This has been such an incredibly helpful thread to read through! I'm also on SSDI and have been considering part-time work but felt overwhelmed by all the reporting requirements. Seeing everyone's real experiences with both the myWageReport app and phone reporting has given me so much clarity. I especially appreciate the detailed explanations about Trial Work Period vs. SGA thresholds - I had no idea they were different amounts! And all the practical tips about keeping records, saving confirmation numbers, and making sure employer info matches exactly are the kind of details you don't always find in the official SSA materials. Dylan, it's wonderful that you found work that's helping your mental health while being accommodating of your condition. That balance can be so hard to achieve. For anyone else reading this who might be hesitant about returning to work - this discussion really shows that with proper reporting and good record-keeping, it's very manageable. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise here. This is exactly the kind of community support that makes navigating disability benefits so much less intimidating!

As someone who's been navigating SSDI and part-time work for the past year, I wanted to add a few thoughts to this excellent discussion. First, Dylan, congratulations on finding accommodating work that's helping your mental health - that's such an important part of the journey! I've used both the myWageReport app and phone reporting, and honestly the app is so much more convenient. One thing I learned that might be helpful: if you're ever unsure whether a particular month's earnings need to be reported, err on the side of caution and report it. SSA would much rather have too much information than too little. Also, since you mentioned chronic health conditions - don't forget that your work attempt itself can actually be viewed positively if you ever need to apply for other benefits or if your condition changes. SSA recognizes that many people with disabilities want to work when they're able to, and making good faith efforts (like proper reporting) demonstrates that. The bookstore sounds like a great fit for someone managing health issues - flexible scheduling and the ability to sit when needed are huge accommodations that not all employers offer. I hope it continues to be beneficial for both your health and your sense of purpose!

I'm new to this community but dealing with a somewhat similar situation. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly educational - I had no idea the financial support requirement was so strict for stepchildren. One thing I wanted to add that might be helpful: when I was dealing with my own SSA issue last year, I learned that you can request what's called a "case summary" which shows all the actions taken on your file. This might help explain the discrepancy between getting representative payee letters but then being told benefits were denied. Also, regarding the MySocialSecurity account still showing "active" - I've noticed their online system can be really slow to update, sometimes lagging weeks or even months behind actual case decisions. So that might not be reliable indicator of your current status. The advice about pooled finances and getting an attorney's statement sounds really solid. I'd also suggest keeping a detailed log of every conversation you have with SSA going forward - date, time, representative name/ID if they give it, and exactly what was said. This documentation could be crucial if you end up needing to appeal or if there are continued discrepancies in your case information. Hope you're able to get this sorted out soon - it's such a stressful situation when you're getting conflicting information from the same agency!

As a newcomer to this community, I've been reading through this thread with great interest since I'm dealing with some SSA challenges myself. What strikes me about your situation is the timeline inconsistency - getting representative payee letters typically means benefits were already approved in the system, so a verbal denial afterward seems like there might be a processing error or miscommunication. I'd strongly recommend following the advice about requesting your complete case file and filing the SSA-561 reconsideration form immediately. Don't wait for an official denial letter since you're working within that 60-day window from whenever the actual denial occurred. One additional thought: since you mentioned you've been the primary caregiver for 8 years and structured your work around the children's needs, you might want to calculate the monetary value of the childcare services you provide. Professional childcare costs can be substantial, and while SSA focuses on financial support, the economic value of your caregiving role supports the argument that your reduced income enables the family's overall financial stability. Document everything - not just direct purchases for the kids, but your proportional share of mortgage/rent, utilities, food, transportation, and the opportunity cost of your reduced work hours. The pooled finances approach mentioned by others seems very promising for your situation. Good luck navigating this bureaucratic maze!

Thank you all so much for this helpful information! I feel much better prepared for his upcoming birthday now. I'm going to: 1) Make sure both the SSI and the Childhood Disability Benefits applications are being processed, 2) Create a rental agreement to avoid the one-third reduction rule, 3) Look into ABLE accounts for his savings, and 4) Use Claimyr to actually get through to SSA and confirm all of this information. This has been incredibly helpful!

