As a newcomer to this community, I'm blown away by how detailed and helpful this discussion has been! Reading through everyone's experiences with IRS Notice 2014-7 exempt income and Social Security earnings limits has really opened my eyes to how complex these benefit interactions can be. What's most concerning to me is seeing how many people got completely different answers from SSA representatives about the exact same question. It really emphasizes why you need to push to speak with a Technical Expert rather than accepting answers from general phone staff for these specialized situations. The key insight that tax-exempt status doesn't necessarily mean exempt from the earnings test is something I never would have understood without this thread. It's fascinating (and frustrating) how the IRS and SSA can treat the same income so differently. I'm especially grateful to everyone who shared their real experiences - particularly Dylan's account of working with a Technical Expert and learning about the POMS system. Getting that kind of inside knowledge about how these decisions actually get made is invaluable. For others dealing with Medicaid waiver payments, the advice to assume it will count toward the earnings test until proven otherwise seems like the safest approach. The emphasis on documentation, Form SSA-795, and getting everything in writing makes perfect sense given how much interpretation seems to vary. This has been an incredible learning experience about navigating government benefits - thank you all for sharing your knowledge so generously!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely amazed by the depth of knowledge and real-world experience shared in this thread! This discussion about IRS Notice 2014-7 exempt income and Social Security earnings limits has been incredibly eye-opening about how complex these government program interactions can be. What really concerns me is the consistent pattern of conflicting information from different SSA representatives that so many people have experienced. It's both frustrating and crucial to understand that you really need to specifically request a Technical Expert rather than accepting guidance from general phone support staff for these specialized situations. The key distinction between tax-exempt status for IRS purposes versus what counts as "earnings" for the SSA earnings test is something I never would have grasped without reading everyone's detailed experiences. It's a perfect example of how different government agencies can interpret the same income source in completely different ways. I'm particularly grateful to those who shared their actual experiences navigating this process - especially Dylan's detailed account of working with a Technical Expert and learning about the POMS system. Getting that kind of insider knowledge about how these decisions are actually made is invaluable and something you can't find in general policy documents. For anyone else dealing with similar Medicaid waiver payment situations, the consensus advice seems very sound: assume your exempt income will likely count toward the earnings test until you receive definitive written clarification from an SSA Technical Expert. The emphasis on Form SSA-795, thorough documentation, and getting all decisions in writing appears essential for protecting yourself given the potential for varying interpretations. Thank you all for such an educational and comprehensive discussion - this has been an incredible introduction to understanding these complex benefit interactions and the importance of proper advocacy when dealing with government agencies!

I've been following this discussion and wanted to share some additional resources that might help everyone here. For those struggling to get through to SSA by phone, you can also visit your local Social Security office in person - sometimes it's faster than waiting on hold for hours. You can find your nearest office at ssa.gov/locator. I'd recommend calling ahead to see if they require appointments, as some offices have shifted to appointment-only since COVID. Also, if you're trying to get benefit estimates, the online "my Social Security" account at ssa.gov is really helpful for seeing your own projected benefits, though as others mentioned, it won't show you what you might be eligible for from an ex-spouse's record. One more tip: if you do end up calling SSA, try calling right when they open at 7 AM local time - the wait times are usually much shorter in the morning. I've had good luck getting through within 15-20 minutes that way versus hours during peak times. The remarriage timing decisions you're all discussing are so important financially - it's worth the effort to get the official numbers to make informed choices!

This has been such an informative discussion! I'm 62 and went through this exact decision process 3 years ago. I was divorced after 14 years of marriage and had been with my current partner for 5 years when I had to decide about remarriage timing. I ended up waiting until after my 60th birthday to remarry, and I'm so glad I did. My ex-husband had significantly higher earnings than both myself and my new husband, so preserving the option to claim on his record was financially crucial. When I applied for benefits last year, I was able to choose the highest of the three options available to me. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier: even though everyone talks about the "age 60 rule," the actual claiming decision doesn't happen until you're 62+ anyway, so you have time after remarriage to really crunch the numbers and see which benefit source gives you the most money. For those of you still deciding on timing - it's worth doing the math with actual benefit estimates rather than guessing. The difference in my case was about $400/month between my ex's record versus my new husband's record, which adds up to almost $5,000 per year. Waiting two extra years to remarry was definitely worth it for that kind of financial security. Best of luck to everyone navigating these decisions!

