Quick update on current processing times - I work with seniors applying for benefits, and I've noticed approval times have increased slightly in the past few months. The current average for straightforward retirement applications is closer to 5-7 weeks, with some taking up to 8-9 weeks. The good news is that benefits are paid retroactively to your entitlement date, so you won't lose any money due to processing delays. If your Full Retirement Age (FRA) has already passed or you applied after FRA, your first payment will include any retroactive amounts you're entitled to. One tip: Check that your Direct Deposit information is correctly entered in your mySocialSecurity account. A surprising number of delays happen because of banking information errors.

someone told me that if u keep checking your mysocialsecurity account and clicking on different things it can slow down your application because the system thinks someone might be trying to hack your account. dunno if thats true but i stopped checking mine so much after that

my first check was $43 short of what they told me. when i called they said it was because of medicare part B premium. did they mention if your amount was before or after medicare deduction??

One other thing to be aware of: Your January 15th payment date suggests you were born between the 1st and 10th of the month. Social Security payment dates are based on your birth date: - Born 1st-10th: Payment on 2nd Wednesday (around the 8th-14th) - Born 11th-20th: Payment on 3rd Wednesday (around the 15th-21st) - Born 21st-31st: Payment on 4th Wednesday (around the 22nd-28th) This schedule is consistent month to month, so all your future payments should arrive on the second Wednesday of each month.

The advice here is mostly good but I want to clarify something important: with ALS, there is NO 5-month waiting period for SSDI benefits like there is with other disabilities. Also, Medicare eligibility begins immediately after SSDI approval rather than the normal 24-month waiting period. Make sure your brother knows this as it's extremely important for covering medical costs. Also, has your brother checked if he has any private disability insurance through previous employers? Many people don't realize they might have coverage. With ALS, it's critical to secure all possible financial resources.

One more thing no one has mentioned - if his ex-wife has never worked, she should look at SSI (Supplemental Security Income) too, not just waiting for benefits based on your brother's record. She might qualify NOW based on need, age, and disability if she has any health issues herself. The rules are complicated but worth checking into.

To answer your follow-up question - yes, if your husband delays filing until age 70, you will not receive any spousal benefits until he actually files. This is sometimes called a "spousal delay" situation. However, this might still be the best strategy for your household if: 1. Your husband's benefit will be significantly higher than yours 2. You're anticipating a normal to long life expectancy 3. You want to maximize potential survivor benefits When your husband delays until 70, his benefit increases by 8% per year beyond FRA (up to age 70). If he passes away before you, you would be eligible for 100% of what he was receiving as a survivor benefit, which would replace your smaller benefit. So while you might miss out on some spousal add-on during those delay years, the long-term household benefit (especially survivor benefits) could be much larger.

they usually add it automatic when your husband files but sometimes they mess up. make sure u call them right after he files to check.

So I'm now collecting at 70 (started last year) and was SHOCKED at tax time!!! I had no idea so much would be taxable. My neighbor told me only 85% MAX can be taxed, which was small comfort when I saw my tax bill. Just be prepared and maybe make quarterly estimated tax payments to avoid a surprise. I'm still glad I waited though - the bigger check each month is worth it.

One more consideration: Social Security at any age (62, FRA, or 70) counts toward your provisional income that determines Medicare IRMAA surcharges (those extra premium amounts for Parts B and D if your income is above certain thresholds). So if you're approaching 65, factor in how your total income including Social Security might affect your Medicare premiums too.

This is actually incorrect. While Full Retirement Age (FRA) is when you're eligible for your full benefit amount, Social Security continues to increase by 8% per year for each year you delay claiming after FRA, up until age 70. So by waiting until 70, the original poster will receive 24-32% more (depending on their exact FRA) than if they had claimed at their FRA. After 70, there are no further increases.

omg really?? i had no idea! i started mine at 66 and 2 months which was my FRA. wish id known this before!

I waited until my FRA to collect my retirement and it was worth it. My benefit is almost 30% higher than if I'd started at 62. But my situation was different - I didn't have young children to support. In your case, if taking your retirement at 62 would reduce the overall TOTAL your family receives, then waiting makes sense. But if your kids are already getting the maximum family benefit, and your filing wouldn't reduce that, then taking your retirement early might make financial sense. This is one of those situations where the math really matters. Get the actual dollar amounts from SSA before deciding.

one other thing about the special needs kids - make sure you look into setting up a special needs trust if you havent already. if they qualify for SSI (not SSDI) when they're adults then having assets in their name could disqualify them. my sister's kid lost benefits for 6 months because of this!!

Just fyi the earnings limit goes up every year with inflation so next year it'll probably be higher than $21,240 which gives you more breathing room for your contract work

One last thing to consider: any benefits withheld due to excess earnings aren't permanently lost. When you reach Full Retirement Age, SSA recalculates your benefit amount to give you credit for months when benefits were withheld. It's not a simple 1:1 return, but you do eventually recoup some of what was withheld. Many people don't realize this aspect of the earnings test!

One more consideration for your decision - even if you have benefit reductions due to working, those aren't truly "lost." When you reach FRA, Social Security will recalculate your benefit amount to credit you for months when benefits were reduced or withheld due to earnings. So you'll get some of that money back in the form of a higher monthly benefit going forward. That said, many people find it simpler to just wait until FRA if they're going to continue earning above the limit. It means a higher benefit amount and no earnings test to worry about. For others who need the income now, claiming early and dealing with reductions makes more sense. You might want to request a calculation from SSA to see the difference between starting now versus waiting until FRA.

dont 4get about taxes too!! my friends dad had to pay taxes on his SS when he was still working even tho they already took money away from his checks for being over the limit. double whammy!!

To answer your specific question about the threshold: If you have 30+ years of "substantial earnings" under Social Security, the WEP reduction is eliminated completely. With 21-29 years, the reduction is lessened. For 2025, "substantial earnings" means you earned at least $32,550 in Social Security-covered employment (the amount is lower for previous years). SSA has a chart showing the substantial earnings amount for each year going back decades. Even those summer jobs might count if you earned enough in those years. This is exactly why speaking with SSA directly about your specific situation is crucial.

i just filed last month!! the website is ssa.gov and u need to make an account first. do it now even if ur not applying yet so u can see ur record and make sure its right. took me 3 tries to make account tho cuz they ask weird questions about ur credit history to verify u lol