I'm also new to this community and so relieved I found this thread! I applied online in mid-February for a September 2025 start date and my MySocialSecurity account has been stuck on Step 2 for about two weeks now. I was getting really anxious thinking something went wrong with my application or that I missed some important requirement. Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly reassuring! The pattern is so consistent - everyone gets stuck on Step 2 for weeks or even months, but their payments still show up exactly on schedule. I had no idea the MySocialSecurity portal was so unreliable for tracking actual progress. I've been guilty of checking my status way too often (sometimes multiple times a day when anxiety kicks in), but it's clear that's just causing unnecessary stress. It's amazing how disconnected the online tracking system seems to be from the actual processing and payment systems. Based on everyone's shared stories here, I'm going to stop my obsessive checking habit and trust that everything is moving forward properly behind the scenes. This thread has been such a game-changer for my peace of mind - thank you to everyone for sharing your experiences and creating such a supportive community for people navigating this process!

I'm new to this community and this thread is exactly what I needed to find! I applied online in early March for an October 2025 start date and my MySocialSecurity account has been stuck on Step 2 for about a week and a half now. I was already starting to get worried that I might have made an error during the application process or that something got lost in the system. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a huge relief! The consistency is remarkable - so many people stuck on Step 2 for weeks or months, yet payments arriving right on schedule. I had no idea the MySocialSecurity portal was so notoriously unreliable for tracking actual progress. I was already falling into the trap of checking my account status multiple times a day, but it's clear from everyone's stories that this just causes unnecessary anxiety. It's fascinating how completely disconnected the online tracking system seems to be from the actual processing and payment systems. Based on all the shared experiences in this thread, I'm going to resist the urge to keep obsessively checking my status and instead trust that everything is being processed normally behind the scenes. This discussion has been incredibly valuable - thank you to everyone for sharing your stories and creating such a supportive space for people navigating this often stressful process!

This thread has been an absolute goldmine of information! I'm scheduled for my appointment in two weeks and was feeling pretty anxious about the whole process, but reading through everyone's detailed experiences has been incredibly reassuring. One thing I wanted to add that I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you've ever had your name spelled differently on various documents over the years (even minor variations), be prepared to explain that. I noticed my birth certificate has my middle name fully spelled out, but some of my early W-2s just have the middle initial. My tax preparer mentioned this could come up during the SSA interview since they're very thorough about matching names across all documentation. Also, for those worried about the phone appointment format - I actually prefer this to going in person! I can have all my documents spread out on my desk, refer to notes, and be in a comfortable environment. Much less stressful than trying to juggle paperwork in a waiting room. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share such specific, practical advice. This community has turned what felt like an overwhelming process into something much more manageable. I feel like I'm going to be incredibly well-prepared thanks to all the tips shared here!

This has been such an incredibly helpful thread! I'm preparing for my own SSA appointment next month and had no idea there were so many documents and details to consider. A few questions based on everything I've read: 1. For those who uploaded documents to MySocialSecurity beforehand - did the representative reference them during the call, or did they still ask you to mail/fax copies afterward? 2. I've seen several mentions of WEP/GPO affecting benefits - is there a way to get a preliminary calculation of how much these provisions might reduce benefits before the appointment? I'd rather not be surprised by a significant reduction. 3. Has anyone had experience with the appointment running significantly over the scheduled time and how that affected their benefits processing? I'm wondering if rushing through due to time constraints could cause issues later. The level of detail everyone has shared here is amazing - from the practical tips about quiet rooms and having notepads ready, to the specific document requirements that aren't clearly explained on the SSA website. This thread should honestly be required reading for anyone preparing for their Social Security appointment! Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their real experiences.

