Also beware that sometimes the SSA automatically withholds benefits if they think you might exceed the limit. When I applied, they asked for my expected earnings. I told them I'd make about $15,000 from my part-time job after starting benefits, and they went ahead and paid me my full benefit. But I have a friend who estimated she'd make $22,000 (just under the limit), and they automatically withheld some of her benefits "just in case" she went over. She had to wait until she filed her tax return the next year to get that money back.

Does anyone know if they count gross income or net income after taxes? I always get confused about this!!

I wouldn't worry unless you haven't received anything by December 15th. That said, even if you don't get the letter, the increase will automatically be applied to your January payment. The notice is just informational.

Anyone else notice the Medicare Part B premium went up again?? That ate up almost half of my COLA increase! Every year they give with one hand and take with the other. My actual increase after the Medicare premium went up was only $32.

One more important thing about TPD discharge applications - be very careful about continuing to work while applying. The substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit for 2025 is $1,550/month in earnings. If you're earning more than that, it could jeopardize your application. You might need to reduce your hours or take leave during the application process. Also, there's typically a 3-year monitoring period after discharge where you can't exceed the SGA limit without risking reinstatement of the debt. Given your health conditions, it sounds like you qualify, but the employment aspect needs careful consideration.

I just went through the TPD process for my federal loans last year (I'm 68 with multiple sclerosis). The application wasn't too complicated but make sure your doctor understands exactly what they're certifying. My first attempt was rejected because my neurologist didn't check the right boxes about the duration of my disability. Second time worked with different wording. Don't give up if you get rejected the first time!

To respond to your follow-up question - yes, you should contact SSA when your husband files for his benefits. There's no automatic notification system, so you'll need to either: 1. Ask your children to let you know when he mentions filing for Social Security 2. Contact SSA periodically starting around his 62nd birthday to check his filing status 3. Wait until he reaches his Full Retirement Age (probably 67 for someone who's 60 now) when he's more likely to file And you're correct that from a purely Social Security benefits perspective, there's no financial advantage or disadvantage to getting divorced at this point. The benefits calculation would be identical either way since you were married well over 10 years. The only practical difference is the documentation process - as a current spouse, the connection is already established in SSA's system, while as a divorced spouse, you would need to provide marriage and divorce documentation.

u know what tho, if ur husband is making good money maybe talkin to a lawyer bout a divorce and some spousal support might actually be worth it. just because ur separated dont mean ur not entitled to a share of his current income in some states. might be worth checkin on, just sayin

I HATE the new login system!!! Been using my SS account for YEARS with no problem until they forced everyone to use that id.me garbage. Took me 3 tries and having to upload my drivers license AND do a video selfie thing??? Totally invasive if you ask me. The government needs to make these services accessible to EVERYONE, especially people with disabilities. Your sister shouldn't have to jump through all these hoops just to access HER OWN information!

Update: We tried using Firefox instead of Chrome and going through the password reset process rather than trying to create a new login, but we're still getting stuck. I think we're going to have to try scheduling an in-person appointment. Does anyone know if I would be able to go with her to help explain things to the SSA representative? She can communicate fine in person when she can see someone's face, but sometimes misses details.

To add some clarity: there are two separate issues happening here that often get confused: 1. Your child's eligibility for dependent/auxiliary benefits on the non-custodial parent's SSDI record. This is money paid directly to the child's representative payee and generally counts toward support obligations. 2. The calculation of child support based on all income sources. Most states include SSDI as income, but have special rules for VA benefits - often excluding disability compensation related to service-connected disabilities. The child support office is likely waiting to see if auxiliary benefits start before finalizing their calculation. If your son qualifies for auxiliary benefits but you haven't applied yet, that could be causing the confusion. These benefits don't happen automatically - you need to apply specifically for them with your ex's SSN and information.

Yes, to apply for auxiliary benefits on your ex's record, you'll need to call SSA or visit your local office with: 1) Your child's SSN and birth certificate, 2) Your ex's SSN, 3) Your divorce decree and custody agreement. Form SSA-4-BK is typically used. Just be aware that if these auxiliary benefits are approved, they will likely be counted toward the child support obligation, potentially reducing the direct payment amount from your ex. However, the total support (direct payment + auxiliary benefits) should be calculated based on all eligible income sources including portions of the VA benefits as determined by your state's guidelines.

ok thx for explaining!! its all so confusing i'll tell her to call her medicade office.

Thank you all for the incredibly helpful responses! This community is amazing. I've summarized what I learned to share with my brother:1. At FRA (67 for him), his SSDI automatically converts to retirement benefits with the same payment amount2. Once converted, he can work and earn any amount without affecting his benefits3. No more disability reviews to worry about4. Medicare continues unchanged5. We need to consider possible tax implications if his combined income exceeds certain thresholdsThis is honestly such a relief. He's been wanting to get back to some form of work for years but was always afraid of jeopardizing his benefits. I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and expertise!

I'm just curious - why not wait until FRA so you don't have to worry about ANY of this nonsense? You're giving up 20-30% of your lifetime benefit amount by claiming early anyway.

Just a quick note on contacting SSA that might save you some frustration. In addition to what others mentioned about difficulty reaching them by phone, make sure you have detailed notes ready when you do connect with someone. Specifically ask them: 1. How your December-paid annual bonus will be treated under the earnings test 2. How your January-paid commissions for 2024 work will be counted 3. Ask them to document these answers in your file Also, if you're near a local SSA office, sometimes an in-person appointment can be easier than phone calls for complex situations like yours. Book online to avoid long waits.

im pretty sure u made the right choice. My cousin did somethin similar and his checks got bigger when he turned 70. The SS people sometimes don't know there own rules lol

Just to add one more technical detail - the DRC rate is 2/3 of 1% per month, which works out to 8% per year for each full year you delay. So in the original poster's case, if they suspend from age 68 to 70, they'd get approximately 16% increase from the DRCs earned during suspension (plus any COLAs that occur during that period). Also important: while benefits are suspended, any benefits payable to others on your record (like spousal benefits) are also suspended, except for divorced spouse benefits. Make sure that doesn't impact your situation.

I'm wondering about something similar... I only have about 25 quarters but my husband has been getting SS for years. We're separated but not divorced (10 years now). Can I still claim on his record or do you have to be living together? Does anybody know?

One more thing: when you do apply, make sure to gather ALL your documents ahead of time. You'll need birth certificate, marriage certificate, possibly tax returns, etc. My application was delayed by 2 months because I didn't have everything ready. Also, you might want to check out the SSA benefit calculators on their website to see exactly how much you'd get at different ages. That really helped me decide when to take my spousal benefit.