I'm so sorry for your loss, and I admire how you're navigating all these complex benefits while caring for your son. I went through something similar when my brother became disabled at 17. One thing I learned that might help - when you create that rental agreement that StarSailor mentioned, make sure to document everything properly. We had to provide bank statements showing the rent payments were actually being made from his SSI account to mine. Also, regarding the timing - don't wait until after his 18th birthday to set this up. You can create the agreement to begin on his 18th birthday, which shows SSA it's a legitimate arrangement rather than something you're doing just to avoid the reduction. The SSA rep should be able to walk you through exactly what documentation they need. You're doing an amazing job advocating for your son during such a difficult time.

This is such a heartwarming story about your dedication to your family! As someone who works in disability advocacy, I see these complex situations regularly. Your approach of seeking multiple expert opinions is absolutely the right one. A few additional resources that might help while you're working through the SSA process: The National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives (NOSSCR) has a directory of attorneys who specialize in exactly these types of complex family benefit scenarios. Even if you don't need full legal representation, many offer consultations that can help you understand your rights and what questions to ask SSA. Also, many state disability councils have benefits specialists who can review your situation and help you prepare for conversations with SSA. They're often more accessible than trying to get through SSA's phone system. One practical tip: when you do get your written analysis from SSA, ask them to show you the specific family maximum calculation they're using. The formula involves multiple bend points and can vary significantly based on when you became entitled to benefits. Having those exact numbers will help you verify their math if needed. Your granddaughter is so fortunate to have grandparents who are willing to navigate this maze to provide her with a stable home. Keep us posted on how it goes - your experience could really help other families in similar situations!

I'm new here but wanted to share my experience since it might help with your situation. My family went through something similar when we adopted my nephew while my disabled adult daughter was receiving DAC benefits on my record. The key thing I learned is that the family maximum calculation can be really tricky when you're already close to the limit. In our case, adding another child beneficiary did reduce my daughter's DAC benefit slightly because we hit the family maximum, but it wasn't a huge reduction - maybe about 8% of her monthly amount. What really helped us was getting everything in writing BEFORE finalizing the adoption. The Technical Expert we spoke with was able to run the numbers and show us exactly what the new benefit amounts would be for everyone. This let us plan financially and know what to expect. One thing to keep in mind - if your granddaughter has a living parent who worked and earned Social Security credits, she might be eligible for higher benefits on that parent's record instead of yours. SSA will automatically pay whichever is higher, so that could actually work in your favor for the family maximum calculation. The whole process took about 3 months to get sorted out with SSA, but having those concrete numbers ahead of time was worth the wait. Your family's situation sounds more complex than ours was, so definitely push for that written analysis everyone's mentioned. Good luck with the adoption!

Welcome to the community! As a newcomer here, I've been following this discussion with great interest since I'm approaching my own FRA in a few months and plan to keep working afterward. The information shared here has been incredibly valuable - especially the real experiences from people like Elliott who actually went through this situation. It's so reassuring to hear multiple confirmations that there truly are NO earnings limits once you reach FRA. I'm particularly grateful for the heads-up about tax implications. I hadn't considered that my Social Security benefits might become substantially taxable when combined with work income. That's definitely something I need to factor into my planning. One additional resource I'd like to mention for anyone still feeling uncertain: the SSA website has a retirement earnings test calculator that can help illustrate how earnings affect benefits at different ages. While it confirms what everyone here has said about FRA, it's sometimes helpful to see it in the official SSA format too. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread - you've provided more clarity than hours of online research could deliver!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for such a thorough and helpful discussion! I'm currently 64 and planning my retirement strategy, so this thread has been incredibly valuable in understanding what happens when you work past FRA. The consistent message from multiple people with real experience - that there are absolutely NO earnings limits once you reach FRA - is exactly what I needed to hear. It's amazing how much clearer this becomes when you hear from actual people who've lived through it rather than trying to decipher government websites. I'm particularly appreciative of the practical insights about tax implications and the potential for benefit increases from continued work. These are details you don't often see mentioned in the basic "what you need to know about Social Security" articles. One quick question for the group: for those who continued working past FRA, did you adjust your tax withholdings from your paychecks to account for the additional tax burden from having both work income and Social Security benefits? I'm trying to figure out if I should increase my withholding rate or just plan to make quarterly estimated payments. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is such a valuable resource!