One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned - if your friend is planning to work part-time after claiming Social Security at 65, she should be aware that Alabama and Georgia have different state tax rates on earned income. While her SS benefits won't be taxed in either state, any part-time work income will be subject to different state tax rates. Alabama generally has lower income tax rates than Georgia, which could be another small financial benefit of the move. Also, if she's not already enrolled in Medicare Part B, she'll want to make sure her new doctors in Alabama accept Medicare assignment to avoid unexpected costs!

As someone who recently helped my elderly mother navigate a similar interstate move, I'd recommend your friend also check with her local Area Agency on Aging in both Georgia and Alabama. They often have resources and programs that can vary significantly between states - things like transportation assistance, meal programs, home weatherization help, etc. Also, if she's currently receiving any utility assistance or prescription drug help through Georgia state programs, she'll want to research what's available in Alabama. The LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) and other state-administered programs can have different eligibility requirements and benefit amounts. One last tip - if she banks with a regional bank that doesn't have branches in Alabama, now might be a good time to switch to a bank with better coverage in her new area to avoid ATM fees and service issues.

I just want to echo what everyone else has said and add one more piece of advice from my recent experience. You absolutely must wait until September (your actual 70th birthday month) to get the maximum delayed retirement credits - there's no shortcut or early start option. I went through this process last year and the online application at ssa.gov really is the way to go. When you apply in May/June, there's a specific question asking when you want your benefits to begin - make sure you select September 2023, not "as soon as possible" or any earlier date. One thing that helped me was calling SSA after I submitted my online application just to confirm they had the correct start date on file. The representative was able to pull up my application and verify everything looked right. This gave me peace of mind that I wouldn't accidentally start receiving benefits early and lose out on those final months of delayed credits. Also, don't forget to factor in taxes on your Social Security benefits when you're doing your budget planning. Depending on your other retirement income, up to 85% of your Social Security could be taxable. It caught me off guard that first year, so definitely worth running the numbers ahead of time!

I'm currently 69 and turning 70 in April, so this discussion has been incredibly valuable for my own planning! Reading through everyone's experiences, it's crystal clear that waiting until your actual birth month is the only way to get those full delayed retirement credits you've worked so hard for. One thing I wanted to add that I learned from my financial advisor - when you're planning that income bridge from January to September 2023, consider the tax implications of your withdrawal strategy. If you're pulling from traditional 401(k) or IRA accounts to cover those months, you might want to spread the withdrawals across both 2022 and 2023 to avoid pushing yourself into a higher tax bracket in either year. Also, I've been tracking my annual Social Security statements for the past few years, and it's amazing to see how those delayed retirement credits add up. Each year I wait past my full retirement age, my projected monthly benefit goes up by about 8%. For someone turning 70 in September, you're looking at about 32% more per month than you would have gotten at your full retirement age - that's huge! The application timing advice here is spot on: apply in May/June, specify September start date, set up direct deposit, and call to confirm everything is correct. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real experiences - it makes this process so much less stressful!

I'm new to navigating SSI and representative payee issues, but I wanted to share something that might help with the appointment scheduling challenges others mentioned. When I was trying to get through to Social Security for my elderly mother's benefits, I found that calling right when they open (usually 7 AM local time) gave me the best chance of getting through quickly. Also, Tuesdays and Wednesdays seemed to have shorter wait times than Mondays or Fridays. One question for those who've been through this - do they typically process the representative payee change before the next monthly payment, or should you expect your son to receive one more direct payment while the paperwork is being processed? Just trying to help you plan for those upcoming bills you mentioned. This thread has been so informative for understanding the whole process!

I just wanted to add a perspective as someone who works with families navigating disability services. It's actually really common for parents to not realize they need to separately apply for representative payee status even when they have guardianship - you're definitely not alone in this! The two are separate legal processes that serve different purposes. One thing I'd suggest is bringing a letter from your son's doctor or case manager that documents his current functioning level and need for financial assistance. While your guardianship papers should be sufficient, having recent professional documentation can sometimes help speed up the process. Also, don't be surprised if they ask about your own financial stability - they want to make sure representative payees can manage funds responsibly. Basic questions about your income, debts, or any bankruptcies are standard. It's not personal, just part of their due diligence process. The fact that you're being proactive about this now shows you're looking out for your son's best interests. These financial skills don't always develop naturally for people with intellectual disabilities, and there's no shame in providing that structure and support.