I'm new here but wanted to add that you should also consider requesting a "protective filing" for your daughter's CDB benefits if you haven't already. This ensures that if/when the benefits are eventually approved, they'll be backdated to when you first applied rather than when the appeal is resolved. Also, one strategy that worked for a friend of mine in a similar situation was to specifically ask the SSA representative to look up your daughter's "Master Beneficiary Record" (MBR) which should show her complete SSI history including the disability determination. Sometimes referencing the specific system they need to check can help get faster results. The fact that they're claiming she wasn't disabled before 22 when she's literally been receiving disability benefits since 18 is mind-boggling. You're absolutely right to fight this - it's not just about the money, it's about getting the correct determination that your daughter deserves.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share something that might help speed up your case. When I was dealing with a similar SSA bureaucratic mess last year, I discovered that you can request a "technical denial review" when there's clear evidence that different SSA systems aren't communicating properly. Since your daughter has been on SSI since 2013 with a documented disability onset before age 22, this seems like a textbook case where the CDB review team simply didn't access her existing disability determination. When you file your reconsideration, specifically request that they conduct a technical denial review and cross-reference her SSI Master Beneficiary Record. Also, if you haven't already, make sure to include the exact language from her SSI award letter showing the disability onset date. Sometimes being very literal and specific about the dates helps cut through the bureaucratic confusion. You're dealing with what should be a straightforward administrative fix, not a new disability determination. Don't let them treat this like a complex case when it's really just a matter of their systems not talking to each other properly!

I'm currently going through this exact same situation and wanted to share a few things I learned that might help others here. My husband just filed for early retirement at 63 last month, and we have a 23-year-old disabled son who transitioned from SSI to DAC. A couple of practical tips from our recent experience: 1. **Document everything during the transition**: Keep copies of all forms, confirmation numbers, and notes from every phone call. We had a temporary gap where SSI stopped before DAC started, and having documentation helped resolve it quickly. 2. **The family maximum calculation was actually more favorable than expected**: In our case, it worked out to about 168% of my husband's PIA, which left more room for dependent benefits than the rough estimates suggested. 3. **State Medicaid programs vary significantly**: Our state has a "Medicaid for Workers with Disabilities" program that allowed our son to keep full Medicaid coverage even with the higher DAC income. Definitely worth researching what your specific state offers. 4. **Medicare coordination is crucial**: Since our son had been on SSI-related Medicaid for over 2 years, he was already eligible for Medicare when the DAC benefits started. Having both Medicare and Medicaid (dual eligible) actually improved his coverage significantly. For those still trying to get through to SSA - I had success using the "technical support" option in their phone menu rather than the general benefits line. The wait was shorter and they were able to transfer me to someone who specialized in family benefit calculations. The whole process was definitely stressful, but our total household benefits increased by about $900/month compared to SSI alone, which has made a huge difference for our family's financial stability. Hang in there - it's worth navigating all the complexity!

I'm also dealing with a very similar situation and wanted to share something that might be helpful for planning purposes. My husband is 64 and we're preparing for his early retirement filing, with our 28-year-old disabled daughter currently on SSI. One thing I discovered through our state's disability services office is that they can provide a "benefits planning analysis" that models how the transition from SSI to DAC will affect ALL of your family member's benefits - not just Social Security, but also state programs, food assistance, housing support, etc. This comprehensive analysis helped us identify potential issues before filing and develop strategies to maintain crucial services during the transition. Also, I wanted to mention for anyone concerned about timing: our benefits counselor recommended filing for your husband's retirement benefits to be effective the month AFTER your disabled child's birthday month if possible. This can help avoid some complicated proration calculations and ensures cleaner record-keeping across all the different benefit programs. The learning curve is definitely steep, but having a complete picture of how all your family's benefits will be affected makes the decision-making process much clearer. If your state has a WIPA (Work Incentives Planning and Assistance) program, they often provide these comprehensive analyses at no cost. Reading everyone's experiences here has been incredibly valuable - it's amazing how much practical knowledge exists in this community that you simply can't find through official channels!

Just wanted to add that you can also request a detailed benefit calculation statement from SSA that breaks down exactly how they arrived at each number. It's called a "Benefit Explanation Letter" and while it can be technical, it shows the specific years and earnings amounts they used for each calculation. This might help you see exactly why there's a $200 difference between your SSDI and FRA estimates. You can request it through your my Social Security account online or by calling them directly.

As someone who went through this exact situation last year, I can confirm what others have said - the difference is totally normal! In my case, my SSDI was actually about $180 less than my projected FRA benefit. What helped me understand it was learning that SSDI basically "freezes" your earnings record at the point you become disabled, so any future earnings you might have had between now and FRA aren't factored in. Also, the way they calculate which years to include can be different. I ended up calling SSA (took forever to get through) but the rep was able to walk me through exactly which years they used for each calculation. Definitely worth getting that Benefit Explanation Letter that Malik mentioned - it made everything much clearer for me!