Just wanted to add something important that might affect your sister - if she's working at all while on SSDI (even part-time under the SGA limits), she should be aware that the earnings test for retirement benefits works differently than SSDI work rules. Once she converts to retirement benefits at her FRA (67 for someone born in 1960), there's no limit on how much she can earn from work. But if she decides to take early retirement before her FRA, different earnings limits would apply. Since she's only turning 65 this year and her FRA is 67, she'll continue on SSDI for two more years with the same work restrictions until the automatic conversion happens.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually in a similar situation with my mom who's been on SSDI for 6 years and is turning 64 next month. Reading through all these responses, I'm realizing I need to figure out her exact FRA since it sounds like the conversion won't happen at 65 like I assumed. One question I haven't seen addressed - does SSA send any kind of annual statement or summary to SSDI recipients like they do for people who haven't filed for benefits yet? My mom used to get those statements in the mail before she went on disability, but I don't think she's gotten one since. Would be helpful to have that information to plan ahead for the conversion.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm amazed at how thorough and helpful everyone has been in explaining Carmen's situation! I'm currently 55 with a spouse who's 8 years older, so while not exactly the same gap, I'm definitely taking notes on all this advice. The thing that really stands out to me is how @Liam Fitzgerald broke down those exact reduction percentages - that makes the financial impact so much clearer than just hearing "you'll get less if you file early." I had no clue about deemed filing either, which seems like a critical piece that could really trip people up if they don't understand it. @GalacticGuru, thanks for sharing that Claimyr tip - I've been putting off calling SSA for months because of the horror stories about wait times. Carmen, it sounds like you've got some great guidance here, and I hope you'll update us on what you decide to do! This thread is going in my bookmarks for future reference.

As someone new to this community and Social Security benefits in general, I want to echo what others have said about how incredibly helpful and informative this discussion has been! I'm currently 52 with a spouse who's 7 years older, so Carmen's situation really resonates with me. What I'm finding most valuable is how @Liam Fitzgerald has provided such clear, official guidance with those specific reduction percentages - it makes the decision much more concrete when you can see exactly what filing at each age would mean financially. The deemed filing rule was completely unknown to me before reading this thread, and it seems like such a crucial detail that could really impact someone's strategy if they don't understand it. I'm also grateful to @GalacticGuru for sharing that Claimyr service tip - I've been dreading the thought of trying to get through to SSA by phone, so having an alternative that actually works sounds amazing. Carmen, I hope you'll keep us posted on what you ultimately decide! This whole conversation is going straight into my Social Security planning folder for future reference.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Ethan. This is an incredibly difficult situation to navigate while grieving, and I admire how thoughtfully you're approaching these complex decisions. One additional consideration I haven't seen mentioned yet: make sure to ask about your eligibility for any lump-sum death benefit ($255) when you visit SSA. While it's not much, every bit helps during this transition period. Also, since you mentioned your husband was on SSDI from age 52-65, there might be Medicare implications to discuss as well. If he was receiving Medicare due to his disability, you'll want to understand how your survivor benefits might affect your own future Medicare eligibility and timing. When you visit your local SSA office, I'd recommend bringing: - Your husband's death certificate - Your marriage certificate - Your most recent tax return and W-2s - Your husband's Social Security card and any benefit statements - Your own Social Security card and birth certificate - Pay stubs from the last few months to show your variable income pattern The seasonal nature of retail work actually gives you a good case for requesting that monthly earnings test during your first year. Document those income fluctuations clearly so they understand why the monthly calculation would be more appropriate for your situation. You're being incredibly thorough in your research, and that preparation will serve you well. Wishing you clarity and peace as you work through these important decisions.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Ethan. Having been through a similar situation with survivor benefits while working, I wanted to share a few additional insights that might help. One thing I learned the hard way is that SSA's definition of "monthly earnings" can be tricky with retail work. They look at when you actually receive the pay, not when you earn it. So if you work extra hours at the end of one month but get paid in the following month, that affects which month they count the earnings toward. This can be especially important when you're trying to stay under that $1,860 monthly limit. Also, regarding the survivor benefit calculation - since your husband's SSDI converted to retirement benefits at his FRA, any cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) he received during those retirement years would be included in your survivor benefit calculation. Make sure to ask SSA for his complete benefit history so you can see the exact amount. One more tip: when you visit the SSA office, ask them to print out a detailed breakdown of how they calculated your survivor benefit amount. Sometimes there are errors in their records, and having that documentation helps you verify everything is correct. I caught a mistake in my case that would have cost me $200/month. The fact that you're doing so much research beforehand shows you're approaching this thoughtfully. That preparation will definitely pay off in getting the answers you need. Best of luck with your appointment!

