Thank you all for the incredibly helpful information! Based on your advice, I'm considering two options: 1. Continue working full-time but delay claiming survivor benefits until I reach my FRA (no earnings limit then) 2. Claim survivor benefits now understanding most will be withheld due to my earnings, then switch to my own retirement benefit at 70 I'm going to try to get an appointment with SSA to run calculations for both scenarios. Since it sounds difficult to reach them by phone, I might try that Claimyr service someone mentioned. One last question - if I do claim now and have benefits withheld due to earnings, will I get those withheld benefits back later in some form?

My mom was told one thing by SSA and then they did something completely different!!!! Double check everything they tell you and GET IT IN WRITING!!! They told her she could work part-time and still get survivor benefits but then they took almost everything away and it was a NIGHTMARE to fix!!!

one more thing nobody mentioned - if hes been on SSDI for 12 years, he might be scared about losing his Medicare. tell him not to worry! Medicare continues exactly the same after converting to retirement benefits.

To summarize for your brother: 1. At age 67, he's definitely reached his Full Retirement Age and converted automatically from SSDI to retirement benefits 2. He can earn unlimited income without any reduction in his Social Security benefits 3. He should still report his work activity to SSA as a courtesy and for their records 4. His Medicare coverage continues unchanged 5. The only potential impact is on taxation of his benefits if his combined income exceeds certain thresholds This is one of those rare situations where the news is all good! I'm glad he's feeling well enough to try working again.

just sharing my experience - got widows benefits after gpo repeal but they only went back to when I applied in march, not january. ssa rep said they might change this policy later but right now that's how they're handling it. good luck with your appointment!

For everyone in this situation, I recommend documenting your case thoroughly before your appointment: 1. Write a clear timeline of when your spouse passed away 2. Note when you learned about GPO and how it affected your decision not to apply 3. Gather any evidence (emails, letters, notes from financial advisors) showing you were aware of GPO 4. Calculate what your benefit would have been without GPO 5. Bring your most recent pension statement Also, be aware that SSA representatives have some discretion in establishing protective filing dates in special circumstances. The GPO repeal has created unprecedented situations, and policies are still evolving. Be persistent but polite, and if you don't get a favorable determination, ask about the reconsideration and appeal process. Finally, consider contacting your congressional representative's office if you feel you're not being treated fairly. They often have staff dedicated to helping constituents with federal benefits issues.

Just to clarify some details with accurate numbers for 2025: - The SGA limit is $1,550/month for non-blind individuals - The Trial Work Period (TWP) threshold is $1,110/month - During the TWP (9 months within a rolling 60-month period), your son can earn any amount without affecting benefits - After TWP completion, if earnings exceed SGA, benefits are suspended but can be reinstated within the Extended Period of Eligibility (36 months) - After EPE, expedited reinstatement is available for 5 years Medicare continues for at least 93 months after the TWP ends, regardless of whether he's receiving cash benefits. The key advantage for DAC beneficiaries is that they can return to the higher benefit amount based on the parent's record even after attempting work, provided they still meet the disability criteria and haven't married.

Also DONT FORGET about the medicaid buy-in program if hes over the limit!!! In most states if ur working with a disability u can buy into medicaid even if ur over income limits!!! They DONT TELL U this stuff on purpose!!!

I just want to clarify something based on a comment I saw above. While there's no 'household maximum' for two people collecting on their own records, it IS true that if one spouse dies, the survivor doesn't get both full benefits. The survivor would get the higher of either their own benefit or their spouse's benefit, but not both. This is different from the family maximum concept, but it is a situation where a household's total benefits could decrease after a death.

Just to provide complete information: The Family Maximum Benefit formula is actually quite complex. It's calculated based on the Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) using a formula with bend points that change each year. For 2025, the formula follows these steps: 1. 150% of the first $1,556 of the worker's PIA, plus 2. 272% of the PIA over $1,556 through $2,246, plus 3. 134% of the PIA over $2,246 through $2,924, plus 4. 175% of the PIA over $2,924 But again, this only matters when multiple beneficiaries are claiming on one person's record. In your case, with both you and your husband claiming on your own separate work records, this formula has no impact on your benefits whatsoever.

have u tried going on the website mySocialSecurity to make appointment? they say u can do that now. I made mine that way last month but u might need to create account first

After reading through the comments, I want to emphasize something important about your specific situation. Since you mentioned your son recently started receiving benefits on his father's record as a disabled adult child (DAC), you may be in a special category. If you're providing care for a disabled adult child who receives Social Security benefits, you might qualify for what's called a "mother's or father's benefit" even though your child is an adult. This is different from your divorced spouse benefit and they can sometimes be payable simultaneously, subject to family maximum rules. When you finally get your appointment, make sure they calculate BOTH: 1. Your divorced spouse benefit (potentially up to 50% of your ex's PIA) 2. Your potential caregiver benefit for your disabled son Bringing documentation of your caregiving responsibilities will be crucial. The technical term SSA uses for this is "in-care" requirement for mother's/father's benefits. Many representatives don't fully understand these complex rules where divorce, disability, and caregiving intersect.

To add a bit more technical detail: The 2025 COLA (3.2%) will be applied to everyone receiving Social Security benefits as of December 2024. The timing of when someone started receiving benefits doesn't affect COLA eligibility. For the earnings question, the rules depend on your husband's age. Since you mentioned he's 67 and at his Full Retirement Age (FRA), the earnings test doesn't apply to him anyway. SSA will reconcile his actual earnings when tax information is processed, but this won't affect his benefit amount. The letter you received is standard for new beneficiaries. You'll receive a separate COLA notice in December that will explain the inflation adjustment being applied to his benefits starting January 2025.

wait does anyone know if the 3.2% gets added to wats in the letter already or is it calculated some other way?? so confused

I've been through this exact process. Technical Experts at SSA are specifically trained in work incentives and complex SSDI situations. They understand the Trial Work Period (TWP), Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE), and Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) calculations. Supervisors manage the reps but don't necessarily have this specialized knowledge. When you call, specifically say: "I need assistance understanding how my work activity affects my SSDI benefits and would like to speak with a Technical Expert who specializes in work incentives." Be prepared with your earnings information, hours worked, and job start date.

you might just be overthinking this whole thing. i been on disability for 7 years and never had to talk to anyone special. just stay under whatever the monthly limit is and your fine

have u checked ur my social security acct online? sometimes it shows pending payments there before they even tell u. might give u a clue if somethings gonna hit in january

To summarize what should happen in your case: 1. Benefits should automatically resume in January 2025 2. No action needed from you if SSA has your correct 2025 earnings estimate 3. First payment should arrive based on your birth date schedule in January 4. You'll receive your full monthly benefit amount since your 2025 earnings are well below the limit If January comes and you don't receive payment, then you should contact SSA immediately to ensure they have the correct earnings information for 2025. For peace of mind, you could call once more in December to verify everything is set up correctly for January payment resumption.

my sister tried that and they still counted her january-april income!!! something about how she didnt fully retire because she got a small 1099 for some consulting in october. be careful with those "special rules" because SSA finds ways to not apply them!!!

Thank you everyone for the helpful responses. I'm going to reconsider my retirement timing based on this information. Seems like I have three options: 1. Keep working but limit my earnings to stay under the annual threshold 2. Wait until FRA to start collecting any benefits 3. Do a clean retirement mid-2025 and rely on the monthly earnings test I need to talk with my financial advisor about which makes the most sense for our situation. I really appreciate all the information and personal experiences shared here.