I'm new to this community but have been dealing with similar SSDI work questions for the past few months. This thread is incredibly helpful! Just wanted to add one more resource that's been invaluable for me - the Red Book from Social Security Administration. It's their official guide to employment supports and you can download it free from their website (ssa.gov). It explains all these rules in detail with examples that really help clarify the monthly vs annual confusion. What really stood out to me from reading everyone's advice is how important it is to document EVERYTHING. I started taking photos of my timesheets and pay stubs with my phone as backup, and keeping a simple notebook where I write down my daily hours. It seems like overkill, but after reading about people having to fight discrepancies with SSA, I figure it's better to be over-prepared. @NebulaNomad - your situation with the holiday hours is so relatable. I was in almost the exact same spot last month and ended up having an honest conversation with my employer about needing to cap my December hours. They were completely understanding once I explained that going over could jeopardize my benefits and medical coverage. Most people get it when you frame it that way. Stay strong and keep asking questions - this community clearly has so much collective wisdom to share!

This has been such an incredibly helpful thread to read through! As someone who's been on SSDI for about 6 months and just starting to think about returning to work, seeing everyone's real experiences and practical advice has been invaluable. @NebulaNomad - I wanted to specifically address your original question since I went through something similar recently. You're absolutely right to focus on monthly limits rather than annual totals. The key thing is that SSDI uses the monthly SGA threshold ($1,550 for 2025), not annual averaging like some other programs. One thing that really helped me was contacting my local SOAR (SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery) coordinator through my state's disability services office. They have specialists who help people navigate the work incentive programs and can often clarify your Trial Work Period status more easily than trying to get through to SSA directly. Also, since you mentioned working at your cousin's store, you might want to ask about getting your work arrangement documented as "supported employment" if your cousin provides any accommodations. This can sometimes help with the subsidy calculations that others mentioned. The advice about creating that safety buffer below the $1,550 limit is spot-on. I aim for $1,400 max per month to account for any unexpected bonuses or overtime. It's given me so much peace of mind knowing I have that cushion. Keep us updated on how your conversation with your cousin goes - and definitely don't stress too much about December if you can shift some of those hours to January like others suggested!

I want to emphasize something important that others have touched on - you absolutely should NOT feel guilty about pursuing this discharge. You took on debt to help your daughter get an education, and now your serious health conditions genuinely prevent you from working enough to service this debt. That's exactly what the TPD discharge program was designed for. A few practical tips for your application: - When you meet with your nephrologist, bring a printed copy of the TPD application so they can see exactly what needs to be certified - Ask them to specifically mention how your kidney disease affects your ability to work (fatigue, dialysis schedule if applicable, frequent medical appointments) - The combination of stage 3 CKD + heart valve issues + severe arthritis should present a very strong case Also, once you apply, keep detailed records of all your medical appointments and treatments. The 3-year monitoring period mentioned earlier requires you to report if your condition improves significantly, but given your age and multiple chronic conditions, this is unlikely to be an issue. You've been carrying this burden for nearly a decade - it's time to get the relief you deserve so you can focus on your health and recovery.

I'm a case worker who helps seniors with federal benefits, and I wanted to add some crucial information about the TPD discharge process that could really help your situation: **Document EVERYTHING**: Start keeping a detailed log of how your conditions affect your daily activities and work capacity. Include specific examples like "unable to stand for more than 15 minutes due to arthritis pain" or "missed 3 work days this month for dialysis prep appointments." This documentation will strengthen your case. **Multiple Conditions Strategy**: You don't need just one qualifying condition - the cumulative effect of your stage 3 CKD, heart valve disease, and severe arthritis together creates a very compelling case. Make sure your doctor addresses how these conditions interact and compound each other's limitations. **Timing Consideration**: Given that you need heart surgery, this might actually work in your favor. Post-surgical recovery periods, especially for older adults, can easily meet the 60+ month duration requirement when combined with your existing chronic conditions. **Financial Relief During Process**: Once you submit your TPD application, contact your loan servicer immediately to request a discharge processing forbearance. This should stop payments and interest accrual while your application is reviewed. At 74 with multiple serious health conditions, you have every right to pursue this discharge. Your health and wellbeing should be the priority now, not servicing debt that has become impossible to manage. Please keep us updated on your progress!

As someone who went through a similar situation last year, I wanted to add that you can also report changes through your local SSA field office if calling doesn't work out. I walked in without an appointment (though wait times vary) and they helped me update my earnings estimate on the spot. They gave me a receipt showing the change was recorded, which was really helpful for my peace of mind. Also, don't forget that if your bookstore job offers any kind of employee discount or benefits, those generally don't count toward the earnings limit - it's just the actual wages that matter. Good luck with your new position!

