my neighbor had something similar happen and turns out it was totally a scam!!! the letter looked real but had him call a fake number. make sure u call the real social security number not whatever is on that letter!

Just to add one more possibility to consider - did you receive any lump-sum payments in the past 6 months? Things like retroactive benefits, insurance payouts, or large severance packages? Sometimes these can trigger recalculations. Also, if you had significant earnings in 2024 that weren't reported until recently, they might have just now been factored into your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME), which would affect your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). This is less common but does happen.

I'm so sorry you're going through this stressful situation! My partner and I faced the exact same dilemma last year. After reading through all these responses, I want to add one resource that was a game-changer for us that hasn't been mentioned yet. Contact your state's Aging and Disability Services division and ask about their "Benefits Planning, Assistance and Outreach" (BPAO) program. They provide FREE one-on-one counseling specifically for people with disabilities who are considering major life changes like marriage. Our counselor walked us through every scenario, helped us calculate the actual financial impact, and even connected us with programs we didn't know existed. What made the biggest difference was that they helped us create a month-by-month transition plan with backup options for every step. They also knew about state-specific programs that even some SSA agents weren't familiar with. The waiting list can be a few weeks, so I'd recommend calling ASAP if you want to get married this summer. Having that professional guidance made us feel so much more confident about our decision. We did end up getting married, and while the transition had its challenges, having that detailed plan made all the difference. Don't let the fear of the unknown steal your happiness - with the right information and support, you can make this work!

I'm a social worker who specializes in disability benefits, and I want to emphasize something that might give you hope: while the system is frustrating, there ARE ways to navigate this successfully with proper planning. First, everyone is correct that SSDI won't be affected by your marriage - that's based solely on his work history. The Medicaid issue is real, but there are often overlooked options: 1. **Ask about "1619(b)" work incentive programs** - Even if your fiancé isn't working now, some states allow people to maintain Medicaid if they could potentially work in the future. 2. **Look into "Katie Beckett" waivers** - These allow disabled individuals to keep Medicaid based on their own income rather than household income in certain circumstances. 3. **Consider the timing of benefit reviews** - Medicaid eligibility is typically reviewed annually. If you time your marriage right after his annual review, you might have almost a full year before the next assessment. Most importantly, contact your state's Protection and Advocacy organization (every state has one). They provide free legal advocacy specifically for people with disabilities navigating benefit issues. They often know about programs and exceptions that even local Medicaid offices aren't aware of. Don't give up on marriage because of a broken system. With the right advocacy and planning, many couples find workable solutions. The key is getting expert help rather than trying to figure it out alone.

The online application typically takes 30-45 minutes to complete if you have all your information ready. I'd recommend setting aside at least an hour to be safe. Remember that you don't have to complete it all in one sitting - you can save your application and come back to it later. However, as another commenter mentioned, if you leave it idle too long during an active session, you could get timed out. One more tip: apply 3-4 months before you want your benefits to begin. This gives the SSA time to process your application and ensures you'll get your payments on time. While many online applications are processed quickly, some require additional verification that can take time. Good luck with your application!

One more thing to consider - if you're married, make sure to understand spousal benefits! Even if your spouse never worked or had lower earnings, they might be entitled to benefits based on your record (up to 50% of your full benefit amount). Also, if you're divorced but were married for at least 10 years, you might be eligible for benefits on your ex-spouse's record without affecting their benefits at all. Many people don't realize these options exist and miss out on additional income. The SSA website has some good calculators to help you compare different claiming strategies, especially if you're married. It's worth spending some time with those before making your final decision on timing.

I'm about 3 months away from my FRA and have been reading through all these experiences with great interest. The advice about applying 3 months early and checking your earnings record beforehand seems really solid. I had a question about the direct deposit setup - for those who had their banking information already in their mySocialSecurity account before applying, did this speed up the process at all? Or is it something they verify separately during the application review? I'm also wondering if anyone has experience with what happens if you change banks between when you apply and when your first payment is scheduled. I'm in the process of switching to a credit union and want to make sure I time everything correctly. The last thing I want is my first Social Security payment going to a closed account! Has anyone dealt with updating banking info mid-process, and if so, how complicated was it to change?

Just wanted to share my recent timeline for anyone still waiting! I applied online at the end of February and got my approval notification through mySocialSecurity yesterday - exactly 19 days. The process was pretty smooth overall. A couple of things that might have helped: I applied about 10 weeks before my FRA (turning 67 in June), and I spent time beforehand making sure all my documents were ready to upload immediately. One thing I noticed that hasn't been mentioned much - the mySocialSecurity mobile app actually updated faster than the website for me. I got the approval notification on my phone about 6 hours before it showed up when I logged in on my computer. Not sure if that's always the case, but might be worth checking both if you're anxiously waiting like I was! Now just waiting for that first payment in July. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - it really helped manage my expectations during the waiting period.

I've been lurking on this community for a while and finally decided to jump in because this thread is so relevant to my situation! I'm also on SSDI and have been dealing with car troubles for months. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly reassuring - I had no idea that SSDI doesn't have asset limits like SSI does. What really stands out to me is how consistently everyone emphasizes keeping good documentation, even though the car purchase itself doesn't need to be reported. That seems like such practical advice for anyone dealing with government benefits. @Abigail, your insurance settlement situation sounds very straightforward based on what everyone has shared. It's great that you're getting reliable transportation - dealing with a car that keeps breaking down while managing a disability is stressful enough without having to worry about benefit implications! This community has been such an eye-opener for understanding the real rules versus the anxiety-inducing rumors that seem to circulate about SSDI requirements. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge and experiences!

I'm new to this community and have been on SSDI for about 4 months now. This thread has been incredibly helpful because I've been in a similar situation - my car has been having major issues and I wasn't sure if replacing it would affect my benefits. Reading through everyone's experiences really clarifies the difference between SSDI and SSI rules. It's such a relief to learn that SSDI doesn't have asset limits and that car purchases don't need to be reported. I especially appreciate all the advice about keeping good documentation even though it's not required - that seems like smart protection. @Abigail, your insurance settlement situation sounds very straightforward based on what everyone has shared. Property damage settlements aren't counted as income, and using those funds for a replacement vehicle makes perfect sense. That Honda Civic sounds like a practical choice for reliable transportation. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their real experiences and knowledge. This community is such a valuable resource for understanding these complex benefit rules!