Thank you all for the helpful answers! I'm going to report my expected income to SSA as soon as I accept the job offer. Based on what everyone has shared, it sounds like they'll probably stop my benefits for the rest of this year, but I won't have to pay back what I've already received (as long as I report promptly). And it's good to know my benefits will automatically restart when I fully retire, with some adjustment for the months they were withheld. The monthly earnings test in the first year might help me too since I'd be starting mid-year. Definitely feeling less anxious about this decision now!

Great decision to report your income promptly! Just wanted to add that you should also keep detailed records of your earnings throughout the year in case SSA needs documentation later. I'd recommend saving pay stubs and any correspondence with SSA about your work activity. Also, if your income varies month to month, you can update your earnings estimate with SSA if it changes significantly from what you initially reported. This helps avoid surprises at year-end when they do the final calculations. Good luck with the new job!

When I got that letter last year, it took about 5 weeks for the final approval to come through. The back pay took another 3 weeks after that. Make sure all your contact information is up to date in the system so they can reach you if they need anything else. Also, if you haven't already, create a my Social Security account online - sometimes updates appear there before you get letters in the mail.

Based on my experience working with SSA cases, getting medical approval is definitely the biggest hurdle - congratulations! The non-medical review typically involves verifying your work credits through your earnings record, confirming you haven't exceeded substantial gainful activity limits during your disability period, and calculating your benefit amount. Since you mentioned working for the same company for 15 years, your work history should be straightforward to verify. Most cases at this stage are resolved within 4-6 weeks, though it can vary by processing center workload. Keep monitoring your online account and consider calling for a status update if you don't hear anything after 6 weeks from the date of that letter.

My wife used to work for SSA (retired last year). She says the callback system was implemented because of severe understaffing. They're trying, but there are literally hundreds of calls in queue at any given time at most offices. If you need to check on a disability application, try calling the national SSDI number instead of your local office - sometimes they can help faster.

I've been using the callback system for about 6 months now and here's what I've learned: it works about 70% of the time, but timing is everything. Best success rate is calling between 10-11am on Tuesday through Thursday. Avoid Mondays completely and Friday afternoons. Also, make sure your phone can receive calls from blocked numbers - some offices block their caller ID. When they do call back, they usually give you about 30 seconds to answer before hanging up, so keep your phone close. For SSDI status checks specifically, I've found the callback works better than waiting on hold because the reps seem less rushed when they're calling you back.

when they do the review they'll look at whether ur still meeting the listing requirements for cancer. my moms friend had leukemia and even tho she was in remission they continued her benefits for like 2 yrs because of the after effects of chemo and stuff

I'm really happy to hear your treatment is going so well! That's wonderful news. Just wanted to add something that might be helpful - make sure you keep detailed records of all your medical appointments, test results, and any ongoing symptoms or side effects you experience, even as you improve. This documentation will be crucial if/when SSA does their review. Also, don't hesitate to ask your oncologist and other doctors to be thorough in their notes about any lingering effects from treatment. Even if you go into remission, things like fatigue, cognitive issues from chemo, or other treatment-related complications can still impact your ability to work. The more complete medical picture you have documented, the better prepared you'll be for any future reviews. Wishing you continued success with your treatment!

Update to my earlier comment - I called SSA today to check on my rescheduled appointment and they have NO RECORD of it in their system!!! I'm absolutely furious right now. The agent I spoke with today apologized but couldn't find any notes from my previous call. Now I'm rescheduled AGAIN for two weeks from now. This is the most dysfunctional government agency I've ever dealt with!

I've had mixed experiences with SSA phone appointments over the years. Out of about 6 appointments, 2 were no-shows and 1 was over an hour late. The frustrating part is they don't always update their system when agents call out sick or have emergencies. For your disability review specifically, I'd strongly recommend going in-person if at all possible. CDRs are too important to risk miscommunication or technical issues. If you absolutely must do phone, here's what worked for me: - Call the day before to confirm your appointment is still in the system - Ask for a confirmation number and write it down - Have a backup plan - know your local field office hours in case you need to walk in - Keep detailed notes of every interaction (date, time, agent name if they give it) The in-person route might be more of a hassle upfront, but it's worth the peace of mind for something that affects your benefits. Good luck with your review!