I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stressful situation on top of everything else with your sister's care. I went through something very similar when my mom had her stroke and needed nursing home placement. One thing that really helped me was understanding that this isn't just about Social Security - it's actually about Medicaid's "spend down" requirements. Essentially, Medicaid requires that almost all of your sister's income goes toward her cost of care, except for that small personal needs allowance (usually $30-70/month depending on your state). Here's what worked for me: I called my state's Area Agency on Aging first - they have counselors who specialize in exactly these situations and can walk you through both the Medicaid rules AND the Social Security Representative Payee process. They often know which local SSA offices are most helpful and can sometimes even help you get connected faster. Also, don't let the nursing home make you feel like you're behind or doing something wrong. This is a complex process that many families aren't prepared for, and you're handling it responsibly by seeking information. The fact that Medicaid is covering her care means there's no immediate crisis - you just need to get the payment structure aligned with Medicaid's requirements. Hang in there - once you get through the Rep Payee application, this will all be much more manageable!

I'm a newcomer to this community but wanted to share what I learned when helping my uncle with a similar situation last year. One thing that really helped us was downloading the SSA-11 form ahead of time from the Social Security website and filling it out completely before going to the office. This saved us a lot of time and the SSA staff seemed to appreciate that we came prepared. Also, I'd suggest asking the nursing home for a written statement explaining exactly how much they expect to receive monthly and how they'll handle the personal needs allowance. Having this documentation helped us when we met with the SSA representative - they wanted to see that we understood the financial arrangement. The whole process felt overwhelming at first, but breaking it down into steps made it manageable: 1) Get all documents together, 2) Fill out the form, 3) Visit SSA office, 4) Coordinate with nursing home. Don't hesitate to ask questions at each step - everyone we worked with was more helpful once they saw we were actively trying to do things correctly.

I'm turning 70 in a few months and this whole thread has been incredibly reassuring! I've been second-guessing my decision to wait until 70, especially when friends who took early retirement keep telling me I'm "leaving money on the table." But seeing the math laid out here - that 32% increase from delayed retirement credits - really drives home why patience pays off. One thing I'm curious about: for those of you who have already gone through this process, did you notice any difference in how SSA treats applications from people turning 70 versus younger applicants? I'm wondering if they prioritize these since there's no further benefit to delaying past 70. Also, I've been keeping detailed records of my earnings history just in case, but it sounds like the online application process is pretty streamlined. Has anyone run into situations where their benefit calculation seemed off and they needed to provide additional documentation? Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - it's so helpful to hear from people who've actually walked this path!

As someone who recently navigated this exact same decision at age 70, I wanted to share a few insights that might help put your mind at ease! First, you're absolutely correct about the payment timing - December start date means your first payment arrives in January, specifically on the 4th Wednesday (January 22nd based on your December 24th birthday). And yes, you made the perfect call declining those retroactive benefits! At 70, there's literally zero advantage to taking retroactive payments since you've already maxed out your delayed retirement credits. One tip I wish someone had told me: after you submit your application, log into your my Social Security account periodically to watch for updates. It's incredibly satisfying to see your benefit amount officially reflect those delayed retirement credits you worked so hard to earn - that 32% boost over your full retirement age benefit really adds up! Also, if you haven't already, double-check that your direct deposit information is exactly right. A single digit error can cause delays, and after waiting this long to maximize your benefits, you don't want any hiccups with that first payment. Congratulations on having the discipline to wait until 70 - you're going to be rewarded with significantly higher monthly payments for life!

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I've learned so much: - It's 35 highest years, not 6 (big relief!) - I need to pay 15.3% self-employment tax and should make quarterly payments - At my FRA (67), there's no earnings limit - I might want to look into waiting until 70 to maximize benefits - I should open a Solo 401(k) or SEP IRA to reduce my overall tax burden I've created my SSA.gov account and am shocked to see my earnings record going back to my first job! I think I'll try that Claimyr service to ask specific questions about my situation. And definitely hiring an accountant before my first quarterly tax payment is due. Thanks again everyone - this has been incredibly helpful for a newbie like me!

Welcome to the self-employment world! I made the same transition 3 years ago and can share a few practical tips that helped me: 1) Open a separate business checking account immediately if you haven't already. This makes tracking income/expenses for Schedule SE much easier. 2) Set aside 25-30% of each payment you receive for taxes (not just the 15.3% SE tax, but also income tax). I use a high-yield savings account for this. 3) Consider paying quarterly estimated taxes to avoid a big surprise bill. The IRS has a safe harbor rule - if you pay 100% of last year's tax liability through estimated payments, you won't owe penalties even if you owe more at filing. 4) Keep detailed records of ALL business expenses - home office, internet, phone, equipment, etc. These reduce your net self-employment income, which reduces both your SE tax AND your income tax. One thing I wish I'd known earlier: you can actually contribute more to retirement accounts as self-employed than you could as a W-2 employee, which helps offset that higher tax burden. The Solo 401(k) limits for 2024 are $69,000 total ($76,500 if you're 50+). Good luck with the transition!

Has anyone here tried calling the SSA directly about resource questions? I spent 3 hours on hold last week trying to get a straight answer about my mom's life insurance policy and never got through. So frustrating!

This is really helpful information! I'm dealing with a similar situation with my mom's SSI application. She has a prepaid burial plan that cost around $8,000 - does anyone know if that's treated the same way as cemetery plots? I'm worried because it's a lot more money than just the plot itself. The funeral home has all the paperwork but I'm not sure if SSA will see it as a resource or if it's excluded like the burial plots everyone is talking about.

Update: I called the fraud hotline and filed a formal report. They gave me a case number and are sending written confirmation. I've also placed freezes with all three credit bureaus and filed the FTC report. Still waiting to hear if they can tell me how someone got my information in the first place, but at least I feel like I've taken steps to protect myself. Thanks again to everyone for the advice - this community has been incredibly helpful during a stressful situation!

I'm so sorry this happened to you! As someone who works in cybersecurity, I can tell you that Social Security fraud attempts have absolutely skyrocketed in recent years. You handled this perfectly by calling immediately and not ignoring that suspicious email. One additional step I'd recommend is requesting your Social Security Statement (Form SSA-7005) to verify that no unauthorized earnings have been reported under your SSN. You can do this through your mySocialSecurity account or by calling SSA. Also, consider signing up for credit monitoring services if you haven't already - many are free and will alert you to any new accounts or inquiries. Some banks and credit cards also offer identity theft protection services to their customers. The fact that you caught this so quickly is huge. Most fraudsters rely on people not noticing these things for weeks or months. You've likely prevented a much bigger headache down the road!