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 someone who just recently started navigating the Social Security system myself, this whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had always assumed everyone got their payments on the same day based on birth date, so learning about all these different categories and payment schedules is really helpful. The fact that there are separate rules for pre-1997 beneficiaries, spousal benefits, SSI combinations, and regular retirement benefits shows just how complex the system really is. I'm definitely going to save this thread as a reference and check out that SSA payment calendar that was mentioned. It's so reassuring to see a community where people are willing to share their experiences and help newcomers understand these confusing processes. Thanks to everyone who took the time to explain the different scenarios - it makes the whole system feel much less intimidating!

This thread has been such a goldmine of information! I'm in a similar boat - just received my award letter and was completely puzzled by the payment date. After reading through everyone's experiences here, I finally understand why the system works the way it does. The breakdown of pre-1997 vs post-1997 rules, spousal benefits, and all the different categories really cleared things up. I had no idea the payment system was so complex! I'm definitely going to create that MySocialSecurity account to double-check my direct deposit info like someone mentioned, and I'll be looking up that payment calendar too. It's amazing how much more confident I feel about the whole process after reading real people's experiences rather than just trying to decipher government websites. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge - this community is incredibly helpful for newcomers!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a very similar situation - I'll be 67 next month and my wife is 66, so we're both at FRA. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like applying online simultaneously is definitely the way to go. I have one specific question that I haven't seen addressed yet: For the direct deposit setup, do we each need to provide our own bank account information, or can we use the same joint account for both of our benefit payments? We've had a joint checking account for years and would prefer to have everything deposited there, but I want to make sure SSA allows that arrangement. Also, thank you to everyone who mentioned the importance of checking earnings records first - I just logged into my Social Security account and found a discrepancy from 1987 that I need to get corrected before we apply. Better to catch these things early! One more question if anyone knows: If we apply in early April for benefits to start in May, roughly how long should we expect before we see our first payments? I'm trying to plan our transition from employer health insurance to Medicare.

I went through this process with my husband just 6 months ago and wanted to share a few additional tips that really helped us. First, make sure you have your Medicare enrollment sorted out before applying for Social Security - the timing can be tricky if you're still on employer insurance. We almost missed our Medicare enrollment window because we were so focused on the SS applications. Second, don't forget about taxes! Your Social Security benefits may be taxable depending on your other retirement income. We were caught off guard by this and had to adjust our tax withholding strategy mid-year. You can actually have taxes withheld from your SS payments if needed. One thing that made our process smoother was calling the SSA helpline about a week before applying just to confirm we had all the right documents and understood the process. Yes, it took forever to get through, but the agent was able to answer some specific questions about our situation that the website couldn't address. The simultaneous application approach definitely works - my spousal benefits kicked in about 2 weeks after my husband's retirement benefits were approved. Just be patient with the "pending" status and don't stress about it. The system works, it just takes time!

This thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm not dealing with this issue personally yet (still a few years away from claiming Social Security), but I'm definitely bookmarking this conversation for future reference. It's honestly shocking that such a predictable transition issue doesn't have better automated systems in place to prevent double billing. What strikes me most is how many people have experienced this exact same problem, yet it seems like every person has to figure it out on their own and spend hours on the phone to get it resolved. You'd think after decades of people transitioning from self-paid Medicare premiums to Social Security deduction, they'd have streamlined this process by now. @Carmella Fromis I really hope you're able to get this sorted out quickly! Based on all the advice here, it sounds like you have a solid plan of attack. Please update us on how it goes - I'm sure there are other people lurking here who would benefit from hearing about your experience with the resolution process. The Claimyr service that multiple people have mentioned sounds like a game-changer for dealing with SSA phone waits. Definitely something I'll remember for when my time comes to navigate these bureaucratic waters!

As someone who just went through this transition myself about 6 months ago, I can confirm this is unfortunately a very common issue! The system coordination between Medicare and Social Security is terrible, and you're definitely not alone in experiencing double charges. Here's what worked for me: I called both SSA and my Medicare Administrative Contractor on the same day. For the SSA call, I used that Claimyr service that others have mentioned - it really does save you from sitting on hold for hours. When I got through, I specifically said "I need to report a Medicare Part B premium transition duplicate payment" and they immediately knew what I was dealing with. The whole resolution took about 2-3 weeks, but I did get fully refunded for the double payments. Make sure you have your Medicare card, Social Security award letter, and bank statements showing both charges ready when you call. Also, get confirmation numbers for everything and ask them to document that your premium deduction method has been permanently updated in their system. One tip that helped me: when you call, mention SSA Publication No. 05-10043 that @AaliyahAli referenced above. It shows you understand this isn't supposed to happen according to their own procedures, and they seemed to take my case more seriously after that. Don't wait - this won't fix itself automatically. But the good news is it's definitely resolvable, just requires some persistence with the bureaucracy. Good luck!

I just wanted to post a final update - I was able to get an appointment at my local SS office (had to wait 3 weeks!) and went through all the numbers in detail. I decided to take the retroactive payment after all. The lump sum is exactly $15,392 and reduces my monthly payment by $92 compared to filing without retroactivity. I've already set up a separate savings account for about 30% of it for potential taxes next year (thanks for that advice!). The remaining money will go toward medical treatments and paying off debt. Even with the permanently reduced monthly amount, I feel good about this decision given my current health and financial needs. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences and advice!

Congratulations on making such a thoughtful decision! It sounds like you really did your homework and considered all the angles - the tax implications, the debt payoff benefits, and most importantly your health needs. I'm in a similar situation at 68 with some health issues, and your post has been really helpful in thinking through my own options. The fact that you'll actually improve your monthly cash flow by $180 after paying off that credit card debt is a great point that shows sometimes the "optimal" choice on paper isn't always the best real-world choice. Wishing you all the best with your treatments and recovery! Thanks for sharing your experience - it's going to help a lot of people in similar situations.