To answer your most recent question: Yes, you will receive an award letter in the mail after you apply that will show your exact benefit amount and how it was calculated. This typically arrives 2-4 weeks after your application is processed. The letter will show your PIA (Primary Insurance Amount), any delayed retirement credits, and your final monthly benefit amount. If you see any discrepancies or have questions about the calculation, you can call SSA for clarification after receiving this letter. I would recommend keeping this letter in a safe place for future reference since it contains the official record of your benefit calculation.

Just wanted to add - make sure you have all your documentation ready when you call! I'd recommend having your Social Security card, recent tax returns (especially if you've had 1099 income), and any previous benefit statements you can find. Also, if you do end up having trouble getting through on the phone, try calling right at 7 AM when they open - that's usually the best time to avoid the worst wait times. Tuesday through Thursday tend to be less busy than Mondays and Fridays. Good luck with your switch! It sounds like you made a smart decision waiting until 70 to maximize your benefits.

my friend just went thru this with her autistic twins!! she said the SSI application took forever but the interviewer was super nice and walked her thru everything. dont forget to bring proof that you have legal custody of them and all their diagnosis paperwork!! and when you get to the SSA office bring snacks cuz youll be there ALL DAY lol

I went through this same situation with my grandson who has autism! Here's what I learned from the process: Your $943 SSI won't decrease directly, but when multiple people in the same household receive SSI, each additional person gets a reduced amount (around 75% of the individual rate). So while each child won't get the full $687/month they might get living independently, you'll still come out way ahead financially. A few practical tips from my experience: - Start gathering ALL medical records NOW - the more documentation the better - Get letters from their doctors specifically stating how autism affects their daily functioning - The school's IEP documents are crucial evidence - Be prepared for the process to take 3-6 months minimum - Don't get discouraged if they're initially denied - appeals are common and often successful The Medicaid benefits they'll get with SSI approval are honestly just as valuable as the cash benefits. All their therapy, medications, and special equipment will be covered. One thing nobody warned me about - once they're approved, you'll have three separate SSI cases to manage with different review dates and paperwork. It's a lot but totally worth it for the financial relief! Feel free to ask if you have specific questions about the application process!

One more thing to be aware of: the DAC benefit amount will be 50% of your father's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) while your father is alive. If you have multiple family members drawing on your father's record, the Family Maximum Benefit rules might apply, potentially reducing the amount your brother receives. After calculating the expected DAC amount, I'd recommend contacting your state's Medicaid office BEFORE the transition occurs to discuss the DAC Medicaid continuation provision. Some offices have special coordinators who handle these complex cases. Getting ahead of the situation can prevent a gap in coverage.

This is such a complex situation, and I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences! As someone who works with disability benefits, I want to add a few practical tips: 1. Document EVERYTHING - keep records of all calls to SSA and Medicaid, including dates, names of representatives you spoke with, and what they told you. 2. When your dad applies for retirement benefits, make sure SSA knows about your brother's disability so they can process the DAC application simultaneously. This helps avoid delays. 3. Consider reaching out to your local disability advocacy organization or legal aid - many have staff who specialize in these benefit transitions and can help navigate the Medicaid continuation process. 4. If your brother has any other sources of income (even small amounts), make sure to factor those into the SSI calculation as well. The Section 1634(c) protection for DAC beneficiaries is real and legally required, but sadly many local offices don't understand it. Having an advocate who knows the rules can make a huge difference in ensuring your brother maintains his healthcare coverage during this transition.

Thanks everyone for your helpful advice! I feel much better about this situation now. I'm going to focus on staying under the annual earnings limit and not worry too much about the hours since my transcription work isn't considered a high-skill professional service. I'll keep good records of my income and expenses to be safe. Really appreciate all of you taking time to share your knowledge and experiences!

Great discussion here! As someone who just started collecting Social Security while doing freelance web design, I was also worried about the 45-hour rule. After reading through all these responses and doing my own research, it seems like the key takeaway is that SSA uses the "substantial services" test mainly for high-earning professionals who might be gaming the system. For most of us doing regular freelance or part-time work, staying under the annual earnings limit is what really matters. I've been keeping a simple spreadsheet tracking both my hours and income just to be safe, but it sounds like the income tracking is the critical part. Thanks Ana for asking this question - it's clearly something a lot of us new retirees are confused about!

My husband and me were just talking about this! Do you guys have a financial advisor who specializes in SS? Our regular investment guy doesnt really know all these complicated rules. Makes a big difference to get the right advice!

I'm new to this community but dealing with a similar situation with my parents. One thing I learned from researching this is that you might want to consider the "break-even" analysis - comparing the total benefits you'd receive by claiming at FRA vs waiting until 70. If you're in good health and have longevity in your family, waiting until 70 usually makes sense not just for the higher monthly benefit, but especially for maximizing your wife's potential survivor benefit. The crossover point is typically around age 82-83 where the delayed claiming strategy starts paying off in total lifetime benefits. But since your wife would get that higher survivor benefit for potentially decades, it's often worth the wait even if you don't personally reach that break-even age.