I'm currently 11 months into my SSDI application process after a spinal cord injury ended my career in physical therapy. My statement estimated $2,156, but reading through everyone's experiences here has been both eye-opening and nerve-wracking about how much the actual amount might vary. What really stands out to me from this discussion is how many hidden factors can impact the final calculation that aren't explained anywhere in the official materials. Things like the disability freeze provision, onset date determinations, and how recent work gaps are calculated - I had no idea about any of this when I first applied. The financial uncertainty during this waiting period has been incredibly challenging. I've had to rely on family support and completely restructure my budget multiple times as the months drag on. The emotional toll of not knowing when you'll get a decision (or what that decision will be) while you're already dealing with serious health issues is honestly overwhelming some days. I really appreciate how open everyone has been about their real experiences - both positive and negative outcomes. It's given me a much more realistic understanding of what to expect than anything I could find on official websites. For those of us still waiting, knowing we're not alone in this frustrating process makes such a difference. The tip about Claimyr is definitely something I'm going to try - I've been stuck in the same phone queue nightmare that others have described. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get some actual information about my case status.

I'm also currently navigating the SSDI process - filed about 4 months ago after lupus made it impossible to continue my work as a teacher. My Social Security statement estimated $2,298, but after reading through all these detailed experiences, I'm definitely preparing myself for the possibility that the actual amount could be quite different. What's been most valuable from this discussion is learning about all the factors that can influence the final calculation that I had never heard of before - the disability freeze provision, how onset dates are determined, workers comp offsets, and how gaps in recent employment are handled. It's clear that the estimates are just a starting point and there are many variables that can affect the final amount. The waiting period has been incredibly stressful both financially and emotionally. I've had to move back in with my parents at age 34, which is humbling but necessary. The uncertainty about timing and benefit amounts makes it almost impossible to plan for the future when you're already dealing with a chronic illness that requires ongoing medical care. I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service that several people mentioned - I've spent hours on hold with SSA only to get disconnected or transferred endlessly. It's frustrating that we need third-party services just to get basic information about our own cases. Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences here. This thread has been more informative than months of trying to decode official SSA materials. For those of us still in the waiting process, it helps so much to know we're not alone in this challenging journey.

As someone new to this community, I wanted to add my perspective after reading through this incredibly informative discussion. I'm currently helping my father navigate a similar situation with state disability and Social Security retirement benefits in another state, and this thread has been tremendously helpful. What I find most reassuring is the consistent message from multiple people with direct experience: state disability payments like CASDI are not considered earned income for Social Security purposes, so you can collect both benefits simultaneously without affecting your earnings limit. The distinction between "earned income" (wages from work) and disability payments (insurance benefits) seems to be the key point here. I also wanted to highlight some of the excellent practical advice that's been shared: calling SSA right at 8 AM for shorter wait times, being transparent about your disability status on applications, keeping detailed records of all payments and correspondence, and considering in-person visits to local SSA offices when online verification doesn't work. @Liam Murphy - your situation sounds very manageable based on all the expert input here. The timing actually works in your favor since you'll reach full retirement age just one month after returning to work, which eliminates most earnings limit concerns. Best wishes for your recovery and smooth transition to retirement benefits!

As a newcomer to this community, I've been following this discussion with great interest since I'm helping my elderly neighbor understand her Social Security options. The wealth of knowledge shared here has been incredibly valuable! What strikes me most is how consistently everyone with actual experience has confirmed that CASDI and Social Security retirement benefits can be collected simultaneously without issues. The key insight about CASDI being considered unearned income rather than earned income for Social Security purposes really clears up the confusion. I particularly appreciate all the practical tips shared - from the best times to call SSA (8 AM seems to be the consensus winner!) to the importance of keeping detailed records and being upfront about your situation when applying. The suggestion about visiting a local SSA office for account setup when online verification fails is brilliant. @Liam Murphy - based on everything shared here, it sounds like you're in an excellent position to move forward with confidence. Your timeline actually works out perfectly with reaching full retirement age so close to when you'll return to work. Wishing you the best with your recovery and retirement transition! This thread is a perfect example of why community knowledge-sharing is so valuable for navigating these complex benefit systems.

You're welcome! Just one more thing to consider - make sure to check if your wife might be eligible for any delayed retirement credits on her own benefit if she hasn't reached 70 yet. Even though she's already collecting, sometimes people don't realize they could have waited longer for a higher benefit. Also, you might want to use the SSA's online benefit calculators or consider meeting with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security optimization. The timing decision can have a huge impact on your lifetime benefits, especially when you factor in both of your life expectancies and potential survivor benefits.

I went through this exact same situation with my husband last year! One thing that really helped us was creating a spreadsheet to compare different scenarios - like what our total household income would look like if he filed at 66 vs waiting until 67 or even 70. Don't forget to factor in taxes too - Social Security benefits can be taxable depending on your other income sources. We ended up deciding it made sense for him to file early because we needed the cash flow, even though it meant leaving some money on the table long-term. Sometimes the bird in the hand is worth more than waiting for the potential bird in the bush, especially if you have health concerns or other financial pressures.

everyones ignoring the obvious - 20 yr olds change jobs like they change clothes. my kids had like 5 diff jobs by age 25. she prob wont even be there next yr so why stress about it

As someone who's dealt with similar decisions, I'd say don't overthink this one. At 20 with a part-time job making $12k/year, the PARS contributions are minimal and unlikely to significantly impact her Social Security benefits decades from now. The WEP reduction is proportional to your non-covered pension amount - a small pension from 2-3 years of part-time work would result in a very small WEP reduction, if any. Plus, if she ends up with 30+ years of substantial Social Security earnings (which is likely given her age), WEP won't apply at all. I'd focus on her building good work experience and figuring out her career path rather than worrying about retirement systems at this stage. The financial impact of this decision is probably much smaller than you think.

You actually only need 40 quarters (10 years) to qualify for your own retirement benefit. With 15 years of even part-time work, you might qualify! Definitely check your my Social Security account online. If you do have your own benefit, you'll receive the higher of: 1) your own reduced retirement benefit, or 2) your reduced spousal benefit. They don't stack - you get the larger of the two.

Just wanted to add my experience here - I went through this exact same situation two years ago! My husband filed at 62 and I was worried my spousal benefits would be tiny. But like everyone else confirmed, it's based on his full retirement age amount (PIA), not what he's actually getting. The SSA representative I finally got through to was really helpful and calculated it out for me on the spot. She explained that his early filing penalty stays with him - it doesn't get passed down to affect my spousal benefit base calculation. The only reduction I get is for MY early filing. I ended up getting about $920/month at age 62, which was way better than I expected! Definitely create your my Social Security account online first - it'll show you estimates and your earnings record so you know exactly what to expect before you apply.