This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation - turning 62 soon and trying to figure out the self-employment earnings rules. One thing I wanted to add based on my research: if you're planning to work sporadically throughout the year (like taking on projects here and there), you might want to consider the monthly earnings test for your first year instead of the annual test. In your first year of benefits, you can choose to use a monthly test where you can earn any amount in months before you start collecting, and then you're only subject to a monthly limit ($1,860 for 2025) in the months you receive benefits. This can sometimes work out better than the annual test if your income is lumpy. Just something to ask SSA about when you file - they should explain both options and help you choose which works better for your situation!

I've been helping people navigate Social Security for years, and this is one of the most common sources of confusion! You're absolutely right to ask for clarification because getting this wrong can be costly. For self-employed individuals, SSA uses your **net earnings from self-employment** as calculated on Schedule SE. This is your Schedule C profit (gross receipts minus business expenses) adjusted for the self-employment tax calculation - but it's the amount BEFORE you take the deduction for half of your SE tax. So in your example, if you have $26,000 in gross receipts and $4,500 in legitimate business expenses, your net would be $21,500 - which would keep you under the $22,320 limit for 2025. A few critical points to remember: - Only legitimate business expenses count (office supplies, equipment, business mileage, etc.) - Personal deductions like the standard deduction don't affect this calculation - Since you're starting benefits mid-year, you'll be subject to the prorated first-year limit (about $16,740 if starting in April) - Keep meticulous records - SSA may request documentation I'd also suggest asking SSA about the monthly earnings test option for your first year if your income is irregular. Sometimes it works out better than the annual test for contractors with lumpy income patterns. Good luck with your application!

I'm new to both this community and navigating SSI, and this entire thread has been absolutely incredible for understanding the 9-month exclusion rule! My elderly neighbor just got approved for SSI and I've been helping her understand all the requirements. When she gets her first payment with backpay next month, I was worried we might face this exact same situation. Reading through everyone's real experiences - from the initial panic to learning about the protections to successfully getting through redeterminations - has been so reassuring. The combination of personal stories plus concrete regulation references like POMS SI 01130.600 really shows this isn't just theory but actual policy that gets consistently applied. What I'm taking away is: 1) SSI retroactive payments are excluded from the resource limit for 9 months, 2) SSA typically checks resources monthly not daily, and 3) keeping good documentation showing the source and quick spend-down is smart preparation for reviews. That timeline documentation system Sofia described sounds perfect - I'm definitely going to help my neighbor set that up proactively. Having that paper trail ready seems like it would eliminate so much stress during future interactions with SSA. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences! This community support makes learning the SSI system so much more manageable for newcomers like me.

I'm brand new to this community and SSI, and this discussion has been absolutely invaluable! My sister was just approved for SSI and we're waiting for her first payment which will include several months of backpay. I was already anxious about accidentally going over the $2,000 resource limit, so reading about the OP's situation initially made me panic. But learning about the 9-month exclusion period for SSI retroactive payments from all of your experiences has been such a relief! I had no clue this protection existed. What really convinced me this is solid policy is seeing so many different people confirm it through their own interactions with SSA caseworkers, plus that specific regulation reference (POMS SI 01130.600). I'm definitely going to help my sister implement that timeline documentation system that Sofia described before she even receives her payment. Having a clear record of the backpay deposit, any temporary overages, and quick spend-down seems like such smart preparation for future reviews. Thank you to everyone who shared their real-world experiences and expertise here! This community knowledge makes navigating the SSI system so much less intimidating for newcomers like me. It's amazing how much clearer everything becomes when you hear from people who've actually been through these situations rather than trying to interpret the official regulations alone.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so grateful I found this discussion! I'm 62 and just started my Social Security application, and like so many others here, I was completely confused by the children section. I have one adult daughter (age 27) and a 5-year-old son from my current marriage. This entire thread has been incredibly educational - I had absolutely no idea that minor children could receive benefits when a parent starts collecting! The fact that my 5-year-old could potentially get up to 50% of my primary insurance amount is amazing news and would be such a huge help with his daycare and preschool expenses. It's so reassuring to see that practically everyone has struggled with the same poorly worded question on these SSA forms. The government really needs to make these applications clearer! But thanks to all the experienced members here sharing their real stories, I now understand I should only list my 5-year-old and make sure I have his birth certificate and Social Security card ready. This community has been such a wonderful resource for navigating what seemed like an impossible bureaucratic process. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge and personal experiences - you've transformed what felt like an overwhelming task into something much more manageable for newcomers like me!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to add my voice to thank everyone for this incredibly helpful discussion! I'm 62 and just beginning my Social Security application process, and like so many others here, I was completely stumped by the children section on the form. I have two adult children (ages 26 and 30) and a 14-year-old daughter from my second marriage. Reading through all these responses has been so eye-opening! I had absolutely no idea that minor children could receive benefits when a parent starts collecting Social Security. The fact that my 14-year-old could potentially get up to 50% of my primary insurance amount is incredible - that would really help with her high school expenses and start building some college savings. It's both frustrating and comforting to see how many people have been confused by the exact same unclear wording on these SSA forms. The application really should be more specific about whether they want ALL children or just minors listed! But thanks to this amazing community sharing their real experiences, I now understand I should only list my 14-year-old and make sure I have her birth certificate and Social Security card ready. This discussion has been such a valuable resource for navigating what initially seemed like an overwhelming government process. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge and personal stories - you've made this so much less intimidating for newcomers like me!

