I'm dealing with this exact situation right now with my grandfather after his recent fall. This thread has been a lifesaver - I was getting so many conflicting answers from different government offices that I was starting to think I was going crazy! Just to add another data point: I'm in the middle of both processes and can confirm they are 100% separate. Got my rep payee approval from SSA last week, but Medicare had no record of it when I called yesterday. The customer service rep actually laughed (kindly) when I asked if the rep payee status automatically carried over to Medicare - apparently this is a super common misconception. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if your loved one has both Medicare AND Medicaid, there might be additional state-level authorizations needed too. My grandfather's Medicaid managed care plan required yet another set of forms. It's like a bureaucratic obstacle course, but at least knowing what to expect helps you prepare for it. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and tips here. It's so much more helpful than the generic government websites!

I'm just starting to research this for my elderly mother who recently had a stroke. Reading through all these experiences has been both helpful and overwhelming - it's clear that navigating these separate systems is going to be more complicated than I initially thought! One question I haven't seen addressed: if someone already has power of attorney for healthcare and finances, does that help streamline either the Social Security rep payee process or the Medicare authorization? Or are these government processes completely separate from POA documents too? Also, for those who mentioned using Claimyr to reach Medicare representatives faster - did you find their service worth the cost given how difficult it apparently is to get through to Medicare directly? I'm trying to weigh whether it's worth paying for that service or just dealing with the long hold times. Thanks to everyone who's shared their real-world experiences here. This thread is going to save me so much time and frustration as I work through this process with my mom.

I'm in a similar situation and went through this research last year. One thing that helped me was using the SSA's online calculators to model different scenarios. You can estimate your benefits at different claiming ages on ssa.gov, which gives you a baseline to compare against the ex-spouse benefit once you get that information from SSA. Also, don't overlook the impact of Medicare timing if you're considering working past 65. If you delay Social Security until 70 but need Medicare at 65, you'll need to enroll in Medicare Part A (which is free) but can delay Part B if you have qualifying employer coverage. This gets complicated fast, so factor healthcare costs into your decision timeline. The "break-even" analysis is crucial here - calculate at what age the higher lifetime benefit from waiting until 70 would outweigh the years of missed payments from claiming earlier. For many people, it's somewhere in their early 80s, but everyone's situation is different.

One more thing to consider - if your ex-spouse is currently receiving SSDI, you might want to confirm his exact birth date and when his benefits will convert to retirement benefits. The timing could affect your planning since you mentioned he's 5 years older. Also, keep in mind that if he files for early retirement benefits before his FRA (which he can't do while on SSDI, but just for future reference), it could potentially reduce the spousal benefit calculation. Since his SSDI will convert automatically at his FRA without reduction, this shouldn't be an issue in your case, but it's worth understanding how these interactions work when you speak with SSA about your benefit estimates.

Thank you all so much for the helpful information! I just downloaded the W-4V form and will send it in tomorrow. I'm thinking I'll start with 10% withholding and adjust next year if needed. I'll also check with my tax preparer to see if I should make any quarterly estimated tax payments for this year since I've already received a few months of benefits without withholding. It's frustrating that the SSA representative didn't explain any of this when I applied for benefits. When they say "before deductions" they should really clarify what that means! I suspect I'm not the only newly retired person confused by this.

Great advice from everyone here! I went through this exact same situation two years ago. One thing I'd add is that you might want to consider making a quarterly estimated tax payment for Q1 2025 since you've already received a few months of benefits without any withholding. Even once you submit the W-4V, it can take 6-8 weeks to take effect, so you could end up owing quite a bit by year-end. I'd also suggest keeping track of exactly when your withholding starts. In my case, SSA processed my W-4V request but then somehow "forgot" to actually start the withholding for another two months. I only caught it because I was watching my deposit amounts carefully. Don't assume it's working just because you submitted the form! Also, if you have a my Social Security account online, you can usually see your benefit statement there which will show any deductions once they start taking effect.

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'm in a similar situation but with fewer railroad years (12 years RRB, 20 years other employment). Reading through all these responses, it sounds like the strategy can work but really depends on your individual numbers. One thing I learned from my research is that you can actually use the RRB website calculator to get rough estimates before requesting the formal G-90. It's not as detailed but gives you a ballpark figure to work with. Also, I found out that if you have questions about the coordination between SS and RRB benefits, there's actually a specific department at RRB that handles dual benefit cases - they might be more knowledgeable than the general customer service reps. Have you considered consulting with a fee-only financial planner who specializes in government benefits? Might be worth the cost to get an objective analysis of your situation before making such a big decision. The difference between optimizing and not optimizing these benefits could be tens of thousands over your lifetime.

Reading through all these responses has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm also approaching 62 and have been wondering about my own SS/RRB situation (14 years railroad, 18 years other work). A few things I wanted to add based on my recent research: The RRB does have a dual benefit coordination unit - you can reach them by calling the main RRB number (877-772-5772) and specifically asking to be transferred to "dual benefit coordination." They're supposedly more knowledgeable about these complex scenarios than general customer service. Also, I discovered that the timing of when you apply matters a lot. If you're already receiving SS when you become eligible for RRB, the coordination happens automatically. But if you're not yet receiving SS, you might have more flexibility in how the benefits are structured. One more thing - I've seen people mention that some railroad unions offer retirement counseling services that include help with SS/RRB coordination. Might be worth checking if your former employer or union has resources available. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here. It's clear this is a common situation that many of us are navigating, and the more information we can share, the better decisions we can all make!