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!

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm also on SSDI and have been hesitant about returning to any kind of work, but reading everyone's experiences with the myWageReport app and seeing how manageable the reporting process actually is has been really encouraging. One thing I wanted to mention that might be helpful - if anyone is concerned about how part-time work might affect other benefits like SNAP or Medicaid, those programs have their own separate reporting requirements and income limits. It's worth checking with those agencies too since the rules can be different from SSA's requirements. Dylan, it's wonderful that your doctor encouraged light work as part of your treatment plan. That kind of medical support can be so valuable, both for your own confidence and for documentation purposes if questions ever come up about your work activity. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge here - this is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that makes such a difference when you're trying to navigate these systems!

I went through this exact process with my twin daughters after my SSDI approval 3 months ago! You absolutely do NOT need separate MySocialSecurity accounts for your children - minors can't create accounts anyway. Here's the step-by-step process that worked for me: 1. Call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 RIGHT at 8am when they open (this timing is crucial for getting through!) 2. Say exactly: "I need to file Form SSA-16 applications for auxiliary benefits for my three dependent children based on my approved SSDI record" 3. Have ready: birth certificates, Social Security cards for all 3 kids, and your SSDI approval letter The representative can process all three applications over the phone, which saves you from dragging the kids to an office. Each child is eligible for up to 50% of your benefit amount, though with three kids you'll likely hit the family maximum (typically 150-180% of your Primary Insurance Amount) which may reduce individual amounts slightly. You'll automatically be appointed as their representative payee, and the benefits should be retroactive to when your SSDI started. My twins' applications took about 5 weeks to process and I received 4 months of back payments for both of them. Each child gets their own separate debit card for payments. Don't delay any longer - every day you wait means potentially losing retroactive benefits! The process was much smoother than I expected once I reached someone who knew what they were doing. Good luck!

I went through this exact same situation with my daughter after my SSDI approval last year! You definitely don't need separate MySocialSecurity accounts for your kids - minors can't create their own accounts anyway. Here's what worked for me: Call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 right at 8am when they open (this is absolutely crucial for getting through!) and tell them "I need to file Form SSA-16 applications for auxiliary benefits for my three dependent children based on my approved SSDI record." Have everything ready before you call: birth certificates and Social Security cards for all three kids, plus your SSDI approval letter. The representative can actually process all the applications over the phone, which saves you from having to take the kids to an office. Key points to remember: - Each child can receive up to 50% of your benefit amount, but with three kids you'll likely hit the family maximum (usually 150-180% of your Primary Insurance Amount) which might reduce individual amounts slightly - You'll automatically be appointed as their representative payee - Benefits should be retroactive to when your SSDI started - so don't delay any longer or you'll lose potential back payments! - Processing typically takes 6-8 weeks once applications are filed - Each child will get their own separate debit card/payment I received 6 months of retroactive payments for my daughter because I filed immediately after my approval. The whole process was actually much smoother than I expected once I got connected with someone knowledgeable. Congrats on your approval after such a long wait, and don't wait any longer to file for the kids - every day counts for those retroactive benefits!

I'm experiencing this exact same issue! Filed for retirement benefits about 4 weeks ago, then withdrew my application 10 days ago when I realized the financial benefits of waiting until my full retirement age. My MySocialSecurity account immediately switched to showing that "benefits may be suspended" message and I can't access any of my previous information - no earnings history, benefit estimates, nothing! It's so frustrating because I was using those tools regularly for retirement planning. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. I had no idea this was such a widespread problem after withdrawals - I genuinely thought I had somehow broken my account! The timeline variations are wild, but it sounds like patience is key. I'm definitely going to request a paper statement using form SSA-7004 like several people suggested while waiting for the online system to sort itself out. Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories - it's such a relief to know this is a known glitch that will eventually resolve itself!

I'm going through this exact same frustrating situation right now! Filed for my Social Security retirement benefits about 5 weeks ago, then withdrew my application 2 weeks ago after doing more research and realizing I'd get significantly higher monthly payments by waiting until my full retirement age. Ever since the withdrawal, my MySocialSecurity account has been completely inaccessible with that same confusing "benefits may be suspended" message, and I can't view any of my earnings history or benefit estimates that I used to check regularly for retirement planning. Reading through all these responses has been such a huge relief! I had no idea this was such a common issue after application withdrawals. I was genuinely starting to panic thinking I had somehow permanently damaged my account or that there was something seriously wrong with my Social Security record. The variation in timelines is really eye-opening - it's crazy how some people get their access back in just a few days while others wait months for the same system glitch to resolve. I'm definitely going to try requesting a paper statement using form SSA-7004 that several people have mentioned. It sounds like a perfect workaround to get my earnings information while waiting for SSA's systems to sort themselves out. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it's so reassuring to know this is a known technical issue that will eventually resolve itself, even if the wait time is unpredictable!

I'm in a very similar situation - turning 63 next year and living in Costa Rica. After reading all these experiences, I'm definitely leaning toward flying back to file in person. The thing that really stands out to me is how many people mention that SSA reps in the US caught errors or complications that could have cost thousands over time. Since we're talking about benefits that will hopefully last 20+ years, even a small mistake in the calculation can add up to huge money. Plus, with the WEP calculations and international agreements, it seems like the FBU staff's expertise varies wildly between locations. At least in a US office, you know they have access to all the systems and can pull up everything immediately. The travel cost is a one-time expense, but benefit errors last forever. Has anyone had experience with the SSA office in Miami? I'm thinking that might be my best bet given the high number of international cases they probably handle.

Reading through all these experiences really reinforces how much the decision depends on your individual situation. For anyone else following this thread who might be on the fence, here's what seems to be the key factors: 1) If you have a straightforward work history with only US earnings, FBU can work fine (though timelines vary widely), 2) If you have foreign earnings, multiple countries involved, or potential WEP calculations, the US route seems overwhelmingly better, and 3) The peace of mind factor is huge - knowing you can get everything resolved in one sitting vs. potentially months of back-and-forth. One additional consideration I haven't seen mentioned much is that if you're planning to travel back to the US anyway for other reasons (family visits, medical appointments, etc.), the timing could work out perfectly. Also worth noting that some of the newer SSA offices have really streamlined their processes - it's not the same bureaucratic nightmare it used to be if you come prepared with all your documents. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences!

One more important detail - you mentioned you've been divorced for about 3 years, which is perfect. For divorced spouse benefits, you must be unmarried OR if you remarried, you can only get benefits on your ex's record if your current marriage happened after you turned 60. Just wanted to make sure that wasn't an issue in your case!

Just wanted to share my experience as someone who went through this exact process last year! I was born in 1952, divorced after 18 years of marriage, and successfully used the restricted application strategy. The key things that helped me: 1) I brought all my paperwork organized (divorce decree, marriage certificate, both our Social Security statements), 2) I was very clear with the SSA rep that I wanted ONLY divorced spouse benefits and would file for my own at 70, and 3) I got everything in writing before leaving the office. The whole process took about 45 minutes once I got my appointment. Now I'm collecting about $1,200/month on my ex's record while my own benefit grows by 8% each year until I turn 70. It's been a huge financial help during this transition period! Good luck with your appointment - you're making a smart move!