I'm in a very similar situation - born February 1958, so my FRA is also 66 and 10 months, which means December 2024 for me. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! I was also confused about the timing and which month to select. One question I have - has anyone dealt with spousal benefits in this situation? My wife is a few years younger and won't reach her FRA until later. I'm wondering if there are any special considerations when one spouse is applying at FRA while the other is still working and won't be eligible for a while. Should I be thinking about spousal benefit strategies or does that not matter when I'm applying right at my FRA? Also, for those who have gone through the process - did you get any kind of confirmation or receipt after submitting your online application? I want to make sure I have documentation that I applied on time.

I'm also facing this same timing decision and wanted to share something I learned from my local SSA office visit last week. The representative emphasized that when you're born in January of any year, you actually reach your birthday month age on the first day of that month for Social Security purposes. So if you were born in January 1958, you're considered to reach age 66 on January 1, 2024, and then your additional 10 months would put your FRA at November 1, 2024. What really helped me understand this was asking the SSA rep to show me exactly how they calculate it in their system. She pulled up my record and walked through it step by step. This might be worth doing if you have any lingering doubts - even though it can be hard to get through on the phone, visiting a local office (with an appointment if possible) can give you that face-to-face confirmation. One more tip - when I was there, she showed me how the online application has a "preview" feature before you submit where you can see exactly what benefits will start when. Use that preview to double-check everything looks right before hitting submit!

I went through this exact situation with my dad when he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. He was terrified to stop working but physically couldn't keep up with his normal duties anymore. Here's what we learned that might help your sister: The $1,850/month she's earning is technically above the SGA limit, BUT there are exceptions for cancer patients, especially stage 4. Document everything about how her work capacity has changed - reduced hours, needing help from coworkers, frequent absences for treatment, etc. This shows "diminished earning capacity" which SSA can consider. Also, make sure her oncologist includes specific functional limitations in their report - like "can only stand for 15 minutes at a time" or "requires rest breaks every 2 hours due to fatigue." The more specific, the better. One thing that really helped us was keeping a daily log of her symptoms and how they affect her ability to work. Even just a week or two of documentation can be powerful evidence. My dad's case was approved in about 5 weeks under Compassionate Allowance, and he was still working reduced hours when he applied. Stay strong - you're being such a good advocate for her during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry your sister is going through this. As someone who works in disability advocacy, I want to emphasize a few critical points that haven't been fully covered: 1. **Apply immediately** - Don't wait. Stage 4 renal cancer is on the Compassionate Allowances list, which means faster processing (typically 2-4 weeks vs 3-6 months). 2. **The SGA issue is manageable** - While her $1,850/month is above the $1,550 SGA threshold, there are several ways around this for cancer patients: - Document that her employer is providing "subsidized employment" (paying her the same rate despite reduced productivity) - Show this is an "unsuccessful work attempt" due to medical limitations - Emphasize that her continued work is temporary while awaiting approval 3. **Key documentation needed**: - Oncologist's detailed RFC form stating specific limitations - Letter from employer explaining accommodations being made - Treatment records showing stage 4 diagnosis and prognosis - Documentation of missed work days/reduced productivity 4. **Use the magic words**: Make sure her application specifically mentions "Compassionate Allowances" and if her prognosis is less than 12 months, request "TERI" (Terminal Illness) designation. The system isn't perfect, but with proper documentation and the right approach, stage 4 cancer cases do get approved even when the person is still working reduced hours. Stay strong!

I appreciate everyone's insights! I'm going to talk to my financial advisor about adjusting my retirement plans just to be safe. Sounds like I should hope for the best but plan for that 20% reduction. Still frustrating that we've known about this problem for so long and nothing has been done to fix it.

As someone who's been following this issue closely, I want to add some perspective on the timing aspect. The 2033 date isn't set in stone - it fluctuates based on economic conditions, employment rates, and wage growth. During the pandemic, the projected depletion date actually moved up due to job losses, but it's since stabilized again. What's encouraging is that we're seeing more bipartisan discussion about solutions lately. Both parties recognize that Social Security is incredibly popular with voters, so there's political incentive to address this before it becomes a crisis. The closer we get to 2033, the more urgent the pressure becomes on lawmakers. For those planning retirement in the next 5-10 years, I'd suggest running scenarios with both full benefits and an 80% reduction to see how it affects your overall retirement income plan. Don't forget that Social Security was never meant to be anyone's sole source of retirement income - it's just one leg of the three-legged stool (along with employer-sponsored plans and personal savings).

One thing that might help with your planning is to get your actual benefit estimates from SSA. You can create an account at ssa.gov and see your projected benefits at different claiming ages, plus get an estimate of what your spousal benefit would be based on your husband's earnings record. This will give you concrete numbers to work with rather than trying to plan with hypotheticals. Also, since you mentioned you have a smaller earnings record, make sure to compare your own benefit at full retirement age versus the spousal benefit - sometimes people are surprised to find their own benefit is actually higher than they expected. The online calculators can help you model different scenarios for both of you.

I went through this exact situation with my parents a few years ago. What really helped was understanding that Social Security has two separate calculations: one for the worker's own benefit (which gets delayed retirement credits) and one for spousal benefits (which doesn't). Think of it this way - your husband waiting until 70 maximizes HIS monthly payment for life, but your spousal benefit is like a separate insurance policy that's capped at 50% of his FRA amount regardless. The bright side is that once he does file at 70, his higher benefit amount will be locked in for both of your lifetimes, and if he passes first, you'll inherit that full age-70 amount as a survivor benefit. So his delay strategy is still valuable for your household's long-term financial security, just not for your immediate spousal benefit calculation.

As someone new to navigating SSI, this whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening. I had no idea that living arrangements and household expenses could affect benefit amounts so significantly. The fact that adding property taxes and homeowner's insurance bumped the monthly benefit up by $250 shows how important it is to get these calculations right from the start. Roger, I really hope you're able to get this corrected through the reconsideration process. $1,750 in backpay is definitely worth fighting for, especially when you were paying those expenses all along. The representative's explanation about your nephew not having income to pay his share makes no sense - that's not how SSI calculations work at all. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences here. This is exactly the kind of practical information that families dealing with disability benefits need to know.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really grateful for all the detailed explanations everyone has provided. This situation highlights something I think many of us don't realize - that SSI calculations are much more complex than just a simple flat payment. Roger, based on what the experienced members here are saying, it definitely sounds like you have grounds for an appeal. The fact that you were paying those property taxes and homeowner's insurance expenses throughout the entire retroactive period should mean they factor into the backpay calculation, not just future payments. I'm curious though - when you first applied, did the initial claims rep specifically ask about all household expenses, or did they just focus on certain types? I'm wondering if there's a way to better prepare for these conversations to avoid similar issues in the future. The idea of getting everything documented upfront seems really important. Good luck with your reconsideration request! I'll be following to see how it turns out.