your family members would be wrong too, which could explain why nothing seems to add up correctly. Really hoping you get this resolved soon - please keep us updated on how your appointment goes! This thread has been incredibly informative for understanding family maximum benefit calculations.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Chloe. Losing both parents within such a short time must be incredibly difficult to process, and I can completely understand why you'd have concerns about protecting your financial security during this overwhelming period. I wanted to add my voice to everyone else's reassurance - your inheritance will absolutely not affect your Social Security retirement benefits. As someone who works in estate planning, I see this question come up frequently, and the answer is always the same: inheritances are considered "unearned income" by Social Security and don't count toward the annual earnings test that applies to early retirees. Only wages from employment or self-employment income count as "earned income" for those calculations. You can receive your full $137,000 share without any worry about benefit reductions. One practical suggestion: when you meet with the real estate attorney for the house sale, ask them to ensure the closing documents clearly identify the proceeds as inheritance distribution. This won't be necessary for Social Security purposes, but having clean documentation makes everything easier down the line. Focus on taking care of yourself and your siblings during this transition - the financial side is one less burden you need to carry right now.

I'm so deeply sorry for your loss, Chloe. Losing both parents within a year is an unimaginable heartbreak, and dealing with estate matters while grieving adds such an overwhelming burden. I wanted to add my reassurance to what everyone else has shared - your inheritance will absolutely not affect your Social Security retirement benefits in any way. I went through a very similar situation when my mother passed and left me proceeds from her home sale (around $95,000). I was also collecting early retirement benefits at 64 and was terrified it would impact my monthly payments. But as everyone here has correctly explained, Social Security only considers "earned income" (wages, salary, self-employment) when applying the annual earnings test. Inheritances are classified as "unearned income" and are completely exempt from this calculation. Your $137,000 inheritance is yours to receive without any worry about benefit reductions. One thing that helped me during that difficult time was creating a simple file folder for all the estate paperwork - not because Social Security needed it, but because staying organized gave me a small sense of control during such a chaotic period. Please take care of yourself and lean on your siblings for support. You have enough to process right now without worrying about your Social Security benefits - that's one stress you can completely let go of.