WATCH OUT for taxes!!!! Many people don't realize that up to 85% of your SS benefits can be taxable depending on your other income. Make sure you understand how this works or you might get a nasty surprise next April!!

Jessica, based on everything you've shared, it sounds like filing now makes sense for your situation. You're already retired, comfortable with the reduced benefit amount, and currently drawing from savings to supplement your pension. The key factors working in your favor: 1) You have that 12-month withdrawal option as a safety net if you change your mind, 2) You're not planning to return to work so no earnings test concerns, and 3) You'd rather have the guaranteed income now than worry about potential future changes. Just make sure to factor in the tax implications that Bethany mentioned - with your $1,400 pension plus $2,275 in SS, you'll likely have some portion of your benefits taxed. But honestly, given that you're already dipping into retirement savings, getting that SS income flowing seems like the right call. Best of luck with whatever you decide!

I'm currently 61 and planning a similar transition next year, so this entire discussion has been incredibly valuable! One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the impact of state taxes on your Social Security benefits if you're working part-time. In my state, Social Security benefits become taxable if your combined income (including self-employment earnings) exceeds certain thresholds. This could affect your overall tax planning strategy, especially when you're trying to stay under the federal earnings limit. I'd suggest checking with your CPA about how your state handles Social Security taxation and whether that influences how you structure your part-time practice income. Some states don't tax Social Security at all, while others have different thresholds and calculation methods. Also, don't forget to factor in the quarterly estimated tax payments you'll need to make on your self-employment income. These due dates (April 15, June 15, September 15, January 15) could be useful checkpoints for reviewing your earnings projections and making any necessary adjustments to stay under the limits. The wealth of practical advice in this thread from people who've actually navigated this transition successfully is amazing. Thank you all for sharing your experiences so openly!

This has been such an incredibly comprehensive discussion! As someone who will be facing a similar decision in the next few years (I'm a licensed mental health counselor currently 59), I'm grateful for all the detailed experiences and practical advice shared here. One thing I wanted to add that might be helpful for healthcare providers specifically: consider reaching out to your malpractice insurance carrier about coverage options for part-time practice. Some carriers offer reduced-rate policies for providers who are transitioning to retirement or working limited hours. This could help keep your business expenses lower and give you more cushion under the earnings limit. Also, if you're planning to maintain your practice in a shared office space or group setting, check whether there are opportunities to reduce your overhead by shifting to a per-session rental arrangement rather than a fixed monthly lease. Some group practices offer flexible arrangements for semi-retired practitioners that could help you better control your monthly expenses. @Margot Quinn - your situation with the medical issues and home repairs forcing an earlier timeline really resonates. Sometimes we have to work with the reality we're facing rather than the ideal plan. It sounds like you've gotten excellent guidance here to move forward confidently with part-time practice while managing the Social Security coordination properly. The tracking systems and buffer strategies everyone has shared will be invaluable references when I start my own planning. Thank you all for creating such a helpful resource!

I'm new to this community but wanted to add something that might be helpful. As others have correctly stated, you can't receive SSDI once you're already getting retirement benefits at your full retirement age - they're essentially the same benefit pool. However, I wanted to mention something specific about rheumatoid arthritis and heart conditions that might be worth exploring: many pharmaceutical companies have patient assistance programs specifically for these conditions. For RA medications (which can be extremely expensive), companies like AbbVie, Pfizer, and Amgen often have programs that can provide medications at little to no cost for qualifying patients. Also, since you mentioned working at a hardware store, you might want to check if you qualify for any trade-specific assistance programs or if your former employer offers any post-employment medical benefits. One more suggestion - contact your state's Area Agency on Aging. They often have case managers who specialize in helping seniors navigate all these different programs and can walk you through applications step by step. Sometimes having an advocate who knows the system can make all the difference. I hope you find some relief soon. Dealing with serious health issues while worrying about finances is incredibly stressful, but there are people and programs designed to help.

