I'm so sorry for your loss, Justin. This is exactly the kind of frustrating bureaucracy that families shouldn't have to deal with while grieving. You are absolutely correct - your mother's July Social Security payment should NOT be returned to SSA. The rule is crystal clear: beneficiaries are entitled to Social Security benefits for any complete month they were alive, regardless of when the payment is deposited. Since your mother lived through all of July, that payment (deposited in August) rightfully belongs to her estate. Banks often have blanket policies to return ALL Social Security payments when notified of a death, but they're not trained to understand the timing nuances. What you need is official documentation from SSA to override their standard procedure. I'd recommend visiting your local Social Security office in person rather than trying to get through on the phone - the wait times are brutal right now. Bring her death certificate and request written confirmation that the July payment is legitimate. Once you have that documentation, take it to the bank manager (not just a regular teller) and firmly explain that this is not an overpayment. Don't let them bully you into returning money that legally belongs to your mother's estate. You have enough to handle right now without giving up funds that are rightfully yours. Stay strong and advocate for what's correct - the law is on your side here.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Justin. This is such a common and frustrating issue that adds unnecessary stress during an already overwhelming time. You are absolutely right to question the bank's decision - your mother's July Social Security payment should definitely remain in her estate. The rule is straightforward: Social Security beneficiaries are entitled to benefits for any complete month they lived through, regardless of when the actual payment is deposited. Since your mother was alive for all of July, that payment belongs to her estate, even though it arrived in August after her passing. Banks often have automatic procedures to return ALL Social Security payments upon death notification, but they don't always understand the nuances of the timing rules. What they should be preventing is any August payment (which would typically arrive in September), since she passed away partway through August. Based on what others have shared here, I'd strongly recommend visiting your local Social Security office in person rather than trying to get through on their overwhelmed phone lines. Bring her death certificate and request written documentation confirming that the July payment is legitimate and belongs to her estate. This official paperwork will give you the leverage you need when dealing with the bank manager. Don't let them pressure you into returning money that's rightfully part of your mother's estate. You're dealing with enough right now without having to fight for what's already legally yours. Stand firm - the law is definitely on your side here.

I'm actually going through a very similar situation right now! I've been on SSDI for about 2 years and my doctor recently cleared me to try part-time work. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - especially learning about the WIPA counselors and that work incentives hotline. One thing I'm curious about that I haven't seen mentioned: does anyone know if there are any restrictions on the TYPE of work you can do while on SSDI? Like, does it matter if it's completely different from what you did before your disability, or if it's something that accommodates your current limitations? I'm considering remote work options that would be much less physically demanding than my previous job. Also, has anyone had experience with employers who are familiar with disability benefits and actually supportive of keeping you under the earning limits?

Val, you're absolutely right that there are no restrictions on the TYPE of work you can do while on SSDI! The SSA only cares about your earnings, not whether it's similar to your previous job or completely different. Remote work is actually a great option because it often provides the flexibility you need to manage symptoms while staying productive. I've seen several people successfully transition to remote customer service, data entry, virtual assistance, or freelance work that accommodates their limitations. The key is finding something sustainable that you can do consistently without aggravating your condition. Regarding supportive employers - definitely look for companies that have disability inclusion programs or are "disability confident" employers. Some larger corporations like Microsoft, IBM, and many healthcare organizations have specific initiatives for hiring people with disabilities. When you do get hired, being upfront with HR about needing to stay under earning limits can actually work in your favor - many employers appreciate the transparency and are willing to work with your schedule. You might also want to check out remote job boards that specifically focus on flexible/disability-friendly positions. The combination of remote work flexibility plus understanding employers can make this transition so much smoother. Best of luck with your search - sounds like you're approaching this really thoughtfully!

As someone who's been through a similar journey, I want to echo what others have said - your SSDI benefits will continue indefinitely after EPE as long as you stay below SGA. I've been post-EPE for about 2 years now and still receive my full monthly payment and Medicare. One thing that really helped me was setting up a simple monthly budget tracker that includes not just my earnings, but also my disability-related expenses. This way I can see at a glance how close I am to SGA and what my actual "countable" income is after IRWEs. I'd also suggest getting any IRWE documentation from your doctors sooner rather than later - things like letters explaining why your orthopedic shoes and transportation accommodations are medically necessary. Having this paperwork ready makes the reporting process much smoother. The most important thing is to stay organized with your reporting and don't let the fear paralyze you from working. The work incentives are there to help us maintain some independence while keeping our safety net. You've got this!

