I'm currently going through this exact process with my autistic nephew! What I've learned is that your personal SSI benefits stay protected - they can't reduce your $943 because you're applying for the kids. However, each child will receive what's called the "essential person" rate which is about 75% of the individual child SSI amount. One thing that really helped me was creating a binder with sections for each child's medical records, school documentation, and therapy notes. The SSA case workers appreciate organized documentation and it speeds up the review process. Also, make sure you understand the "in-kind support and maintenance" rules - since you're providing housing and food for the children, this affects their benefit calculations but shouldn't impact yours negatively. The timeline can be frustrating (mine took 4 months) but the financial relief once approved is significant. Between the cash benefits and automatic Medicaid coverage, you'll have much better resources to care for your grandchildren's needs. Don't let the complexity discourage you - these benefits exist specifically for situations like yours where disabled children need additional support!

I went through this exact situation about 2 years ago with my two grandchildren who both have developmental disabilities. Here's what actually happened with our benefits: Your $943 SSI payment will NOT decrease - that stays exactly the same. However, when multiple people in the same household receive SSI, there's a reduction applied to additional recipients. Each of your grandchildren would likely receive around $520-550/month instead of the full child rate due to the "multiple recipient household" calculation. So you'd go from $943/month total to roughly $943 + $520 + $520 = around $1,980/month for your household. That's more than double what you're getting now! A few things that helped me during the process: - Applied online first, then followed up with phone calls - Had all medical records, school IEPs, and therapy notes ready - The automatic Medicaid coverage was honestly the biggest benefit - saved us thousands in therapy costs The application took about 5 months total, and yes they initially denied one of my grandkids but we won on appeal. Don't give up if that happens - childhood disability appeals have a decent success rate. One heads up - you'll get three separate payment dates each month and have to manage three different cases for reviews, but the financial relief makes it totally worth the extra paperwork!

Just wanted to follow up - thanks everyone for the engaging discussion! I appreciate all perspectives. For those wondering, I made my choice after reading several SSA publications and creating my own spreadsheet to compare scenarios. While I'm comfortable with my decision, I think the main point is that there's no one-size-fits-all answer. Health status, family situation, other income sources, and even personal values all matter. What worked for me might not work for everyone!

As someone new to this community and approaching retirement decisions myself, this has been incredibly helpful to read through! I'm 59 and starting to think seriously about these choices. The break-even analysis you did makes a lot of sense - it's surprising how the financial advisors don't always present it this way. One thing I'm curious about - for those who took benefits early, how has the reduced monthly amount affected your day-to-day budgeting? I keep going back and forth between wanting the security of higher monthly payments later versus having the flexibility of money now. My biggest worry is whether the early amount will be enough to cover unexpected expenses as I get older, especially healthcare costs that seem to keep rising faster than COLAs. Also really appreciate the clarification on FRA - I was confused about that too! This discussion has given me a lot to think about and some good starting points for my own research.

I just want to thank everyone who contributed to this thread - this has been the most helpful explanation of the Social Security earnings limits I've found anywhere! As someone who's been dreading the paperwork and confusion around working while on benefits, you've all made it so much clearer. The key takeaways I'm getting are: 1. First year = monthly limits ($1,950 per month in 2025) 2. After first year = only annual limits matter ($23,400 in 2025) 3. Keep detailed monthly records during your first year 4. Consider timing of bonuses/extra pay if possible 5. Remember it's gross earnings, not take-home 6. Lost months get some adjustment at FRA, but it's usually small I'm bookmarking this thread to refer back to! SSA really should hire some of you folks to rewrite their pamphlets - you've explained in a few comments what took me hours of reading confusing official materials to sort of understand. Much appreciated!

As someone who just started collecting benefits this year and also works seasonally, I want to echo what others have said about how poorly SSA explains the first-year monthly limits. I spent hours on their website and calling (mostly getting busy signals) before finding clear answers. What helped me was creating a simple monthly tracking system and having a frank conversation with my seasonal employer about the situation. They were actually quite understanding and helped me structure my schedule to stay under $1,950 in most months, while still getting the hours I need during our busy season. One additional tip I haven't seen mentioned - if you're close to the monthly limit, remember that things like overtime pay, holiday pay, and shift differentials all count toward that $1,950 gross limit. I learned this the hard way when a holiday shift pushed me over by just $75, costing me my entire benefit for that month. The silver lining is that this is truly just a first-year issue. Once we get to 2026, having that annual limit flexibility will make seasonal work much more manageable with Social Security benefits. Hang in there!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that your friend should also consider whether she might be eligible for her own Social Security benefits later if she worked other jobs that paid into SS before or after teaching. Even if those benefits would be reduced by WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision), it's worth checking her Social Security statement at ssa.gov to see her complete earnings record. Sometimes people forget about summer jobs, part-time work, or other employment that contributed to SS. Also, if she's not already 60, she should know that survivor benefits can start as early as age 60 (or 50 if disabled), though they'll be reduced if taken before her full retirement age. The timing of when to apply can make a difference in the monthly amount she receives.

I just want to emphasize something that's been touched on but bears repeating - even if your friend thinks she won't get much due to GPO, she should absolutely apply within the first 6 months after her husband's death to maximize any potential retroactive payments. I've seen cases where teachers were pleasantly surprised by their survivor benefit amount, especially if their pension wasn't as high as they initially thought or if there were calculation errors in their favor. Also, the SSA representatives are generally very helpful in walking through the GPO calculation during the application process, so she'll get a clear picture of what to expect. The peace of mind of knowing exactly where she stands financially is worth the effort of applying, regardless of the final dollar amount.

I'm really sorry for your loss. I just wanted to share that when my father passed away last year, we were in a very similar situation. My mom was also already collecting her own Social Security when dad died. The key thing we learned is that she can switch to receiving 100% of whatever your father was getting if his benefit was higher than hers - but she has to actively apply for it. It's not automatic at all, even though the funeral home reports the death. We found it helpful to call SSA first thing in the morning around 8 AM when they open - much better chance of getting through. Also, have all the documents ready before you call: death certificate, marriage certificate, both Social Security numbers, and birth certificates if you have them. In my mom's case, switching to dad's survivor benefit increased her monthly payment by about $400, which has really helped her financially. The whole process took about 6 weeks from application to receiving the first increased payment. Don't wait too long to apply - they can only provide retroactive benefits for up to 6 months, so the sooner you start this process the better. Wishing you and your mom all the best during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Ravi. My heart goes out to you and your mom during this difficult time. I went through something very similar when my dad passed away three years ago, and I know how overwhelming all the paperwork and processes can feel when you're already grieving. From what everyone has shared here, it sounds like you're getting excellent advice. The key points that helped us the most were: calling SSA right at 8 AM (we literally set an alarm for 7:55 AM and called at exactly 8:00), having all documents ready beforehand, and being prepared that it might take several attempts to get through. In our case, mom's benefit increased from $1,100 to $1,650 per month, which was life-changing for her budget. The process took about 8 weeks total, but the retroactive payment helped make up for some of the delay. One small thing that helped us - we made a checklist of all the documents needed and checked them off as we gathered them. It made the actual appointment much smoother when we had everything organized in advance. You're being such a good son helping her navigate this. Don't get discouraged if the first few calls are frustrating - persistence really does pay off with SSA. Thinking of you both.