I'm in the exact same situation and this thread has been a lifesaver! I've been putting this off for literally months because I was so worried about creating duplicate accounts or getting locked out of the system. Reading everyone's experiences, especially the detailed walkthrough from the SSA employee, has completely changed my perspective on this. The "Forgot Username" approach seems like such a simple and safe solution - I can't believe I didn't think of that myself! It's amazing how many of us have been dealing with this exact same confusion about whether we created accounts years ago. I'm definitely going to try the username recovery option tonight instead of continuing to stress about it. Thanks to everyone for sharing such helpful and reassuring experiences!

I've been following this thread as someone who had this exact same worry! Just wanted to add that I finally took everyone's advice and tried the "Forgot Username" approach last night. It worked perfectly - turns out I did have an account from 2020 that I had completely forgotten about! The system found it immediately and walked me through resetting my password. The whole process took less than 10 minutes and was completely painless. For anyone still hesitating like I was, definitely start with the username recovery option. It's the safest way to check and the SSA system really is designed to handle this common situation smoothly. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences - it gave me the confidence to finally tackle this instead of continuing to put it off!

I just wanted to add one more practical tip that helped me when I applied for benefits - if you run into any issues with the online application or need to upload documents, you can also mail them to your local SSA office. Sometimes the online document upload feature doesn't work properly, and mailing can be more reliable. Also, since you mentioned having trouble getting through on the phone, another option is to schedule an appointment at your local Social Security office if you need to speak with someone in person. You can do this online at ssa.gov even if the phone lines are busy. Sometimes having that face-to-face conversation can help clarify any remaining questions about your specific situation. Your story really resonates with me - so many of us end up in these sandwich generation situations caring for both elderly parents and helping with grandchildren. You're doing an amazing job juggling everything, and taking your Social Security benefits early so you can focus on your family is absolutely the right decision. The extra income will make such a difference in your ability to provide the care your loved ones need.

I wanted to share my experience as someone who went through almost the exact same situation two years ago. I was 62, my husband had already been collecting SS for health reasons, and I was caring for my elderly father while helping with grandkids. The spousal benefit really was a lifesaver - I went from expecting about $400 on my own record to receiving $750 monthly. The application process was smoother than I expected once I got through to someone at SSA who could walk me through the numbers. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple monthly budget before applying so I knew exactly how that extra income would impact our situation. It made such a difference being able to reduce my work hours and focus more on family care without constantly worrying about money. You're absolutely making the right decision given your circumstances. The "sandwich generation" caregiving role is incredibly demanding, both physically and emotionally. Having that steady income will give you the flexibility to prioritize what really matters - your health and your family's wellbeing. Don't let anyone make you feel guilty about claiming early when you genuinely need the support. That's exactly what Social Security is designed for.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share what happened to me recently since it might help others avoid confusion. I'm 68 and just switched from paying Medicare premiums directly to having them deducted from my Social Security. The key thing I learned is that there's usually a 1-2 month lag between when you notify Medicare about the change and when their billing system actually stops sending you bills. Even after I called and they confirmed the change, I still got one more bill that I almost paid out of panic! The representative told me this is totally normal and to just ignore any bills that arrive after the deduction starts showing up on my SS statement. She said their billing system takes time to "catch up" with the changes. So for anyone in a similar transition period - don't panic if you get what seems like duplicate bills. Just make sure you have documentation of when you made the change request and confirmation numbers from your calls.

I'm new to this community and really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences! As someone turning 65 next year, this thread has been incredibly educational. One thing I wanted to add is that I've heard you can also set up a Medicare.gov account online to track your premium payments and see when deductions are scheduled to start/stop. Has anyone used the online portal to monitor these transitions? I'm wondering if it might give you a clearer picture of what's happening with your billing than trying to piece it together from phone calls and paper statements. Also, for those dealing with the SSA phone wait times, I've found that calling right when they open (usually 8am local time) or during lunch hours sometimes gets you through faster than mid-morning calls. Thanks to everyone who's shared their stories - it really helps those of us preparing for this process!

I'm in a similar situation and have been researching this extensively. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the importance of understanding how your SSDI benefits convert at Full Retirement Age (FRA). When you reach FRA, your SSDI automatically converts to retirement benefits at the same amount - but here's the key: if you've had substantial earnings after your SSDI began, SSA will recalculate your benefit amount to include those higher earnings years. This recalculation happens automatically, so you don't need to apply for it. Also, regarding Medicare - you keep it for 93 months (almost 8 years) after your Trial Work Period ends, even if your cash benefits stop due to work. That's huge peace of mind when considering the financial risk of returning to work. Have you considered looking into remote work opportunities? With your fatigue issues, avoiding a commute and having more control over your environment might help manage your condition while still allowing you to earn substantial income that could boost your future retirement benefits.

@Amelia Martinez - Yes, there are several good resources for remote work opportunities for people with disabilities! Check out: 1. **AbilityJobs.com** - specifically focuses on disability-inclusive employers with remote options 2. **FlexJobs.com** - has a disability-friendly filter and tons of remote part-time opportunities in customer service and data entry 3. **DisabilityIN.org** - their job board features inclusive employers 4. **EARN (Employer Assistance and Resource Network)** - provides resources and job leads Many companies like LiveWorld, Working Solutions, and Arise specifically hire remote customer service reps and are known to be accommodating. For data entry, companies like Clickworker, DataPlus+, and Axion Data Services often have flexible remote positions. The key is being upfront about needing flexible scheduling during interviews - frame it as "I work best with flexible hours to optimize my productivity" rather than focusing on limitations. Most remote employers care more about results than strict schedules anyway. Also consider freelance platforms like Upwork or Fiverr where you can completely control your workload and schedule. Start small and build up as your energy allows!

One thing that might help with planning - you can create a my Social Security account online at ssa.gov to see your benefit estimate at different claiming ages. It shows your PIA at full retirement age, plus what you'd get if you claim early (reduced) or late (with delayed retirement credits up to age 70). This can help you see exactly how much you'd receive before Medicare deductions at different claiming strategies. I found this tool super helpful when I was planning my retirement timeline!

Just wanted to share my experience since I went through this exact same confusion last year! When I was 64, I got my SSA statement showing a PIA of $2,180. I was so worried about budgeting because I didn't know what would actually hit my bank account. Here's what I learned: your PIA is indeed the gross amount before deductions. So Charlotte, your $2,245 PIA means that's your base benefit if you claim at full retirement age. Then Medicare Part B gets deducted (mine was $174.70/month in 2024, now it's $179.80 for 2025). I also chose to have federal taxes withheld at 10%, which took out another chunk. My actual deposit ended up being about $300 less than my PIA after all deductions. The key is understanding that PIA is just the starting point - your actual "take home" will be lower, but at least now you can plan for it!