Thank you all so much for your helpful responses! I'm feeling much more confident now. I'm going to schedule an in-person appointment at my local SSA office and bring all my FERS documentation clearly showing it's the supplement. I'll make sure they document in my file that I'm eligible for both benefits simultaneously. It's frustrating that there's so much conflicting information out there, even from SSA representatives themselves. I'm glad I checked here before making any decisions. I'll update after my appointment in case it helps anyone else in a similar situation.

Best of luck with your appointment! You're doing exactly the right thing by going in person with documentation. Just to add one more tip - if possible, try to get the name and employee ID of whoever helps you at the SSA office. That way if any issues come up later, you can reference who provided the guidance. Also, consider asking them to print out or email you a summary of what was discussed/approved. I know it sounds excessive, but given how many conflicting answers you've gotten, having that paper trail could save you a lot of headaches down the road. Please do update us after your appointment - these kinds of real-world experiences are so valuable for others navigating the same waters!

To clarify for everyone: SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) and retirement benefits are essentially the same benefit pool. At full retirement age, disability benefits automatically convert to retirement benefits - they are not separate programs you can receive simultaneously. For the original poster, since you mentioned medical expenses, I strongly recommend: 1. Medicare Savings Programs (MSP) - can help pay Medicare premiums and in some cases deductibles/coinsurance 2. Extra Help program - assists with prescription drug costs 3. State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (SPAPs) - additional medication help in many states 4. Medicaid - if your income and resources are low enough Contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for free counseling on these options. They can help determine what you qualify for.

I'm sorry to hear about your health struggles and financial stress. The other members here have given you excellent advice about SSDI not being available once you're receiving retirement benefits. One additional resource I'd suggest is contacting 211 (dial 2-1-1 from any phone). They're a helpline that connects people with local assistance programs for things like utility bills, food assistance, transportation, and medical bill help. They often know about local charities and programs that aren't widely advertised. Also, if you haven't already, speak with a social worker at your doctor's office or hospital - they usually have lists of patient assistance programs and foundations that help with medical expenses for people with conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and heart disease. Some pharmaceutical companies also offer patient assistance programs that can significantly reduce medication costs. Hang in there - there are resources available even if SSDI isn't an option.

Update: I just spoke with my sister about what happened with her missing payments. Turns out she had entered her routing number wrong when doing it online (she typed a 3 instead of an 8). So I guess the online system DOES work if you're super careful about the numbers. Just triple-check everything!!

As someone who recently went through this exact process, I can confirm the online method works well if you're careful! I switched from a big bank to a local credit union last fall. Here's what worked for me: 1) I logged into my SSA account about 10 days before my payment date (I get paid on the 2nd Wednesday since I was born on the 12th) 2) Had my new bank's routing number and account number written down on paper - didn't rely on typing from memory 3) The confirmation screen showed my change would take effect with the next payment 4) I kept both accounts open for 2 months just to be extra safe The whole process took maybe 5 minutes online. My first payment went to the new account right on schedule. The key is definitely having the correct bank information and not rushing through the entry fields. I also took screenshots of every confirmation page for my records. One tip: call your new bank beforehand to confirm they accept ACH deposits and ask them to read you the routing number over the phone so you can verify what you have written down is correct!

my sister took it early and my brother waited and they both complain all the time so maybe it doesnt matter lol. social security isnt enough money either way these days

As someone who's been wrestling with this exact decision for the past year, I really appreciate all the detailed responses here. The earnings test factor that @Everett Tutum and @Aria Khan mentioned completely changes the equation for me - I hadn't fully grasped how significantly it would impact the "take early and invest" strategy. I've been running some preliminary numbers, and it seems like for someone in my situation (planning to work full-time until 67 with earnings well above the limit), the earnings test essentially forces you into a modified waiting strategy anyway. You file early but don't actually receive much benefit to invest until closer to FRA. One question I haven't seen addressed: for those who did take early benefits while still working, how did the annual earnings test calculations work out in practice? Did you find the SSA was accurate in their withholding estimates, or were there surprises come tax time? I'm leaning toward just waiting until FRA at this point, but I'd love to hear from anyone who's actually navigated the earnings test scenario successfully.

I'm new to this community and SSI rules, but this thread has been absolutely invaluable! My disabled brother is in a very similar situation where we're trying to prove he pays his fair share of household expenses. Reading through everyone's experiences, what strikes me most is how much variation there seems to be between different SSA offices and caseworkers - it's honestly both helpful and concerning to know this inconsistency exists. Your sister's contributions of $425 for rent and $150 for utilities ($575 total) definitely sound like they should qualify as fair share in a two-person household, regardless of whether food expenses are included. That's a substantial monthly contribution that clearly demonstrates she's paying her way. I'm taking detailed notes on all the advice here about documenting everything - even expenses the caseworker says aren't needed. The suggestion about getting any guidance in writing from your caseworker is particularly smart given all the conflicting information people are sharing. I wouldn't have thought of that protection, but it makes perfect sense if interpretations change or you get assigned to a different worker. The mention of Claimyr for actually reaching SSA agents caught my attention too - we've had terrible experiences with wait times when trying to get clarification on policies. Has that service worked well for others here? Thanks for starting this discussion - the real-world knowledge being shared is so much more practical than anything I could find in official resources. It's clear that being over-prepared with documentation is key to success with these fair share calculations!

I'm new to this community and SSI rules, but this thread has been incredibly helpful! My grandfather is currently receiving SSI and lives with our family, and we've been trying to understand these fair share calculations for weeks. What's really striking from everyone's experiences is how much inconsistency there seems to be between different SSA offices - some focusing only on housing costs while others requiring comprehensive documentation including food expenses. Your sister's payments of $425 for rent and $150 for utilities definitely sound substantial for a two-person household and should qualify as fair share regardless of the food calculation debate. I'm taking notes on all the advice about documenting everything even if the caseworker says it's not needed - that seems like the safest approach given all the conflicting experiences people are sharing. The suggestion about getting guidance in writing from your caseworker is really smart - I wouldn't have thought of that but it makes perfect sense as protection if policies change or you get assigned to a different worker. Also, the mention of Claimyr for actually reaching SSA agents quickly caught my attention since we've had terrible wait times too. Thanks for starting this discussion - the real-world knowledge being shared here is so much more practical than trying to navigate the official guidelines alone. It's giving me confidence about how to approach this process when we need to establish fair share for my grandfather's situation!