Thanks everyone for the helpful answers! I called Social Security using the Claimyr service that someone recommended, and it really did get me through quickly! The representative explained that since this is my first year on benefits, I can use the monthly test for the rest of 2025. That's perfect because I can limit my hours to stay under $1,770 each month, even during holiday seasons when I usually work more. Then next year I'll need to watch my annual total instead. They also told me that if I do go over, they don't immediately take money back - they adjust future payments. And the part about getting credited back after I reach full retirement age was news to me! Makes the whole system seem more fair. Thanks again for all the advice!

I'm glad you got through to SSA and got clarity on your situation! That monthly test for the first year is really helpful for people with variable income. Just wanted to add one more thing - make sure to keep good records of your monthly earnings throughout the year. Even though you're using the monthly test, SSA may still want documentation if there are any questions later. I keep a simple spreadsheet with my hours and gross pay each month, plus copies of all my paystubs. It's saved me headaches during reviews. Good luck with managing your seasonal work schedule!

I'm just starting to navigate this world of disability benefits and housing arrangements, so this thread has been incredibly educational! Reading everyone's experiences has helped me understand how complex but manageable this process can be. One question I haven't seen addressed yet - for those who successfully set up separate living arrangements, how did you handle emergency situations? I'm thinking about scenarios where your adult child might need immediate assistance due to their disability. Does having a formal landlord-tenant relationship create any legal complications if you need to enter their space during an emergency? Also, I'm wondering about the long-term implications. If your daughter's condition changes over time (either improves or requires more support), how flexible is this arrangement in terms of modifying the living situation while preserving benefits? Thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences - it's clear that with proper planning and documentation, this can be a wonderful way to support independence while maintaining crucial benefits. The practical tips about separate bank accounts, detailed record-keeping, and getting everything properly documented from the start are so valuable!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! As someone just starting to research this for my 17-year-old son with intellectual disabilities, I'm taking notes on all the practical advice shared here. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone dealt with this situation where the adult child receives both DAC and SSI? From what I'm reading, it sounds like the living arrangement might not affect the DAC portion but could definitely impact SSI. Is that correct? Also, I'm wondering about the transition period. When you first set up the separate living arrangement, did SSA require any kind of inspection or just accepted your documentation? I'm trying to understand if they physically verify the separate household setup or if it's mainly based on the paperwork you provide. The point about checking zoning laws first is so important - I definitely need to look into our local ADU regulations before getting too far into planning. Thanks to everyone sharing their real experiences rather than just general advice!

I'm new to this community and just got my SSDI approval last month after a grueling 20-month fight! My back pay of $13,400 showed up in MySocialSecurity about a week ago and I've been obsessively checking my bank account every day. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a relief - I had no idea that 5-15 business days was normal for larger back payments, and nobody at SSA explained the manual review process for amounts over certain thresholds. It's incredibly frustrating that they don't communicate these delays upfront, especially after we've already waited so long for approval. Based on all the timelines people have shared, it sounds like I'm still well within the normal range at 7 days. This community is amazing for filling in all the information gaps that SSA leaves out - thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and helping newcomers like me understand what's actually normal versus what we should worry about!

I'm also new to this community and currently going through the exact same waiting period! My SSDI back pay of $10,750 has been showing in MySocialSecurity for 8 days now and I've been checking my bank account constantly. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - I had no idea that 5-15 business days was completely normal for larger back payments. The manual review process for amounts over $10,000 that several people mentioned explains perfectly why mine is taking longer. It's so frustrating that SSA doesn't explain any of these delays upfront, especially after already waiting over a year for approval! Based on all the timelines shared here, it sounds like we're all still well within the normal range. This community is amazing for providing the real information that SSA doesn't tell you. Thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences - it really helps those of us going through this process for the first time understand what's actually normal!

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences in this thread! I'm scheduled for my auxiliary benefits phone appointment next week and was feeling pretty anxious about it, but reading through all these detailed accounts has been incredibly reassuring. The practical tips are gold - creating a cheat sheet with all the kids' info, having the SSDI award letter ready, preparing for questions about living arrangements and previous addresses, and definitely going the in-person route for document submission. It's also really helpful to know the typical timeline is 4-6 weeks from interview to first payment. One thing that stands out is how patient and thorough the SSA representatives seem to be during these calls. I was worried they'd be rushed, but it sounds like they really take the time to walk you through everything properly. For those still waiting on their processes - it's clear that being organized and having all your information ready makes a huge difference. Thanks again to everyone for creating such a supportive and informative discussion for newcomers like me!

As a newcomer to this community who just went through the auxiliary benefits process 3 weeks ago, I wanted to add my voice to this incredibly helpful thread! I was terrified about my phone appointment but it ended up being much smoother than I anticipated. The interview took about 40 minutes and the representative was very patient and professional. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - they asked me about any joint bank accounts or savings accounts that have my children's names on them. It wasn't disqualifying, just for their records, but I wasn't expecting that question. They also asked if I had ever applied for or received auxiliary benefits before (even if denied), which was easy to answer but good to be prepared for. Another question that caught me slightly off guard was whether my children had ever been in foster care or lived with anyone else, even temporarily. I followed everyone's advice about creating a detailed cheat sheet and it made all the difference! I also had my phone on speaker with a notebook ready to jot down the claim number and any important details they mentioned. For documents, I absolutely recommend the in-person route. I went to my local SSA office 2 days after the call and the whole process took 15 minutes. They made copies, gave me detailed receipts, and the staff member even explained what would happen next in the process. Benefits started exactly 4 weeks after document submission, with full retroactive pay back to the application date. The kids were so excited about their first "Social Security payment"! Thank you to everyone in this thread for sharing such detailed experiences - it really made all the difference for a nervous newcomer like me.

As someone who just started navigating this system myself, I really appreciate all the detailed explanations here! The distinction between the monthly test in your first benefit year versus the annual test is something I definitely didn't understand before reading through these comments. One question I have - for those of you who have been through the process of SSA calculating an overpayment, do they send you clear documentation showing exactly how they calculated what you owe? I'm worried about keeping good records but then having their calculations not match mine. Also, is there an appeals process if you disagree with their determination? I tend to be pretty meticulous with my record-keeping, but I want to make sure I know what to expect if there are discrepancies down the road. Thanks again to everyone sharing their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world insight that's hard to find on the official SSA website!

This thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you all for sharing your experiences! I'm in a similar situation and was completely overwhelmed by the earnings limit rules until reading through these explanations. One thing I wanted to add that might help others: I called my local Social Security office (not the national number) and was able to get an appointment to go over my specific situation in person. The representative there was much more helpful than trying to get answers over the phone, and she walked me through exactly how the calculations would work based on my expected earnings pattern. She also gave me a worksheet to track my monthly earnings throughout the year. For anyone feeling as confused as I was initially, it might be worth trying to schedule an in-person appointment if you have a local office nearby. Having someone look at your actual situation rather than trying to understand the general rules made a huge difference for me. Plus, you get everything in writing which helps when you're trying to keep those detailed records everyone's talking about!