I'm experiencing the exact same frustrating situation! Applied in early October for February 2025 benefits and I'm still waiting with zero communication from SSA beyond the initial acknowledgment. Like many others here, I'm getting slammed with Medicare bills that I wasn't budgeting for - already paid nearly $700 out of pocket and feeling the financial strain since I have no other income right now. It's incredibly misleading that their website still shows 30 days when clearly the reality is 3-4+ months minimum. I tried calling multiple times but can never get through to an actual person who can give me any real information about my case status. Reading everyone's experiences here is both comforting (knowing I'm not alone) and infuriating (knowing this is widespread). The lack of transparency and updated timelines from SSA is really unacceptable when people are making major financial decisions based on their outdated information. Keeping all my Medicare receipts and hoping for that retroactive adjustment once this finally gets approved!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm unfortunately experiencing the exact same situation! Applied in late October for February 2025 benefits and I'm also stuck in processing with no updates since my initial confirmation. The Medicare bills are really causing financial stress - I've already paid close to $900 out of pocket and wasn't prepared for this gap between retiring and benefits starting. It's both comforting and frustrating to read all these similar experiences here. The fact that SSA's website still claims 30-day processing when everyone is reporting 3-6 months is really misleading for people trying to plan their retirement finances. I've tried calling several times but can never reach anyone who can provide actual information about my case status. Like others mentioned, I'm keeping all my Medicare payment receipts and hoping everything gets sorted out retroactively once approved. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know this is a widespread issue and not something wrong with my specific application!

I'm new to this community and SSI navigation, and this entire thread has been such a lifesaver! My mom just got approved for SSI last month and we're still figuring out all the rules and regulations. Reading about the 9-month exclusion period for retroactive payments is completely new information to me - I had no idea SSA had these specific protections in place. What's been most helpful is seeing so many people share their actual experiences with this exact situation, from the initial panic to learning about the exclusion rules to getting through redeterminations successfully. The combination of personal stories plus the specific regulation references (like that POMS SI 01130.600 citation) really helps build confidence that this isn't just wishful thinking - these are real protections that get applied. I'm definitely going to help my mom set up that timeline documentation system that several people mentioned. It seems like such a practical way to stay organized and prepared for future reviews. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences here - this community support makes such a difference for families like mine who are new to navigating the SSI system!

I'm new to this community and SSI, and I just wanted to thank everyone for this incredibly detailed and reassuring discussion! My grandmother was just approved for SSI and we received her first payment with backpay last week. Like the OP's aunt, her account briefly went over $2,000 for a few days before she paid her bills. Reading through all these experiences has been such a relief - I had no idea about the 9-month exclusion period for SSI retroactive payments. The fact that multiple people have confirmed this rule through their own experiences with caseworkers, plus the specific regulation reference (POMS SI 01130.600), gives me so much confidence that this is a real protection that actually gets applied. I'm definitely going to help my grandmother create that timeline documentation that Sofia mentioned - showing the backpay deposit date, the temporary overage amount, and how quickly she spent it down on legitimate expenses. It seems like such a smart way to stay organized and prepared for future reviews. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and real-world experiences here. This community support makes navigating the SSI system so much less intimidating for newcomers like me!

Thank you all so much for the great advice. I'm going to apply online tomorrow and make sure I'm clear about my work history and when I stopped working. I'll bring both my medical records from 2016 and my detailed employment history to make sure everything is documented properly. I'm also glad to know about the SSDI converting to retirement benefits at my FRA. I was getting confused about how those two programs interact. I'll update this thread once I've submitted my application in case it helps someone else in a similar situation!

Good luck with your application! As someone who works with disability claims, I'd add one more tip: when you fill out the application, be very specific about your last day of work and make sure it's consistent across all forms. SSA will cross-reference your application with your employer's records and any discrepancies can cause delays. Also, since you mentioned the agent wasn't clear during your call, consider requesting a confirmation letter or email about what was discussed. Documentation helps if there are any misunderstandings later in the process. The online application is definitely the way to go - you can save your progress and review everything before submitting. Just make sure you have your medical providers' contact information handy since you'll need to list all doctors who have treated your condition since 2016. Hope everything goes smoothly for you!

Let me try to clear up the confusion here: When you receive BOTH early retirement and SSDI, your benefits are effectively being paid as SSDI until you reach Full Retirement Age. During this time, you only need to worry about the SSDI work rules (SGA limits, Trial Work Period, etc.). The early retirement earnings test does not apply while you're receiving SSDI. Once you reach your Full Retirement Age, your benefits automatically convert to retirement benefits, and all work restrictions disappear completely. The important thing to remember is that you're not receiving two separate payments - you're receiving a single payment that equals the higher of the two benefit amounts. The SSA is essentially treating your benefits as SSDI until FRA, then as retirement benefits after FRA.

I'm new here but dealing with a similar situation, so this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm 63 and started collecting early retirement last year, then got diagnosed with a chronic condition and applied for SSDI. Still waiting on approval, but reading everyone's experiences gives me hope. One quick question for those who've been through this - when SSA converts your payment from retirement to disability, do you get any kind of notification letter explaining the change? I want to make sure I understand exactly what's happening with my benefits if/when my SSDI gets approved. Also, QuantumQuest, have you considered reaching out to your local SSA field office in addition to calling the main number? Sometimes it's easier to get face-to-face help, especially for complex situations like ours. Just a thought!

As someone who recently went through this process with a UK pension, I can share some practical insights. First, definitely pursue the UK pension - even with WEP, you'll likely come out ahead financially. The UK State Pension system is pretty straightforward to navigate, and you can check your eligibility online through the UK government's website. A few key points from my experience: 1. The WEP reduction formula is complex but there are online calculators that can give you estimates 2. You'll need to report the UK pension to SSA using Form SSA-308 as others mentioned 3. Consider the currency exchange rate fluctuations - your £230 could vary in dollar value over time 4. The UK may withhold taxes on your pension, but you can often claim this back or get credit on your US taxes One thing I wish I'd known earlier: if you haven't claimed your UK pension yet, you might be able to get back payments for years you were eligible but didn't claim. This could be a substantial lump sum, though it would also affect your WEP calculation. The bureaucracy is annoying but the extra income is worth it. Just make sure to keep detailed records of all communications with both systems!

I went through a very similar situation with my German pension a few years ago. Here's what I learned that might help you: The WEP reduction is based on a sliding scale depending on your years of "substantial earnings" under Social Security. Since you mentioned you've been getting SS for 2 years, I assume you have a decent work history. With 27 years of substantial earnings (as you mentioned in a comment), your WEP reduction would be significantly less than the maximum. For your £230 UK pension (~$290), even if WEP reduced your SS by $200-250/month, you'd still net an extra $40-90 monthly. Plus, as others mentioned, you might be eligible for substantial back payments from the UK system. The key steps I'd recommend: 1. Get your exact substantial earnings count from SSA (the annual thresholds change each year) 2. Use the WEP calculator on SSA's website to estimate your reduction 3. Apply for the UK pension - you can always decline it later if the math doesn't work out 4. File Form SSA-308 immediately when you start receiving the UK pension Don't let fear of WEP stop you from claiming benefits you've earned. The "horror stories" are often from people with very few years of SS-covered work, which doesn't seem to be your situation.