As someone who recently went through this exact situation, I can confirm your coworker is absolutely wrong! I worked 2 additional years past my FRA and saw my monthly benefit increase each year through the automatic recomputation process. The key thing to understand is that Social Security uses your highest 35 years of indexed earnings for the calculation. Since you're currently earning $95,000 versus some earlier years at $40,000-$45,000, those lower years will likely be replaced in your calculation, resulting in a higher monthly benefit. From my experience, the increases weren't huge but were definitely meaningful - I saw increases of about $45-60 per month each year. The timing is pretty predictable too: SSA processes these recomputations around October for the previous year's earnings, and you'll see any increase reflected in your December payment. One practical tip: set up a my Social Security account online if you haven't already. You can review your complete earnings history there, which will help you identify which lower-earning years your current salary might replace. While the account doesn't explicitly show which 35 years are being used in your current calculation, you can easily spot the years that would likely be swapped out. Don't let your coworker discourage you from continuing to work if that's what you want to do - the system absolutely does reward continued earnings past FRA!

I'm in a very similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm 67 and just started collecting Social Security last month while continuing to work full-time. Like you, I was told by someone that working wouldn't increase my benefits, which didn't make sense to me either. Reading all these responses has given me so much clarity - especially the real-world examples people have shared about seeing $30-75 monthly increases from continuing to work. It's encouraging to know that even though the increases might be modest, they're still meaningful over the long term, especially when you factor in COLA adjustments. I'm definitely going to create a my Social Security account this week to review my earnings record and see which of my lower-earning years from the 1980s and 1990s might get replaced by my current salary. The tip about taking screenshots of benefit verification letters each year to track changes is brilliant too. One question for those who have been through this - did you notice the increases right away in December, or did it sometimes take a few extra months? I want to make sure I'm watching for the right timing so I don't miss any changes or think there's a problem when there isn't. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - you've definitely convinced me that continuing to work is worth it financially!

I'm 44 and have been on SSDI for about 10 months due to a severe spinal injury from a workplace accident. This thread has been absolutely incredible - I had no idea I should even be considering what happens at 62! Reading through everyone's consistent experiences has been such a huge relief. What really amazes me is that literally every person who's actually gone through this transition has had the identical experience - no reduction at 62, same payment amount continues unchanged, and it all happens automatically. That kind of universal consistency across so many real stories gives me tremendous confidence. I'm currently receiving $1,520 monthly and managing very carefully on that fixed income, so knowing I don't need to worry about any disruption when I hit 62 is such a weight off my shoulders. I was already dealing with enough stress learning to navigate the disability system without having to worry about future benefit changes. This community is absolutely amazing for providing the kind of real-world, practical information you just can't get from official sources. The SSA website is so confusing and overwhelming, but hearing from actual SSDI recipients who've lived through these processes gives the clarity and peace of mind we really need. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences here - it's incredibly valuable for those of us newer to the system to learn from people who've actually been through these transitions!

I'm 35 and have been on SSDI for about 4 months due to severe depression and anxiety disorders. This entire discussion has been absolutely invaluable! I never even thought to wonder about what happens at age 62, but reading through everyone's consistent experiences has given me such peace of mind about the future. What's really remarkable is that every single person who's actually lived through the age 62 transition has had the identical experience - no benefit reduction whatsoever, same payment amount continues, and it all happens automatically without any action required. That level of consistency across so many real-world stories is incredibly reassuring. I'm currently receiving $1,180 monthly and carefully budgeting every dollar, so knowing that I don't need to worry about any income disruption when I eventually reach 62 is such a relief. I was already feeling overwhelmed trying to understand all the complexities of navigating the disability system as a newcomer. This community has been absolutely amazing for providing practical, real-world information that you just can't find in official resources. The SSA website is so confusing and hard to interpret, but hearing from actual SSDI recipients who've been through these processes provides the kind of clarity and confidence we really need. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences here - it means the world to those of us who are new to this system and trying to understand how it all works long-term!