I went through something very similar when I started freelance consulting work after initially reporting zero income. What worked for me was sending a simple letter to my local SSA office with my name, SSN, and updated earnings estimate, along with a statement that I would stay under the monthly limit. I sent it certified mail and got a confirmation letter back within about 3 weeks acknowledging the update. The peace of mind was totally worth it! Since you're only working 35 hours monthly at a bookstore, you should easily stay under the $1,860 threshold. Don't stress too much - SSA deals with these estimate changes all the time, and as long as you stay under the monthly limit, there won't be any benefit reductions.

As someone who just went through a similar situation, I wanted to share my experience. I worked 8 years in state government (non-covered) and had the same concern about those zero years on my SSA statement. What I learned is that you're absolutely right to be thinking about this early - those zeros are permanent and normal, but the real impact comes from WEP if you eventually collect both a government pension and Social Security benefits. One thing that helped me was using the SSA's WEP calculator online to estimate my future benefit reduction based on different scenarios. Since you have 15 years of covered work already, you're in better shape than many people - but if you stay in government work much longer, you might want to consider occasional side work or consulting that pays into Social Security to build up more substantial earnings years. Also, keep excellent records of all your government employment and pension contributions. When you do apply for Social Security later, having clear documentation of your non-covered work history can help avoid delays or confusion in the application process. The SSA will need to know about your government pension to apply WEP correctly.

As someone who works in HR for a state agency, I see this question come up frequently with new hires. You're absolutely correct that those years will show as $0 - this is how the system is designed to work. The Social Security Administration only tracks earnings where FICA taxes were paid, so non-covered employment (like most state/local government jobs) will always appear as zero earnings regardless of your actual salary. One important thing to keep in mind is that when you eventually apply for Social Security benefits, you'll need to provide documentation of your government pension to SSA. They use this information to determine if WEP applies to your case. I always recommend that employees keep copies of their annual pension statements and employment records, as this documentation can be crucial decades later. Also, don't let those zero years discourage you from checking your Social Security statement regularly. It's still important to verify that your covered employment years are being recorded correctly, and that there are no errors in your earnings history from your previous 15 years of covered work. Catching and correcting errors early is much easier than trying to fix them at retirement.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely amazed by the comprehensive discussion that's developed here! This thread has become an incredible resource covering every angle of Social Security lump sum planning. I wanted to add one practical consideration that might be helpful for your three-year planning window, Sofia. Since you mentioned working with a financial advisor, consider asking them to help you model how the lump sum decision would interact with your overall retirement withdrawal strategy. If you're planning to follow a systematic approach like the 4% rule or bucket strategy with your other retirement accounts, the lump sum could either complement or complicate that plan. For example, if taking the lump sum would allow you to delay withdrawals from tax-advantaged accounts during a market downturn, that could be valuable. Conversely, if the reduced monthly Social Security benefit would force you to withdraw more from other accounts over time, that might outweigh the immediate benefit of the lump sum. Also, given all the excellent advice about record-keeping and preparation, you might want to create a simple checklist now of everything you'll want to review before making your final decision at 70. This could include updated Social Security statements, current tax brackets, Medicare premium thresholds, your overall asset allocation, and any changes in your health or family situation. The fact that this community has provided such thorough guidance - from technical details to practical tips to psychological considerations - really demonstrates the value of learning from people who've actually navigated these decisions. You're going to be incredibly well-prepared when the time comes!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm truly grateful to have discovered such an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience! This thread has been an absolute masterclass in Social Security planning that goes far beyond what you'd find in any official guide. Sofia, reading through all these responses, it's clear you're approaching this decision with exactly the right mindset - planning well ahead and considering all angles. One additional thought I'd offer is to consider how your decision might be influenced by your family situation and legacy goals. If you have a spouse who would benefit from survivor benefits, maximizing your monthly payment (by not taking the lump sum) could provide more financial security for them long-term, since survivor benefits are based on what you were actually receiving. Also, given the complexity of all the factors discussed here - from tax implications to Medicare premiums to overall retirement strategy - you might want to consider getting a second opinion from a fee-only financial planner who specializes in Social Security optimization when you get closer to your filing date. Having an independent analysis could provide additional confidence in your decision. The documentation and preparation advice shared here is invaluable. Between keeping detailed records, scheduling consultation appointments, creating decision checklists, and even writing yourself a future reference letter, you'll have every tool needed to make a well-informed choice. Thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences and expertise - this community is truly special in how it provides practical, real-world guidance for such important financial decisions!