I'm in exactly the same situation as you, Evelyn! Just opened a credit union account last week to escape those awful monthly fees. Reading through all these experiences has been so helpful - it's really reassuring to see so many recent success stories with the online method through MySocialSecurity. I was honestly dreading having to call and deal with the phone system based on some of the horror stories shared here. The step-by-step advice everyone has provided is invaluable, especially about verifying account numbers with your credit union first and keeping that old account open until you see a successful deposit. I'm planning to make my change this weekend following all the tips shared here. The consistency in positive experiences with the MySocialSecurity website lately is giving me confidence that this will be much more straightforward than I initially thought. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share such detailed experiences - this thread has been incredibly helpful for those of us making this switch!

I successfully made this change online just three days ago! Like many others here, I was also fleeing high bank fees to switch to a credit union. The MySocialSecurity website worked flawlessly - I logged in, navigated to Benefits & Payments, then Direct Deposit Information, and the whole process took about 7 minutes. The system asked me to enter my routing and account numbers twice for verification, which was reassuring. I got an instant confirmation screen and received the email confirmation within about 20 minutes. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here: I actually contacted my credit union the day before to let them know I'd be making this change, and they were really helpful. They confirmed my routing and account numbers over the phone and even made a note in my account about expecting Social Security deposits. My payment date is the 3rd of next month, so I'll know soon if everything worked correctly, but I'm feeling confident based on all the positive experiences shared in this thread. And yes, I'm definitely keeping my old account open until I see that first deposit hit! The online method was so much easier than I expected - definitely worth trying before dealing with the phone system.

This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I've been avoiding the 2FA setup for weeks because SSA's communication about it was so unclear and frankly intimidating. Like many others here, I was completely confused about whether the authenticator apps cost money and which option would actually work for someone who isn't super tech-savvy. After reading through everyone's experiences, I'm convinced that Google Authenticator is the way to go. It's reassuring to see so many people from different backgrounds successfully complete the setup, especially hearing from folks in their 60s and 70s who figured it out. I love all the practical advice shared here - things like having reading glasses ready, ensuring enough phone storage, completing the setup in one uninterrupted session, and testing the login immediately after setup. These real-world tips are exactly what SSA's official instructions are missing. Planning to set aside time this weekend to get this done while I'm not rushed. The September deadline is approaching and I'd rather handle this on my own timeline than scramble at the last minute. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their step-by-step experiences - you've turned what seemed like an overwhelming tech challenge into something completely manageable!

I just wanted to add my experience for anyone still working through this process! I finally completed my 2FA setup yesterday after procrastinating for months. Like many others here, I was intimidated by SSA's confusing instructions and worried about costs. I went with Google Authenticator based on all the recommendations in this thread, and I'm so glad I did! The setup took about 20 minutes total, mostly because I was being extra careful and double-checking each step. The QR code scanning worked perfectly once I adjusted my screen brightness as someone mentioned earlier. One thing that really helped me was writing down each step as I completed it - that way if I got interrupted or confused, I could see exactly where I left off. I also made sure to save those backup codes in a safe place right away. For anyone still hesitant: this really is much easier than SSA makes it sound. The hardest part is just getting started. Once you download the free app and have your computer ready, the actual process is pretty straightforward. And now that it's done, logging in is actually quite fast - just a few extra seconds to grab the code from my phone. This community's support and real-world advice made all the difference. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - you helped turn a scary government requirement into something totally manageable!