Following up on my earlier comment - after using Claimyr to reach an actual knowledgeable person at SSA, I discovered my benefits were calculated wrong for YEARS because regular reps didn't understand how the disability freeze worked with my public employment. Got a nice backpay check! Definitely don't give up and keep pushing for answers.

I work for a disability advocacy organization and see cases like yours frequently. The key thing you need to understand is that there's a difference between a "medical determination" and "technical eligibility" for SSDI. It sounds like SSA found you medically disabled (hence the Medicare) but technically ineligible for payments due to insufficient recent work credits. Here's what you should do immediately: 1. Request your complete SSA file including any disability determination notices 2. Ask specifically about "disability freeze" or "period of disability" status 3. Get a written explanation of how your benefits will be calculated at retirement age The fact that you're on Medicare suggests you DID get a medical disability determination, which should protect your retirement eligibility through the disability freeze provision. The reps telling you that you'll get "nothing" at retirement are likely wrong - they're probably not accounting for the special rules that apply to people with established disability periods. Also be aware that your county pension will likely trigger the Windfall Elimination Provision, which will reduce (but not eliminate) your Social Security benefits. Don't let SSA convince you that WEP means you get zero benefits - that's also incorrect. Document everything and don't accept "no benefits ever" as a final answer until you've spoken with someone who actually understands disability freeze calculations.

I had almost the exact same thing happen to me last month - a random $287 payment with just "one time payment" showing up. Turns out it was related to a Medicare Part B premium adjustment from earlier in the year. What I did was screenshot everything in my mySocialSecurity account, then called the local SSA office first thing in the morning (around 8:15 AM) when they open - much better chance of getting through than the national number. They were able to pull up my payment history and explain it right away. In my case, they had been deducting too much for Medicare premiums for several months and this was the refund. The representative said these adjustments are pretty common and usually legitimate, but definitely worth confirming. Good luck getting through to them!

I just wanted to add that if you do end up calling SSA, it's worth asking them to email or mail you a written explanation of the payment. I've found that having documentation is really helpful, especially if you need to reference it later for tax purposes or if there are any follow-up questions. Also, if it turns out to be a Medicare premium adjustment like others have mentioned, you might want to check if your future monthly payments will be affected too - sometimes these adjustments also change your ongoing monthly deductions. Keep us posted on what you find out - these mystery payments seem pretty common and your experience could help others in the same situation!

That's such wonderful news, Ana! I'm so happy you got the official confirmation and can move forward with your wedding plans without worrying about your benefits. It's always nerve-wracking when you're dealing with SSA and there's so much misinformation floating around. Your story is going to be really helpful for other community members who might be in similar situations. The fact that you took the time to update us with the official answer you received shows what a thoughtful person you are. Congratulations on your upcoming marriage! It sounds like you've found someone wonderful, and at 68, you deserve all the happiness in the world. Best wishes for your new chapter together! 💕

Ana, what a heartwarming story! I'm so thrilled that you got the official confirmation from SSA and can now plan your wedding with complete peace of mind. It's wonderful to see how this community came together to help you navigate this situation. As someone who works with seniors on benefit questions, I want to add one small detail that might be helpful for you and others: if your new spouse also receives Social Security benefits, make sure to ask SSA about any potential changes to Medicare premiums based on your combined household income. This usually only affects higher-income couples, but it's worth asking about just to be thorough. Congratulations on finding love again at this beautiful stage of life! Your story reminds us all that it's never too late for new beginnings. Wishing you and your fiancé a lifetime of happiness together! 💖

I think there's something about having to pay more taxes if your income is too high with social security? My neighbor said something about 85% of his benefits being taxed when he kept working.

Just want to add my experience here - I'm 67 and started working part-time at a local library about 6 months ago. Like everyone said, there's no earnings limit once you hit FRA, which is such a relief! One thing I wish I'd known earlier is to set aside some money for taxes. Even though my part-time job is only bringing in about $8,000 a year, when combined with my pension and Social Security, I ended up owing more in taxes than expected. My tax preparer suggested having them withhold extra federal tax from my paychecks to avoid a surprise bill next April. Also, working part-time has been amazing for my mental health - gives me purpose and I've made some great friends. Don't let the tax implications scare you away from working if that's what you want to do. Just plan for it!

As a veteran who went through this process myself, I want to emphasize something that might not be obvious - even though your husband's VA rating is 80%, the actual medical conditions and limitations documented in his VA file are often more than sufficient for SSDI approval. The key is that SSA looks at functional capacity rather than percentage ratings. One thing I'd strongly recommend is gathering all of his VA medical records before applying, including any recent treatment notes. The VA doctors are very thorough in documenting how conditions affect daily functioning, which is exactly what SSA needs to see. Also, if he has any conditions that have worsened since his last VA rating exam, make sure to get current medical documentation of those changes. The timing is actually good since he just started retirement benefits - if SSDI gets approved, the switch to the higher payment amount will be retroactive to when he first became disabled (up to 12 months before application), so there could be some back pay involved too. Don't let the complexity of dealing with both systems discourage you from applying!

One important thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that if your husband does get approved for SSDI, he should be aware of the earnings limit if he ever decides to try working again part-time. In 2024, SSDI recipients can earn up to $1,550 per month without affecting their benefits (this is called Substantial Gainful Activity or SGA). This might be relevant given his 80% VA rating - he could potentially do some light work while still receiving SSDI, whereas with regular retirement benefits there are different earnings limits that apply until full retirement age. Also, since he's already 62 and collecting retirement, if he gets approved for SSDI, he'll automatically convert to regular retirement benefits at his full retirement age (probably 67) but at the full benefit amount, not the reduced amount he's getting now for claiming early. So SSDI can actually help him avoid that permanent reduction penalty. This is something a lot of people don't realize about the interaction between early retirement and disability benefits.