As a newcomer to this community, I'm amazed by how helpful and detailed everyone's responses have been! I'm in a similar situation with my adult nephew who has intellectual disabilities, and this thread has been incredibly educational. One thing I wanted to add based on my recent research - if your son has never worked or hasn't worked enough to qualify for SSDI on his own record, but his father has a work history, the Disabled Adult Child benefits could potentially provide a much higher monthly payment than SSI. DAC benefits are based on the parent's earning record, so they're often significantly more than the current SSI federal benefit rate of $943/month. Also, unlike SSI, DAC benefits don't have the strict $2,000 resource limit, which would completely solve your Roth IRA concern! Your son could keep the IRA and still receive benefits. Given that his father is approaching retirement age, I'd definitely recommend exploring the DAC option first before going through the SSI spend-down process. You can apply for both simultaneously and let SSA determine which program(s) he qualifies for. @Marcus Marsh - you mentioned feeling terrible about waiting to apply, but honestly, learning about these different benefit options before applying puts you in a much better position than many families who rush into the process without understanding all their choices. Your son is lucky to have such a thoughtful advocate!

As someone new to navigating disability benefits, I'm incredibly grateful for this detailed discussion! I'm helping my adult sister explore her options after a workplace injury left her with cognitive impairments, and I had no idea there were so many different programs and considerations. The information about DAC benefits is particularly eye-opening - I never realized that adult children with disabilities could potentially receive benefits based on their parent's work record without the strict asset limitations of SSI. This could be a game-changer for families who have been trying to navigate the $2,000 resource limit. I also wanted to mention that some states have additional programs that work alongside federal benefits. For example, some states offer waiver programs that provide additional support services for people with developmental or cognitive disabilities, and these often have different eligibility requirements than SSI. @Marcus Marsh - your situation with the childhood TBI at age 7 actually puts your son in a potentially strong position for multiple benefit programs. The early onset means he'd qualify for an ABLE account, and if he's never been able to work substantially due to his disability, that supports both SSI and DAC eligibility criteria. One practical tip I learned from our local disability advocacy center: when you do apply, consider filing for everything you might qualify for simultaneously rather than trying to pick the "best" option upfront. SSA is supposed to award the highest benefit amount you're eligible for, so let them do the calculations and comparisons. This thread has been so educational - thank you everyone for sharing your knowledge and experiences!

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I think I understand now - my FRA is 66 and 10 months (not a "max age"), and I can get delayed retirement credits up until age 70. I'm still working, so I'll probably wait at least until my FRA to avoid the earnings limit. Since my family tends to live into their 90s, waiting until 70 might be the best financial decision for me. I'll check my mySocialSecurity account to get my specific benefit estimates at different ages.

Sounds like you've got a solid plan, Ravi! One thing to double-check when you log into your mySocialSecurity account - make sure to look at the "View Estimated Benefits" section which will show you the exact dollar amounts at different claiming ages. Also, since you mentioned your family longevity, you might want to consider spousal benefits too if you're married. The timing of when you claim can affect survivor benefits for your spouse. Good luck with your decision!

To address your original question about appointments - yes, you should definitely schedule one rather than just showing up. As others have mentioned, wait times can be extremely long, especially in busy offices. If you're having trouble getting through on the 800 number, try calling right when they open (8:00 AM Eastern time) or in the last hour before they close (5:30-6:30 PM Eastern). Thursdays and Fridays tend to have slightly shorter wait times than Mondays. Alternatively, check if your local office has a direct number listed. Some do provide direct lines on their local office pages that can be found through the SSA office locator: https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp

I'm so sorry for your loss, Luca. Going through this process while grieving is incredibly difficult. Based on what others have shared, I wanted to add a few practical tips that might help: Since you're having trouble getting through on the phone, consider visiting your local office first thing in the morning when they open - many offices allow walk-ins for urgent matters like survivor benefits, and you'll avoid the afternoon rush. Bring a book or tablet to keep yourself occupied during the wait. Also, when you do get your appointment, ask about expedited processing. Survivor benefits for children are considered priority cases, and they may be able to fast-track your application given your circumstances. One thing I haven't seen mentioned - make sure to ask about any lump-sum death benefit ($255) that may be available. It's not much, but every bit helps during this difficult time. Take care of yourself during this process. The paperwork and waiting can be frustrating, but you're doing the right thing by getting these benefits for your kids. They'll provide important financial support as you all navigate this new chapter.

Great summary Anna! You've got all the key points right. One small addition - since you mentioned you might need another $10k from your 401k before year-end, that's totally fine and won't affect your Social Security benefits at all. The earnings test really is just about wages and self-employment income, so you can withdraw as much as you need from retirement accounts without penalty from SSA. Just keep track of your consulting income to make sure that stays under the limit. Sounds like you're in great shape!

One thing I'd add that might be helpful - if you're doing consulting work, make sure you're properly tracking your expenses! Since it's self-employment income, you can deduct legitimate business expenses which will reduce your net earnings for the SSA earnings test. Things like office supplies, mileage, equipment, etc. So if you made $14,000 but had $2,000 in valid business expenses, only $12,000 would count toward the limit. Just make sure you keep good records in case SSA ever asks. This could give you even more breathing room under that $22,320 threshold!

Don't overthink this. At your asset level ($1.8M), the SS decision isn't going to make or break your retirement either way. You're in an enviable position where you'll be fine regardless. I tend to favor taking it at 62 because it gives you more flexibility early in retirement when you're most active and can enjoy it. Just my two cents having been on both sides of the decision.

As someone who's been through this exact decision process, I'd encourage you to consider one more angle: spousal benefits and survivor protection. If you're married, delaying your SS benefit doesn't just affect you - it also determines the maximum survivor benefit your spouse could receive. Given your excellent health and family longevity, this could be significant. That said, your financial position is strong enough that you really can't make a "wrong" choice here. I've seen too many people stress over optimizing SS while missing opportunities to enjoy their early retirement years. The difference between claiming at 62 vs 67 might be $200K over 30 years, but you already have nearly $2M in assets. My suggestion: Run the numbers one more time factoring in taxes and your specific withdrawal strategy, then go with whatever gives you the most peace of mind. The "perfect" mathematical choice isn't worth losing sleep over when you're already in such a secure position.