I've been following this conversation and wanted to share some additional insights that might help with your SSDI application process. As someone who works in disability advocacy, I see a lot of misconceptions about SSDI benefits. You're absolutely right to be relieved about the age issue - SSDI is NOT reduced for age like early retirement benefits are. Your SSDI benefit will be calculated based on your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is what you'd receive at full retirement age regardless of when you actually apply for SSDI. A few practical tips for your application: 1. Request copies of ALL your medical records before applying - don't rely on SSA to get them 2. Ask your rheumatologist to complete a Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) form that specifically details your physical limitations 3. Document how your RA affects your ability to perform "activities of daily living" - this is crucial for the evaluation Regarding the spousal benefits question from earlier - you're correct that you'd apply for those when your SSDI converts to retirement benefits at age 67. At that point, if 50% of your husband's PIA exceeds your own benefit amount, you'll receive the difference as a spousal benefit supplement. The process is frustrating and lengthy, but with good medical documentation and persistence, many people with legitimate disabilities do get approved. Best of luck with your application!

I went through the SSDI process about two years ago at age 59, so I can relate to your situation! One thing I learned that might help you is to start tracking your "bad days" versus "good days" right now, even before you apply. The SSA evaluators want to understand the consistency and severity of your limitations. For RA, they're particularly interested in how often you experience flares, morning stiffness duration, and functional limitations on your worst days - not just your average days. I kept a simple daily log rating my pain levels, joint stiffness, and what activities I couldn't perform. Also, if you haven't already, consider asking your rheumatologist about any newer treatments or medications. While this might seem counterintuitive when applying for disability, SSA wants to see that you've tried all reasonable treatments before concluding you can't work. Having a clear record that you've exhausted treatment options (or that available treatments aren't effective for your case) actually strengthens your disability claim. One more thing - if you have any old performance reviews from your nursing job that mention attendance issues, fatigue, or difficulty with physical tasks, keep those! They can serve as evidence that your condition was already impacting your work performance before you stopped working entirely. The whole process is emotionally draining, but hang in there. The financial security is worth the hassle of getting through the bureaucracy!

This thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! As someone who works in disability advocacy, I'm amazed by the quality of information and real-world experiences shared here. Dylan, you've received some of the best practical guidance I've seen on SSI to DAC transitions. I wanted to add one more resource that might be helpful - many Area Agencies on Aging have Benefits Counselors who specialize in exactly these types of transitions when parents are approaching retirement. They often work closely with the disability community and can help coordinate between SSA, state agencies, and care providers like group homes. Since you're turning 69, you might qualify for their services even if your daughter is the primary beneficiary of the transition. Also, kudos to everyone who shared their personal experiences - Connor, Dmitry, NightOwl42, and others. These real stories of successful transitions with better outcomes are exactly what families need to hear. The fear around these changes is so common, but as this thread shows, the protections really do work and often lead to improved situations. Dylan, it sounds like you have an excellent plan now. Your proactive approach is going to serve you and your daughter well!

This thread has been such a wealth of information! As someone who's been lurking in this community for a while but never posted, Dylan's question really resonated with me. My sister is in a similar situation - she's 45, disabled since childhood, and currently on SSI. My mom is 68 and has been putting off claiming her Social Security partly because we were all terrified about how it might affect my sister's benefits. Reading through everyone's experiences has been so reassuring! The fact that so many people have successfully navigated this transition with positive outcomes is incredible. I had no idea about concurrent benefits or that DAC recipients could work more without penalties. We've been so focused on the potential downsides that we never considered the opportunities this change might create. I'm definitely going to share this thread with my mom and encourage her to start the planning process. The roadmap everyone has created here - from BPQY reports to WIPA counselors to protective filing dates - is exactly what we needed. It's amazing how this community has turned a scary unknown into something we can approach with confidence. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories and expertise!

I'm going through this exact same nightmare from Australia! Been trying to set up my MySocialSecurity account for almost a year now and hitting the same phone verification wall. It's absolutely mind-boggling that SSA can handle direct deposits to Australian banks and has entire departments for international beneficiaries, yet their online portal acts like Americans living abroad simply don't exist. The NumberBarn solution that @Taylor Chen shared sounds like exactly what I need - $2/month is so much more reasonable than maintaining a full US phone plan or dealing with unreliable VoIP services. I've been hesitant to commit to monthly fees just to access my own benefits, but reading everyone's success stories here has convinced me it's worth it. What really frustrates me is that I worked and paid into Social Security for 35 years, and now I'm essentially being punished for choosing to retire somewhere with a lower cost of living. The system desperately needs to modernize for the reality that many beneficiaries live internationally. Thanks to everyone who shared their workarounds - this thread is pure gold for navigating SSA's backwards technology!