This entire thread has been such an education for me as someone who's about to start this process myself! I'm a freelance wedding photographer turning 62 next month and planning to start taking Social Security benefits while continuing to work part-time. What's really concerning me after reading all of this is how the seasonal nature of my work might affect things. Wedding season means I could easily work 60+ hours some months (May through October) but then virtually nothing in the winter months. It sounds like those busy months could be a real problem even if my annual average stays reasonable. Has anyone dealt with highly seasonal self-employment like this? I'm wondering if I should consider restructuring my business model - maybe referring overflow work to other photographers during peak season to keep my hours down, or only booking smaller weddings that require fewer hours. The whole situation feels like we're being penalized for the flexibility that comes with self-employment, which was supposed to be one of the benefits of working for ourselves! Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences - this has definitely changed how I'm approaching my retirement planning.

I'm going through a similar situation right now as a freelance writer who just started Social Security benefits at 62. The learning curve has been steep! One thing that's helped me is setting up a simple tracking system using a basic calendar app on my phone. I log start/stop times for each work session and categorize it (writing, editing, client calls, administrative tasks). At the end of each week, I transfer the totals to a spreadsheet that calculates both my monthly hours and earnings automatically. For the seasonal work issue that several people mentioned - I've found it helpful to think of it as "capacity management." During what would normally be my busiest months, I now turn down projects that would put me over the limits and refer them to colleagues. Yes, it means less income in the short term, but it keeps me compliant and honestly has reduced my stress levels significantly. The key thing I learned from my SSA representative is that they really do take the monthly limits seriously during that first year. She emphasized that even one month over the limits can trigger a review and potential benefit withholding for that month. After hearing that, I decided it wasn't worth the risk to push the boundaries. Keep detailed records of everything - you'll be glad you did if they ever ask for documentation!

As someone who just went through this process myself (applied in November for February start), I can completely relate to that anxiety! The waiting is the worst part. I had the exact same two-bar situation for what felt like forever, and then suddenly around mid-January the third bar filled and I got my award letter within a week. Your timeline is actually really good - applying in December for April gives SSA plenty of time. I've learned that retirement applications are much more straightforward than other types of claims since they mainly just need to verify your work history and age, both of which are already in their system. One tip that helped my peace of mind: set up Informed Delivery with USPS if you haven't already. That way you'll know immediately when your award letter is coming in the mail. The letter will have your exact benefit amount and payment schedule, which really helps with the budget planning you mentioned. Try not to check your account more than once a week - I was obsessively checking daily and it just made the anxiety worse! You're going to be fine.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Applied in early December for April benefits and I've been at two progress bars for weeks. Reading everyone's experiences here is so reassuring - it sounds like this is completely normal timing. What really helped me was when someone mentioned that SSA processes about 6 million retirement applications per year, so they have this process down to a science. The fact that we haven't been contacted for additional documents is actually a really good sign that our applications are straightforward. I've also been reminding myself that they have every incentive to process these on time since delayed payments create more work for them with backpay calculations and customer service calls. Hang in there - sounds like we're both going to be fine!