Welcome to the community! I see you're getting some great advice here. Just wanted to add one more perspective as someone who went through this transition a couple years ago. The switch from monthly to annual reporting is definitely real and happens after your first calendar year of benefits. What I found most helpful was using that first year of monthly data to create a really solid baseline for future annual estimates. Since you're in accounting, you'll probably appreciate having that detailed monthly breakdown to work with. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier: if you end up with an overpayment situation down the road (which hopefully you won't if you estimate conservatively), SSA is generally pretty reasonable about payment plans. They'd rather work with you than create financial hardship. Also, make sure you understand the difference between the regular annual earnings limit and the higher limit that applies in the year you reach FRA - that caught me off guard when I was planning ahead. The SSA website has the current limits, but they do adjust them annually for inflation. Keep asking questions here - this community has been super helpful for navigating all these Social Security quirks!

Welcome to the community! I just wanted to chime in as someone who's currently going through a very similar situation. I started collecting benefits in April 2025 at age 62 and am also still working part-time with seasonal fluctuations in my income. Everyone here has given you excellent advice about the transition from monthly to annual reporting after your first year. What I've found most helpful is creating a detailed monthly tracking system not just for SSA reporting, but also to better understand my own income patterns. Since you mentioned your work is seasonal like mine, this first year of monthly reporting is actually giving us valuable data to make more accurate annual projections going forward. One additional tip I'd share: when you do make that transition to annual reporting in 2026, consider setting aside a small amount each month in a separate account in case you end up owing anything back to SSA. Even with conservative estimates, it's nice to have that safety net rather than scrambling if an unexpected bonus or extra work comes up during the year. The community here has been incredibly helpful in navigating all these nuances. Don't hesitate to keep asking questions as they come up - there's always someone who's been through whatever situation you're facing!

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!

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.

The REAL problem is that the SSA's systems are outdated and the different offices don't communicate. I've had THREE different answers from THREE different representatives about the same question. Your best bet is to DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. Write down who you talked to today, the time, what they told you, and any confirmation numbers. Trust me, when they inevitably mess something up, you'll need this information to fight them!!!

I went through this exact situation when I applied for survivor benefits at 60. The protective filing date is crucial - it saved me about $1,800 in back benefits! When you call SSA, they should give you what's called a "receipt notice" or confirmation that you initiated contact on today's date. If you didn't get one, I'd recommend calling back tomorrow and specifically asking for documentation of your protective filing date from today's call. Also, during your October 31st appointment, bring up the protective filing date first thing - don't wait for them to mention it. Some reps are great about this, others need reminding. The system works, but you have to be proactive about protecting your rights.

Congratulations on working out a solution with your employer! That's really smart planning. Just wanted to add one more tip for anyone else in a similar situation - if you're close to the earnings limit, consider asking your employer about flexible scheduling or the option to temporarily reduce hours later in the year if needed. Many employers are understanding about Social Security restrictions, especially for part-time positions. It's much easier to stay under the limit proactively than to deal with overpayments later!

Just wanted to share my experience as someone who went through something similar a few years ago. I took early retirement at 62 and then got offered contract work at 64. The key thing that helped me was setting up quarterly check-ins with myself to track my earnings - I'd calculate where I was at the end of each quarter and project forward to make sure I wouldn't go over. It gave me peace of mind and let me adjust my work schedule if needed. Also, don't forget that the earnings limit is per calendar year, so if you started collecting SS partway through last year, this year is really your first full year to manage. Sounds like you've got a good plan worked out with your employer though!