Thank you all for this incredibly helpful information! I had no idea about the 1954 cutoff date for restricted applications - that really changes my strategy. Based on your advice, I'm going to: 1) Use that Claimyr service to get through to SSA, 2) Ask them to calculate both scenarios (claiming now vs. waiting), and 3) Get everything in writing before making my decision. The earnings test withholding is also something I wasn't fully understanding before. I'll come back and update once I've talked with SSA. You've all been so helpful!

This thread has been incredibly informative! As someone new to navigating Social Security, I'm amazed at how complex these rules are. @Diego, your situation sounds very similar to what my aunt went through a few years ago. One thing I'd add based on her experience - when you do talk to SSA, consider asking about the "break-even" point between claiming now versus waiting. She found it helpful to know approximately how many years it would take for the delayed retirement credits to make up for the benefits she'd miss by waiting. Also, don't forget to factor in potential COLA increases when doing your calculations. The annual cost-of-living adjustments can really add up over time, especially if you're looking at a multi-year delay strategy. Good luck with your decision!

I'm fairly new to this community but wanted to share what I learned during my own SSDI process. The CE at the Appeals Council stage is definitely unusual, but from what I've read and experienced, it often means they're seriously reviewing the case rather than just issuing a quick denial. One thing that really helped me was preparing a simple one-page summary before my CE that listed my conditions, medications, and specific daily limitations. I didn't bring it to show the doctor, but having organized my thoughts beforehand helped me give clearer, more consistent answers during the brief exam. Also, if your brother uses any adaptive techniques to get through daily tasks (like sitting on a stool while cooking, using a reacher to pick things up, taking frequent breaks), he should definitely mention these during the exam. These work-arounds actually demonstrate the extent of his limitations rather than showing he's "fine." The waiting and uncertainty is absolutely exhausting, but the fact that multiple specialists have provided detailed RFC forms supporting his claim should carry significant weight. Hoping this CE leads to the breakthrough your brother needs after fighting for so long. This community has been such a valuable resource for navigating this complicated process!

I'm new to this community but wanted to reach out with some encouragement. I went through a very similar situation with my SSDI case about 6 months ago - ALJ denial followed by an unusual CE order from the Appeals Council. I was terrified it meant they were just looking for more reasons to deny me, but it actually turned out to be the turning point in my case. The CE itself was pretty straightforward - about 20 minutes with basic physical tests and questions about daily functioning. What really mattered was being completely honest about my limitations without trying to minimize them out of embarrassment or pride. The doctor documented everything objectively, and that report ended up supporting my case when the AC remanded it back to a different ALJ. One thing I wish I'd known beforehand: take someone with you who can help observe your functioning that day. Sometimes we don't realize how much pain or difficulty we're showing because we've gotten so used to compensating. Having my spouse point out afterward how I was moving helped me understand what the doctor likely observed. The whole process took about 8 months from CE to final approval, but getting that remand was actually a relief - it meant they were taking my case seriously instead of just rubber-stamping the original denial. Your brother's case sounds very strong with all those specialist reports and RFC forms. Hang in there - this could be the breakthrough you've been waiting for after such a long fight.

One more thing to consider: While your daughter's total monthly benefit only increases slightly, there are some potential advantages to receiving survivor benefits: First, survivor benefits don't have the same strict disability reviews as SSI, so that's one less thing to worry about in the future. Second, survivor benefits typically have fewer reporting requirements than SSI. Third, survivor benefits have no resource limits, so your daughter could potentially have over $2,000 in savings (though this would affect the SSI portion). Lastly, if your daughter's condition improves to the point where she no longer qualifies as disabled for SSI, she could still receive survivor benefits until age 18 (or 19 if still in high school).

I'm so sorry for your loss and the confusion you're dealing with during an already difficult time. As others have explained, the offset is unfortunately how the system works, but I wanted to add a few practical tips that helped me when I went through something similar: 1. Request a written explanation from SSA detailing exactly how they calculated your daughter's benefits - having it in writing helps avoid the conflicting verbal information you've been getting. 2. For the backpay delay, ask specifically about "interim assistance" - sometimes they can provide partial payments while sorting out the full calculation. 3. Keep calling about the backpay every 2-3 weeks. I found that different reps had access to different information, and persistence eventually got results. 4. Consider contacting your local SSA field office directly rather than just the main phone line - they often have more detailed case information. The system is frustrating, but you're advocating well for your daughter. Don't give up on getting the backpay sorted out - it's rightfully hers.

Another important factor to consider is that your benefit amount is based on your highest 35 years of earnings (adjusted for inflation). If you stop working at 63 but don't have 35 years of earnings, the SSA will use zeros for the missing years when calculating your benefit. This can significantly reduce your monthly payment. Make sure you have a complete earnings record of 35 years before deciding to retire early.

Just want to add another perspective here - I'm 60 and went through this exact same confusion last year! What really helped me was printing out my complete earnings record from my SSA account first, then manually calculating what my top 35 years would look like if I stopped at different ages. The calculators are helpful but they don't show you the nuance of how stopping early affects your benefit calculation. For example, if your recent years are your highest earning years (which is common), stopping at 63 vs 67 means you're missing out on 4 years of potentially your highest earnings being factored into that 35-year average. I ended up deciding to work 2 more years than originally planned because those additional high-earning years would bump out some much lower earning years from the 1980s in my calculation. Made a bigger difference than I expected!

As someone who's been dealing with SSA for several years, I want to add that it's also worth checking if your bank has any temporary holds or fraud protection measures in place. Sometimes banks will flag unusual deposit patterns (like a slightly delayed government payment) and hold funds for additional verification. I've seen this happen to neighbors where the payment actually arrived at the bank on time, but got caught in their fraud detection system. If you call your bank's customer service line and specifically ask about any holds on government deposits, they might be able to release it immediately. Also, for future reference, the SSA does have a payment schedule posted on their website that shows exact dates for each month - sometimes there are slight variations due to weekends and holidays that aren't immediately obvious.

As a newcomer to this community, I found this entire discussion incredibly informative! I'm currently in the process of applying for Social Security benefits and was wondering about payment reliability, so seeing all these real experiences is really valuable. It seems like the consensus is that delays of 2-3 days can occasionally happen due to processing issues or system updates, but SSA payments are generally very reliable. I especially appreciate the practical tips about checking with your bank for fraud holds and using services like Claimyr to get through to SSA when needed. The advice about waiting until day 3-4 before calling seems reasonable, and knowing that payments continue even during government shutdowns is reassuring. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread will definitely be my reference if I encounter any payment issues once my benefits start!