This is such a valuable discussion! As someone who's been navigating Social Security planning for my own family, I wanted to add a perspective that might help with your decision-making process. One thing I learned from my financial advisor is to think about this in terms of "Social Security arbitrage." If you're healthy and expect to live well into your 80s or beyond, the recalculation benefit that Atticus mentioned becomes really important. Essentially, you're getting an 8% annual increase on your benefit amount for each year you delay past your full retirement age (until age 70), plus the credit for any withheld benefits. But here's the practical reality check: if you need the income NOW to maintain your quality of life, then the math about future adjustments doesn't matter as much. I've seen too many people stress themselves out trying to optimize every dollar when they should be focused on having financial security and peace of mind today. For your specific situation with the missing earnings years, that's absolutely your first priority. Those 3 years could be worth thousands of dollars annually for the rest of your life. Everything else is just fine-tuning compared to getting your benefit calculation correct. My suggestion would be to fix the earnings record first, then reassess your work situation with the correct benefit amount in hand. You might find the decision becomes much clearer once you know your actual numbers!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm new to this community and in a similar situation at 64. One aspect I haven't seen mentioned yet is the impact of Medicare premiums if you're already enrolled or planning to enroll soon. When you're receiving Social Security benefits, Medicare Part B premiums are automatically deducted from your monthly payment. But if your benefits are withheld due to excess earnings, you'll need to pay those premiums directly to Medicare, which can be a cash flow surprise that some people don't anticipate. Also, for those considering the "work now, get credited later" approach - don't forget that Medicare premiums increase each year, so even when your benefits are recalculated upward at FRA, a portion of that increase will be offset by higher Medicare costs. Just another factor to consider in the overall equation! The earnings record correction definitely sounds like the highest priority item based on everyone's experiences shared here.

As someone who works with disability claims, I want to emphasize that your sister should also be prepared for the appeals process if needed. Initial SSDI applications are denied about 65% of the time, even for legitimate claims. If she gets denied initially, don't give up! The reconsideration and hearing levels have much higher approval rates. Keep all her medical records organized and make sure her doctors are documenting how her rheumatoid arthritis specifically prevents her from performing her nursing duties. The key is showing she cannot do her past work AND cannot adjust to other work given her age, education, and limitations. With 35+ years of work history and a solid medical condition like severe RA, she has a strong case - just be patient with the process.

Just want to add that your sister should also consider whether she has any private disability insurance through her nursing job that she might need to coordinate with SSDI. Some employer policies require you to apply for Social Security disability and will offset their payments accordingly. Also, if she's been paying into a state disability program, she should check if that affects her SSDI eligibility or timing. It's worth reviewing all her insurance policies before the SSDI approval comes through to make sure she's maximizing all available benefits and understands any coordination requirements.

Here's a simplified explanation of your situation: 1. January-May 2025 (before FRA): Higher annual earnings limit applies (approximately $60,000 adjusted for 2025 COLA) 2. June 2025 and beyond (FRA attained): No earnings limits whatsoever The monthly earnings limit only applies in a non-FRA year when you have a "grace year" - the first year you retire and claim benefits mid-year. This is often confused with FRA rules. For official verification, see SSA's page on Special Earnings Limit Rule: https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/rule.html

Just wanted to add one more important point that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you understand how the earnings test calculation works in practice. SSA looks at your ANNUAL earnings for the months before FRA, but they deduct benefits on a monthly basis if you exceed the limit. So if you earn $70,000 from January through May 2025 (exceeding the ~$60K limit), they'll withhold $1 for every $3 over the limit, but they spread that withholding across the remaining months of the year. It's not like they take a lump sum - they adjust your monthly benefit payments. This might affect your cash flow planning even though you'll be within your rights to earn that much.

This happened to my sister too! The award letter eventually came and showed that SSA had paid the LTD company directly for the offset (only the SSDI portion, not the full LTD amount). Don't forget that SSDI also has that stupid 5-month waiting period where you don't get any benefits at the beginning of your disability period.

UPDATE??? did u ever get this figured out? I'm curious what happened with all the money!

One additional point regarding your question about claiming at 65 - remember that your Medicare enrollment starts at 65 regardless of your Social Security Full Retirement Age. So even if you delay Social Security benefits, you should still sign up for Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period (which begins 3 months before your 65th birthday). Missing this window can result in permanent premium penalties. This is a common source of confusion since the Full Retirement Age for Social Security and Medicare eligibility age are different.

I'm also approaching retirement and have been dealing with similar SSA website issues. One thing that helped me was clearing my browser cache and cookies completely before trying to log in again. Also, if you're using a saved password, try typing it manually - sometimes autofill doesn't work properly with their site. Another tip: try accessing the site early in the morning (like 6-7 AM) when traffic is lighter. I was able to get in much easier during off-peak hours. Good luck with your retirement planning!