Regarding sedentary work while on SSDI - there are also programs specifically designed to help SSDI beneficiaries return to work if they're able. The Ticket to Work program provides free employment support services and protection against medical Continuing Disability Reviews while you're participating. Depending on your situation, this might be a good option to explore after you're approved for benefits. You can test your work ability with various supports in place. Look into Benefits Planning Assistance and Outreach (BPAO) services in your area for personalized guidance on how working might affect your benefits.

Just wanted to add one more perspective as someone who went through this exact situation. I was a roofer for 15 years before my back gave out at 48. Got approved for SSDI after 14 months and one appeal. The key thing that helped my case was getting my orthopedic surgeon AND a pain management doctor to both write detailed RFC assessments specifically stating I couldn't sit for more than 20-30 minutes at a time, needed to lie down 2-3 times during an 8-hour period, and would miss more than 2 days of work per month due to pain flares. Those specific functional limitations are what convinced the judge that even desk jobs weren't viable for me. I now do some freelance bookkeeping from home (maybe 10-12 hours a week) staying well under the SGA limit. The flexibility to work when I'm having good days and rest when I'm not has been a lifesaver. My advice: don't let anyone pressure you into thinking you're "too young" for disability if you truly can't work. Document everything thoroughly and consider getting a disability attorney if you get denied initially.

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share my recent experience that might help others in similar situations. I just went through the SSA review process for my S corp rental income last month, and the documentation everyone mentioned here was absolutely crucial. What made the biggest difference in my case was having a detailed "passive investor affidavit" that my attorney prepared, which specifically outlined my limited role and referenced all the supporting documentation (property management agreements, payment records, time logs showing minimal involvement, etc.). SSA accepted this package without requiring an appeal. One thing I learned that wasn't mentioned yet: if you're taking ANY salary from the S corp, make sure it's truly "reasonable compensation" for whatever minimal services you do provide (like reviewing quarterly reports or signing annual documents). SSA can challenge unreasonably low salaries as a way to avoid payroll taxes, which could complicate your earnings test situation. Also, I found it helpful to maintain a simple monthly log documenting my actual involvement - even if it's just "reviewed monthly statement via email - 15 minutes" or "no property-related activities this month." This creates a paper trail showing your consistent passive role over time. The peace of mind from having everything properly documented from the start is worth the extra effort!

As a newcomer to this community, I've been following this thread closely as I'm considering early retirement next year and have been worried about how my small business income might affect Social Security benefits. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly educational! One thing I'm curious about that hasn't been fully addressed: for those of you who have S corps with rental properties, how do you handle the timing of reporting to SSA? Do you report your expected salary at the beginning of the year, or wait until you know your actual earnings? I'm particularly concerned about accidentally under-reporting and then having issues later if circumstances change. Also, @Andre Dubois - have you been able to connect with SSA yet using the Claimyr service that @Liam O'Donnell mentioned? I'm very interested to hear how that goes since I've had similar frustrations trying to reach someone by phone. Thanks to everyone who has shared their experiences here. This thread has been more helpful than hours of trying to research this topic on my own!

I just went through this exact process last year and wanted to share some additional insights! The one-month delay is definitely standard - your February payment will be for January benefits. One thing that really helped me was calling my bank ahead of time to let them know I'd be receiving Social Security direct deposits starting in February. Some banks flag large new recurring deposits as suspicious activity, so giving them a heads up prevented any holds on my first payment. Also, since you're planning for January expenses, consider that your final paycheck from work might have different tax withholdings if HR knows you're retiring - I got a slightly larger final check than expected which helped bridge that gap. The SSA timing is frustrating but once you get into the rhythm it becomes predictable. Good luck with your retirement!

I'm going through the exact same situation right now - hitting FRA in December and planning to start benefits in January 2025! This thread has been incredibly helpful. I had no idea about the one-month delay and was also planning on that first payment arriving in January for my budget. It's really frustrating that SSA doesn't make this timing clearer during the application process. I've been reading through everyone's experiences and it sounds like this catches a lot of new retirees off guard. I'm definitely going to need to adjust my financial planning for those first few weeks of January now. Has anyone found any official SSA documentation that clearly explains this payment timing? I'd love to have something in writing to reference when I'm doing my final budget planning.