I'm facing the exact same issue from Denmark! Been trying for months to set up my MySocialSecurity account with no luck. The phone verification requirement is such a barrier for expats - it's like SSA designed their system assuming no American would ever live outside the US permanently. After reading through all these incredibly helpful suggestions, the NumberBarn solution that @Taylor Chen mentioned seems like the perfect middle ground. $2/month is so much more reasonable than Google Fi's $20/month, and based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds way more reliable than the free VoIP options that keep getting rejected. I'm also really interested in @Omar Farouk's mention of the in-person SSA office option - unfortunately I won't be traveling to the US anytime soon, but that's great to know for future reference. It's honestly both comforting and infuriating to see so many of us dealing with this identical problem. We paid into this system for decades, and now we're essentially locked out of basic digital access just because we chose to retire abroad. The whole system needs a major overhaul to reflect the reality of modern retirement mobility. Thanks everyone for sharing your workarounds - this thread has been a lifesaver for understanding the options available!

Smart choice waiting until FRA! I made the same decision last year and it was absolutely the right call. The peace of mind alone was worth it - no tracking earnings, no worrying about overpayments, no confusing letters from SSA. One tip for when you do apply in August: even though there are no earnings limits after FRA, SSA will still ask about your work plans on the application. Just be honest about continuing to work through October. They need this info for tax purposes and Medicare coordination, but it won't affect your benefits at all. Also, don't forget that your benefits will be subject to federal income tax if your combined income (including work earnings) exceeds certain thresholds. Might want to discuss tax withholding options with SSA when you apply, especially since you'll have work income through October.

Just want to add another perspective as someone who went through this decision process. I was in almost the exact same situation - turning FRA in July 2024 and debating whether to start benefits early while working part-time. I ended up starting benefits 3 months before my FRA, and honestly, it worked out fine for me. The key was being VERY conservative with my earnings estimates and staying well below the higher earnings limit ($56,520 in 2024 for those reaching FRA that year). I earned about $35,000 in those first 7 months and had no issues with benefit withholding. That said, I completely understand why you're choosing to wait until FRA - the peace of mind factor is huge! The earnings test rules are genuinely confusing even when you think you understand them. Plus, you'll avoid the permanent reduction factor that applies to early benefits. One thing I'd suggest: even though you're waiting until August, go ahead and create your my Social Security account online NOW if you haven't already. This will make the application process much smoother when the time comes, and you can use the benefit calculators to see exactly what your full benefit amount will be.

I'm going through the exact same thing! Filed for retirement in October and discovered 4 missing years from the early 2000s when I was working multiple part-time jobs. Submitted all my W-2s and tax returns in November and it's now been over 4 months with zero communication from SSA. What's really frustrating is that when I log into my SSA account, it just shows my application as "pending" with no details about what stage it's in or estimated timeline. I've called three times and gotten three different answers about processing times - one agent said 60-90 days, another said up to 6 months, and the third one had no idea and just kept saying "it's being processed." The uncertainty is killing me because those missing years were from when I was working in tech during the dot-com boom, so the earnings were actually pretty decent. They could potentially bump up my monthly benefit significantly, but I have no way of knowing until this whole process finally gets resolved. Has anyone had luck getting more specific information by visiting their local SSA office in person rather than calling? I'm wondering if face-to-face might get better results than the phone representatives who seem to have limited access to case details.

I'm dealing with this exact same situation! Filed for retirement benefits in December and they found 3 missing years from my earnings record. It's now been about 3 months since I faxed everything to them and I'm getting the same runaround - just "it's being processed" with no timeline or updates. What's really frustrating is that I can't even log into my SSA account anymore to check anything because it just says my application is being handled at the local office. I feel like I'm in limbo with no way to get information. From what I'm reading here, it sounds like 90+ days is unfortunately normal for this process. I'm going to try some of the suggestions mentioned - specifically asking for a "case status inquiry" when I call, and maybe visiting the local office in person to see if I can get better information than what I get over the phone. The waiting is definitely the worst part, especially not knowing if these missing years will actually make a meaningful difference in my monthly benefit. But I guess we're all in the same boat here! Thanks for posting about this - it's oddly comforting to know I'm not the only one dealing with this mess.