I just got off the phone with an SSA representative (after a very long wait), and she confirmed what most of you have said. My initial benefit will include DRCs through December 2024, and the 2025 DRCs will be applied in January 2026 with retroactive adjustment. She suggested I could delay filing until January 2026 if I want to avoid the two-step process, but assured me I won't lose any money either way. Thanks everyone for your help with this!

This is really helpful information! I'm in a similar situation - turning 68 next year and have been delaying my benefits. I had no idea about this January adjustment timing. Quick question for those who've been through this: when SSA does the retroactive adjustment in January, do they pay it as a lump sum for the previous months or spread it out over several payments? Also, does this delay in getting full DRCs affect Medicare Part B premium adjustments if you're subject to IRMAA? I'm trying to plan my cash flow for next year.

Just to clarify something important: You mentioned you've

Yes, I've factored in the 30% reduction. My situation is that I have some health concerns and family longevity isn't great, so waiting until 67 doesn't make sense for me. I'll be working very part-time, well under the earnings limit. I appreciate the verification on those numbers though!

Im in the same boat with my Poshmark business and what I do is guesstimate my hours each week and write them down in a planner. For income I just download the monthly sales report and subtract fees+shipping costs+cost of items. It's not perfect but my tax guy said it should be fine if SSA ever questions me. The whole system is so confusing though!!!!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who's been dealing with this for 3 years now. The key thing that saved me a lot of headaches was setting up a simple spreadsheet where I track: - Date and hours worked each day (even if just 30 minutes answering messages) - Monthly totals for hours - Monthly gross sales - Monthly expenses (shipping supplies, listing fees, etc.) - Monthly net profit I also take screenshots of my seller dashboard at the end of each month showing total sales. This way if SSA ever asks questions, I have everything documented. The "substantial services" rule is tricky - even if you only work 10 hours in a month but you're actively managing listings, responding to customers, and shipping orders, they might still consider it substantial. Better to over-document than under-document! Also, don't forget that business expenses like your home office space, mileage to buy inventory, and even a portion of your internet bill can reduce your net earnings. Work with a tax professional if you can - it's worth it to make sure you're maximizing deductions legally.

ya my sister gets disability too and says its rly important to keep ur pay stubs and report ur earnings each month even when ur under the limit that way they cant come back later and say u never told them u were working

I'm dealing with a similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently in my 28th month of EPE and was getting really anxious about what happens after month 36. The clarification about SSDI continuing indefinitely as long as you stay under SGA is exactly what I needed to hear. One thing I'd add is that I've found it helpful to create a spreadsheet tracking my monthly earnings, work hours, and any disability-related expenses. This makes it much easier when I need to report to SSA and gives me peace of mind that I'm staying compliant. @Luca - definitely start documenting those IRWEs right away! Every little bit helps when you're trying to maximize your earning potential while staying under SGA limits.

I wanted to update everyone - I finally got through! I followed several of your suggestions. I tried calling right at 9:00 AM as suggested, but still got disconnected after pressing 8. Then I called my local office directly using the ICON locator someone linked. I still had to wait on hold for about 30 minutes, but I finally spoke to a representative who was actually very helpful! For anyone dealing with similar issues, definitely try your local office instead of the main number. And have all your questions written down before calling - the agent helped me understand my survivor benefit options and the best timing based on my situation. Thanks to everyone who offered advice! This forum has been so helpful.

I'm really glad to see this thread has been so helpful for everyone! As someone who's dealt with similar SSA phone system frustrations, I wanted to add that if you're still having trouble getting through, you might also consider reaching out to your local Area Agency on Aging if you're 60+. They often have staff who are experienced with Social Security processes and can sometimes help you prepare your questions or even advocate on your behalf. Also, for those dealing with survivor benefits specifically, it's worth noting that you can apply for survivor benefits online in some cases through your my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount. While you'll still likely need to speak with someone for complex timing decisions, the online application can sometimes get the process started and might result in a callback from SSA rather than you having to get through their phone system. Keep sharing these tips - it's amazing how much collective wisdom this community has gathered about navigating these bureaucratic challenges!