I'm new to this community and just starting my SSDI journey after being approved last month for my neurological condition. This entire discussion has been incredibly eye-opening and reassuring! I had no idea about the Trial Work Period or Extended Period of Eligibility - my case worker barely mentioned these programs during my application process. Reading through everyone's experiences gives me so much hope that I might be able to return to some form of part-time work in the future without jeopardizing my benefits. Right now I'm focused on managing my condition, but knowing that there are these safety nets and work incentives available makes me feel less trapped by my disability. The IRWE information is completely new to me too - I have significant monthly costs for physical therapy and specialized medical equipment that I never realized might factor into earnings calculations. I'm going to start documenting everything now so I'm prepared if I decide to explore work options down the road. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and real experiences. It's so valuable to hear from people who are actually living this rather than just reading policy manuals. This community seems like an amazing resource for navigating these complex systems!

This has been such a comprehensive and helpful discussion! As someone who's about to face a similar situation in the next year or two, I really appreciate everyone sharing their real-world experiences with the earnings limit while doing consulting work. One thing I wanted to add that might be helpful - I recently attended a Social Security workshop through our local senior center, and the presenter emphasized the importance of understanding the monthly earnings test in addition to the annual limit. For 2025, if you're under FRA the entire year, you can earn up to $1,993 per month without affecting your benefits, regardless of your annual total. This monthly test can sometimes be more favorable if your consulting income is uneven throughout the year. For example, if you have a big project that pays $15,000 in one month but then don't work for several months, the monthly test might protect more of your benefits than just looking at the annual limit. It's worth understanding both rules since SSA applies whichever is more favorable to you. Also, I wanted to second the advice about keeping meticulous records. Even if you're confident about staying under the limit, having detailed documentation makes everything so much smoother if questions ever come up. Thanks again to everyone who shared their insights - this is exactly the kind of practical guidance that's invaluable for people navigating these complex rules!

This discussion has been incredibly thorough and helpful! I'm in a very similar situation - started collecting at 65 while my FRA is 66+10 months, and I'm doing consulting work. Based on everything shared here, I now understand it's the net self-employment income (after business expenses but before taxes) that counts toward the $23,920 limit. One additional tip I'd like to share: I found it helpful to set up quarterly check-ins with myself to review my year-to-date earnings against the limit. This helps me make informed decisions about taking on new projects in the later part of the year. I use a simple formula: (Current net earnings ÷ months elapsed) × 12 to project my annual total, then factor in any known upcoming projects. Also, for anyone struggling to get through to SSA by phone, I can confirm that the online my Social Security account is much more reliable for basic reporting and checking benefit information. You can also use their online contact form for non-urgent questions, and they typically respond within a few days with written answers you can save for your records. Thanks to everyone who contributed their experiences here - this kind of peer-to-peer knowledge sharing is invaluable when dealing with these complex regulations!

One thing to keep in mind - when you get your first combined payment, it might be prorated if you're starting mid-month. Don't panic if the first deposit looks lower than expected! SSA typically pays benefits for the month after you're entitled, so if you became eligible in February, your first payment in March might only cover part of February. The following month should be the full combined amount. Also, if there are any delays in processing the spousal benefit portion, they'll send you retroactive payments to make up the difference.

Hugo, I'm in a very similar situation - just filed at 67 and my husband has been collecting for a while. One thing I learned that might help you: when SSA processes dual entitlement cases like yours, there can sometimes be a delay between when your own retirement benefit starts and when they add the spousal portion. Don't be surprised if your first few payments are just your own retirement amount, and then you get a lump sum adjustment later once they finish calculating the spousal benefit. This happened to me - took about 6 weeks for them to sort out the spousal calculation and then I got a nice retroactive payment to make up the difference. The combined amount has been coming as one deposit ever since, right on schedule based on my birthday. Keep your paperwork handy in case you need to follow up!