Rami, what fantastic news about your treatment progress! As someone who's navigated the SSA system, I wanted to share a few key points that might help ease your concerns: The good news is that SSA has specific protocols for cancer cases that recognize the complexity of treatment and recovery. They use something called the "Blue Book" listings, and for lymphoma specifically, they understand that even successful treatment can leave lasting functional limitations. A few important things to keep in mind: - Your recent approval means SSA already has your baseline documented as stage 4 lymphoma, so any review will compare against that severe starting point - Remission doesn't equal full functional recovery - treatment effects like fatigue, neuropathy, immune suppression, and cognitive changes are all legitimate ongoing impairments - The review process typically takes 6-12 months from start to finish, giving you time to prepare For your survivor benefits, those have different rules depending on whether you qualified as a disabled widow/widower or based on age criteria. It's worth clarifying which category you fall under since the medical review may affect them differently. My advice: start documenting everything now - energy levels, concentration issues, physical limitations, medication side effects. This creates a paper trail of your functional capacity that goes beyond just cancer markers. And definitely keep celebrating this amazing treatment response - you deserve to focus on healing first!

Congratulations on your incredible response to treatment! That's such wonderful and hopeful news. I can absolutely understand your anxiety about what happens to your benefits if you continue to improve - it's natural to worry about financial security while you're focused on healing. From what I understand, SSA has specific review processes in place precisely because they recognize that medical improvement doesn't automatically equal the ability to return to full work capacity. Cancer treatment, especially for something as serious as stage 4 lymphoma, often leaves lasting effects that can continue to impact your functional abilities even after achieving remission. The fact that you were just recently approved means SSA has your severe baseline condition well documented. Any future review would need to show significant improvement from that starting point, and they'd have to demonstrate that any improvement actually translates to your ability to perform substantial gainful activity. I'd suggest starting to document all your ongoing symptoms and limitations now - things like fatigue levels, cognitive effects, physical stamina, etc. Even as you improve, these treatment-related effects can be significant and relevant to any future disability determination. Most importantly though, focus on your recovery first. You're dealing with something incredibly challenging and the fact that you're responding so well to treatment is cause for celebration. The administrative side can be managed when the time comes, and you'll have advance notice and options if/when any review happens. Sending you best wishes for continued progress with your treatment!

I'm so sorry for your loss, and I completely understand your frustration with getting incomplete information from SSA. This is unfortunately very common, and you're absolutely right to push for more complete projections. Based on what everyone has shared here, I'd suggest going back with a very specific request. Ask for a "detailed benefit calculation showing both survivor benefits AND retirement benefits from age 60 through 70, including scenarios where I stop working at age 60 and at age 62." One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also ask them to show you the break-even analysis. This tells you at what age the total lifetime benefits become equal between different claiming strategies. For example, if you take reduced survivor benefits early versus waiting for full benefits, there's usually a break-even point around age 78-82 where the total amount received becomes equal. The widow's planning strategy is one of the most complex areas in Social Security, but also one where the right decision can mean tens of thousands of dollars over your lifetime. Don't let anyone rush you through this - you have every right to understand all your options completely before making such an important financial decision. You're being very smart by asking these questions now. Take your time, get all the information, and consider consulting with a fee-only financial planner who specializes in Social Security strategies if the numbers are still confusing after you get the complete projections.

I'm so sorry for your loss and can completely understand your frustration with the incomplete information from SSA. You're absolutely right to be asking these questions - this decision will impact your financial security for the rest of your life. From my experience helping clients navigate Social Security decisions, the printout you received is likely a basic benefit estimate that stops at your Full Retirement Age (67). You definitely need projections through age 70 because that's when your own retirement benefit reaches its maximum value with delayed retirement credits. Here's what you should specifically request on your next visit: 1. "Detailed benefit calculation for both survivor benefits AND retirement benefits from age 60 through 70" 2. Ask them to run scenarios showing your retirement benefit if you stop working at 60 vs. continuing to work 3. Request a break-even analysis comparing different claiming strategies The key strategy many widows use is taking reduced survivor benefits early (as early as 60) while letting their own retirement benefit grow until age 70, then switching to whichever is higher. But you need those complete projections to determine if this makes sense in your situation. Also, verify your husband's earnings record is accurate - errors are more common than you'd think and can significantly impact your survivor benefit amount. Don't let them rush you through this. You have every right to understand all your options completely before making such an important decision.