I went through this exact same situation two years ago when my husband was dealing with serious health issues. The key thing to understand is that survivor benefits are calculated completely separately from what your husband is currently receiving. When you claim survivor benefits at 62, you'll get 82.5% of his Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) - not his reduced benefit. This is because survivor benefit reductions are much smaller than retirement benefit reductions. Even though he took a 30% cut by claiming at 62, your survivor benefit would only be reduced by about 17.5%. I'd strongly recommend calling SSA again and specifically asking for a "survivor benefit estimate" based on his earnings record. Ask them to put it in writing. The difference between getting 82.5% of his PIA versus his current reduced amount could be substantial - potentially hundreds of dollars per month. Given your husband's health situation, it might make financial sense for you to claim your own reduced retirement benefit now so you can spend time together, then switch to the higher survivor benefit later if needed. Just make sure you get accurate numbers from SSA first, since you experienced conflicting information. Sending you both strength during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry you and your husband are facing this difficult situation. The information shared here has been really helpful in clarifying the survivor benefit rules. One additional point that might be worth considering: since you mentioned getting conflicting information from SSA representatives, you might want to try calling the national SSA number (1-800-772-1213) and speaking with multiple representatives to get consistent answers. Sometimes local offices can give different interpretations of complex rules. Also, if your husband's health issues qualify him for disability benefits, that could potentially affect the survivor benefit calculation in your favor - disability benefits are calculated at 100% of PIA regardless of age, so if he were to qualify and switch from early retirement to disability, it could increase your eventual survivor benefit. It's clear from all the responses that you would indeed receive 82.5% of his PIA as a survivor benefit at age 62, not his reduced amount. This seems to make claiming your own benefits now a reasonable strategy given your desire to spend time together while his health permits. Wishing you both peace and clarity as you navigate this decision.

I'm a newcomer here but wanted to chime in since I just went through the SSA application process for survivor benefits last month. The representatives I spoke with confirmed multiple times that COLA applies to ALL Social Security benefits regardless of type or claiming age. What really helped me understand this was when they explained that COLA is essentially the government's way of protecting ALL beneficiaries from inflation - it wouldn't make sense to exclude certain groups. I also found it helpful to know that the COLA is announced every October (usually around the 10th-15th) and takes effect the following January. You can actually find the official COLA announcement on the SSA website each year. One tip: once you start receiving benefits, you can sign up for a my Social Security account online to easily track your payments and see when the COLA adjustment gets applied. Hope this helps ease your worries about claiming at 60!

I'm new to this community but wanted to add my perspective as someone who works in the Social Security field. Everyone here is absolutely correct - COLA applies to ALL Social Security benefits regardless of when you claim them or what type they are. I see this confusion come up a lot, and I think it stems from people mixing up the early retirement penalty (which is permanent for retirement benefits) with COLA eligibility (which applies to everyone). The key thing to remember is that COLA is specifically designed to help ALL Social Security recipients maintain their purchasing power against inflation. It would defeat the entire purpose if certain beneficiaries were excluded. You'll receive the same percentage increase as everyone else, applied to whatever your monthly benefit amount is. The fact that your benefit might be reduced for claiming at 60 doesn't change your eligibility for annual COLA adjustments. Best of luck with your application process!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my recent experience since it sounds exactly like what you're going through! I got that same letter about 3 months ago - medical requirements met but non-medical decision pending. I was terrified it meant they might still deny me after getting so far. Turns out the non-medical review is mostly just verifying your work history and calculating benefits. Since you worked 15 years at the same company, that should be very straightforward for them to confirm. In my case, it took about 7 weeks from that letter to final approval, and then I received my first payment about 10 days later along with a substantial backpay check covering all the months I'd been waiting. The relief was incredible! I know the timing is stressful with your work benefits ending soon, but based on what I've learned, getting past the medical approval really does mean you're essentially approved. They're just handling the administrative paperwork now. Make sure your banking info is current in your online account so payments can start immediately once everything is processed. You've made it through the hardest part!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share some encouragement since I went through this exact situation about 5 months ago! Getting that letter saying you meet the medical requirements is actually fantastic news - that's where the majority of SSDI applications get denied. The "non-medical requirements" they're reviewing are pretty standard administrative checks: verifying your work credits (which shouldn't be an issue with your 15-year work history), confirming you haven't worked above substantial gainful activity limits while disabled, and calculating your monthly benefit amount. In my case, this final stage took about 4 weeks from receiving that letter to getting final approval. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking, especially with your work disability ending soon, but you're essentially approved at this point. Make sure your direct deposit information is updated in your online account because once they process everything, payments start quickly. You'll also receive backpay from your established onset date, which really helped me catch up on expenses during the long wait. Try to stay positive - you've cleared the biggest hurdle in the process!