One more thing - be careful about the earnings limit while getting survivor benefits before FRA. But since you're 66 and FRA for survivor benefits is currently 66, you should be past that problem. Just mentioning it for others reading this thread who might be younger.

Something else to consider - since you've been self-employed, make sure all your tax returns accurately reported your self-employment income on Schedule SE. I've seen cases where self-employed people accidentally underreported their income to SSA (while correctly reporting it to IRS), which reduced their Social Security benefits later. If you find any reporting errors from past years, you generally have 3 years, 3 months, and 15 days from the year in question to correct them. So you can't fix very old issues, but more recent ones might be fixable.

I see a lot of good advice here. One additional thing to consider: sometimes these refunds are processed as adjustments to future premiums rather than direct refunds to your credit card. Check your MySocialSecurity account online and look at the Medicare premium section. You might see a notation about an adjustment or credit.

After reading through this thread, I think you have all the information you need to proceed. To summarize the best course of action: 1. Call SSA's main line (1-800-772-1213) specifically about a Medicare premium refund due to duplicate payment 2. If you have difficulty getting through via phone, consider using a service to help connect you or schedule an in-person appointment 3. Have all your documentation ready showing both payments 4. Be prepared to be persistent - this is a known issue that requires follow-up 5. If not resolved in 2-3 more weeks, escalate by asking for a supervisor or Technical Expert The good news is that you WILL get your refund eventually. These situations are always resolved, it's just a matter of time and persistence.

Update: I called SSA this morning (finally got through after trying for days!) and got confirmation that PTO definitely counts toward SGA when used. The representative suggested I spread out my PTO usage to avoid going over the limit in any single month. She also mentioned that I should keep track of any work expenses related to my disability that could be deducted as Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE). Apparently those can be subtracted from my gross earnings before comparing to the SGA limit, which gives me a bit more breathing room. Thanks everyone for your help with this!

Has anyone used the Ticket to Work program? My vocational counselor keeps suggesting it but im not sure if its a trap to get me off benefits.

Did your ex-husband have any children? If so, they might be eligible for benefits too, even if they're adults now but disabled before 22. My brother gets SSDI from our dad even though our parents divorced when we were little. The whole system is confusing but there are a lot of benefits people don't know about.

After reading through all the comments, here's a summary for you: 1. Yes, you qualify for ex-spouse survivor benefits at 60 (must stay unmarried) 2. Taking benefits at 60 = about 71.5% of what you'd get at full retirement age 3. Watch out for the earnings test if you're working 4. Bring death certificate, marriage certificate, and divorce decree when you apply 5. You can switch to your own benefit later if it would be higher 6. You cannot apply for survivor benefits online - must call or visit in person Hope this helps!

When I called about a similar situation with my parents last year, the agent explained that if you claim early (before FRA), the reduction is permanent. My mom claimed at 62 and got hit with nearly a 30% reduction from what she would have received at her full retirement age. Then when my dad retired later, her spousal benefit was also reduced. I waited on hold for almost 2 hours though! The SSA phone system is completely overwhelmed. I ended up using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) which held my place in line and called me when an agent was available. They have a good video demo at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU that shows how it works. Saved me a ton of time and frustration. Definitely worth checking your parents' situation though - I found out my mom was eligible for an adjustment based on my dad's record that added about $180 to her monthly benefit.

One more thing to check - make sure your mother is actually receiving her own benefit and not an early widow's benefit. Since she's 83 and your father is 79 and still alive, that's probably not the case, but I've seen situations where the SSA computer system had incorrect death information and automatically converted a spouse to survivor benefits erroneously. Also, if your father had any other marriages that lasted at least 10 years, former spouses might also be drawing benefits on his record (though this wouldn't affect your mother's amount). The most likely explanation remains that your mother claimed her own benefit early, locking in a permanent reduction. The spousal benefit would then be reduced as well. For what it's worth, these benefit amounts do seem plausible given the circumstances you described (your father being the primary earner, your mother working part-time).

My husband and I went through something similar!!! The withdrawal form was soooo confusing and when we submitted it they said it was filled out wrong. They made us redo EVERYTHING and it took almost 3 months to process!! Meanwhile they kept depositing money we knew we'd have to pay back and it was so stressful!!! Just warning you it might not be quick or easy!!!

Thank you all for the helpful responses. After reading your comments and doing more research, I think we're going to schedule an appointment at our local SSA office to go through all the calculations. Since I'm still within that 12-month window, we have some time to make the decision. I'm leaning toward the withdrawal since we both have longevity in our families (parents lived to late 80s/early 90s), but we need to make sure we understand all the implications for my wife's benefits and whether she should file on her own record in the meantime (she worked as a teacher for about 15 years).

One thing no one's mentioned is that the online estimate might not be correctly applying the early retirement reduction. If you're filing 2.5 years before your FRA, there's approximately a 13.75% reduction (0.5% per month for the first 36 months). The online calculator sometimes applies these reductions differently than the actual processing system the reps use. Also, sometimes the online system doesn't properly account for the month of entitlement and payment rules. Benefits are paid the month after they're due, and there's a 1-month lag in the first payment that sometimes isn't factored into online estimates.

Update us after you call back! I'm curious what they say about the discrepancy. My experience is that half the reps don't know the rules themselves very well so keep calling until you get someone who seems knowledgeable.

The simplest way to remember it: The COLA always applies starting with the payment you receive in January, regardless of what month that payment is technically for. The SSA implements the COLA increase on a calendar year basis (Jan-Dec), not based on which month's benefits are being paid. Hope that helps clear things up!

does anyone know what the 2025 COLA will actually be? heard rumors about 2.5% but not sure if thats real

wait hold up - ur saying u can collect SSDI and then switch to regular SS later?? does that mean u get two checks?? i'm confused how that works

Something nobody's mentioned yet: if you have enough work credits and are approved for SSDI, you'll automatically qualify for Medicare after 24 months of receiving SSDI benefits, regardless of your age. This could be really important if you're losing employer health insurance and aren't yet 65. In my case, this was almost as valuable as the SSDI payments themselves. Also, have you looked into whether your employer's long-term disability insurance might cover you? Many people don't realize they have LTD through their job that could help bridge the gap while waiting for SSDI approval (which can take many months).

I dont think anyone mentioned this but did u know theres something called the Windfall Elimination Provision?? If u get a pension from work not covered by SS it could reduce your benefits. Happened to my uncle who was a teacher. Just thought id mention it in case it applies to ur situation.

Thank you all SO much for your helpful responses! I feel so much better knowing that my 36 credits are still valid and I just need 4 more to qualify. I'm definitely going to create that my Social Security account to check my current status, and I'll look into whether spousal benefits might be better for me in the long run. I'm actually excited to get back to work now, knowing that it will help secure at least some retirement income. What a relief!