I'm new to this community and wanted to reach out because your situation really resonates with me. My father went through something very similar when he was 68 - already on retirement benefits when his health took a turn for the worse due to COPD and diabetes complications. While everyone here has correctly explained that SSDI isn't available once you're receiving retirement benefits, I wanted to share what worked for my dad in terms of getting financial relief for medical expenses: 1. **LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program)** - This helped significantly with his utility bills during the winter months when heating costs were crushing his budget. 2. **Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)** - Specifically designed for seniors 60+, this provided monthly food boxes which freed up money for medical expenses. 3. **Medicare Part D Extra Help** - As others mentioned, this was huge for prescription costs. My dad's monthly medication expenses went from over $300 to under $50. 4. **Local faith-based organizations** - Even if you're not religious, many churches and community organizations have emergency assistance funds specifically for medical bills and basic needs. The process was overwhelming at first, but once he got connected with a social worker through our county's aging services, she helped him navigate everything. Within about 3 months, his monthly expenses had dropped by nearly $400 between all the different programs. Don't lose hope - while SSDI isn't an option, there really are meaningful resources available. You've earned the right to get help after working for 40+ years.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely amazed by the incredible support and expertise shared in this thread! Aurora's story really highlights both the complexity of the disability benefits system and the power of community knowledge. What strikes me most is how quickly Aurora's situation went from crisis to manageable solutions once she connected with the right specialists. The fact that regular Medicaid staff often don't know about programs like Medicaid Working Disabled or WIPA counselors is both frustrating and eye-opening. It really shows why communities like this are so valuable - sometimes you need people who've walked this path before to point you toward resources that even government workers aren't aware of. I'm taking notes on all the programs and organizations mentioned here: WIPA, Disability Rights offices, Protection & Advocacy organizations, Centers for Independent Living, and the various Medicaid transition programs. As someone who might face similar challenges in the future, having this roadmap could be lifesaving. Aurora, thank you for sharing your journey so openly and for providing updates. Your experience demonstrates that even when the system seems designed to make people give up, there ARE solutions if you know where to look and don't accept the first "no" as final. Your story gives hope to anyone facing similar benefit transitions. To everyone who shared their expertise and experiences - this is exactly what community support should look like. You helped prevent a family from facing a devastating coverage gap, and your collective knowledge will help many more families in the future!

As someone completely new to this community and the disability benefits system, I'm incredibly moved by Aurora's story and the amazing support she's received here. Reading through this entire thread has been both an eye-opening education and a testament to how powerful community knowledge can be during crisis situations. What really strikes me is how Aurora's situation went from absolute panic to having concrete solutions within just a few days, all because this community connected her with the right specialists and programs. The fact that regular Medicaid workers often don't know about these specialized transition programs is both frustrating and scary - it shows how easy it would be to fall through the cracks without access to this kind of community wisdom. I'm taking extensive notes on all the resources mentioned: WIPA counselors, Disability Rights offices, Protection & Advocacy organizations, Centers for Independent Living, and programs like Medicaid Working Disabled. As someone who may need to help family members navigate similar challenges in the future, having this roadmap could be absolutely invaluable. Aurora, thank you for your courage in sharing both the terrifying uncertainty and the positive updates. Your willingness to document this journey openly is going to help countless other families who find themselves blindsided by DAC transitions. Your story proves that even when the system seems impossible to navigate, there ARE solutions if you know where to look and refuse to accept the first "no" as final. To everyone who shared their expertise and experiences - this is exactly what supportive community looks like. You literally helped prevent a family from facing a devastating medical coverage crisis, and your collective knowledge will continue helping families for years to come. This thread should honestly be required reading for anyone dealing with disability benefits!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact situation a few years ago. I was a CalPERS retiree with only 23 quarters of Social Security coverage, and like you, I initially got zero spousal benefits due to GPO. However, I'd strongly recommend following up on what @698cf40d106d and @e25bcdc944e7 mentioned about verifying if your CalPERS service is actually subject to GPO. This is crucial! If you worked in a position where Social Security taxes WERE deducted from your pay (which did happen for some California state positions, especially in later years), then GPO wouldn't apply to you at all. I spent months assuming I got nothing, only to discover later that a portion of my state service was actually covered by Social Security. It took some digging through old records, but I was eventually able to claim a reduced spousal benefit. Don't give up just yet - get a complete earnings statement from SSA and verify with CalPERS exactly which years (if any) had Social Security coverage. The rules are complex, but it's worth double-checking before you close the book on this!

@71c79734e414 You're absolutely right to pursue this further! California state employment had some complex Social Security coverage rules over the decades. Many CalPERS members are surprised to learn that certain positions or time periods were actually covered by Social Security. Here's what I'd recommend for your verification process: 1. Request a detailed Social Security Statement online at ssa.gov - this will show ALL earnings where SS taxes were paid, year by year 2. Contact CalPERS member services and ask specifically about Social Security coverage for your positions and employment dates 3. If you still have any old pay stubs from different years, check if OASDI (Social Security) taxes were deducted The key thing to remember is that if ANY portion of your government service was covered by Social Security, it changes the GPO calculation significantly. Even partial coverage could result in you receiving some spousal benefits rather than zero. Given that you worked 35 years (1985-2020), there's a real possibility that at least some of those years included Social Security coverage. California made various changes to state employee Social Security participation over that time period, so don't assume it was all non-covered employment. Keep us posted on what you find out - your situation could help other CalPERS retirees who might be in similar circumstances!