Update your address with SSA if you've moved recently! I learned this the hard way - they were trying to send me documents about my earnings correction but had my old address. Almost delayed my whole case by months!

I went through something very similar about 3 years ago! Had 4 years of county government work that were showing as zeros even though I definitely paid into SS. The key thing that helped me was contacting the HR department of my old employer - they were able to provide a verification letter showing my employment dates and that FICA taxes were withheld. Even though it was from the early 90s, they still had the records in their system. For law enforcement positions, there's sometimes confusion because some departments participate in both SS and a pension system, while others opt out entirely. But since you remember seeing FICA deductions, you should definitely pursue this. The increase in my monthly benefit was about $180/month once they added those missing years, and I got backpay for almost 2 years. It's worth the hassle! Just be persistent with SSA - they move slowly but they will eventually get it right.

My sister had this exact problem last year and when she finally got through to someone at Social Security they told her it would be fixed "automatically" on the next payment but it wasn't! She had to call THREE more times! Just be persistent and keep calling until they fix it.

Just to add another important point - make sure you check both your AND your wife's benefits since you mentioned you're both on Medicare. Sometimes these errors can affect one account but not the other, especially if you enrolled at different times or have different IRMAA tiers. Also, if you do need to call SSA, have your Medicare card, recent Social Security statement, and the Medicare premium notice all ready before the call. The more prepared you are with documentation numbers, the faster they can help resolve the issue.

I'm so glad to hear you're finally getting some resolution! This thread has been incredibly educational - I had no idea about the Administrative Unfreezing procedure or how congressional offices could help with these specific SSA issues. As someone who will likely be dealing with similar situations for elderly family members in the coming years, I'm saving all this information. It's shocking that SSA's own systems create these catch-22 situations, but knowing the right terminology and escalation paths clearly makes all the difference. Thank you for sharing your experience and keeping us updated. Wishing you a smooth final resolution so you can focus on grieving and healing without this additional bureaucratic stress.

This thread is such a valuable resource for anyone dealing with post-death SSA complications. I'm currently helping my elderly neighbor organize her affairs and had no idea these kinds of bureaucratic tangles could happen. The specific advice about requesting "Administrative Unfreezing" from the Payment Center (not local offices) is gold - I'm definitely saving this information. @TommyKapitz, I'm so sorry for the loss of your mother and the additional stress this situation has caused. It's terrible that families have to become experts in government procedures during such difficult times. Your persistence in documenting and sharing this experience will undoubtedly help others avoid some of the confusion you've faced. The fact that congressional offices can actually cut through this red tape is something more people need to know. It sounds like the combination of knowing the right terminology and having official advocacy made all the difference in your case.

One important thing to understand about the SSDI process: the SSA has what they call the "sequential evaluation process" - five steps they use to determine disability: 1. Are you working above SGA level? ($1,550/month in 2025) 2. Is your condition "severe"? 3. Does your condition meet or equal a medical listing? 4. Can you do your past work? 5. Can you do any work in the national economy? Based on your description, they denied you at step 5 - they're saying despite your MS, they believe you can do some type of work. This is where you need to focus your appeal. For MS specifically, compile evidence related to: - Fatigue levels throughout the day (time-specific documentation) - Cognitive issues like memory problems, focus, concentration - Motor control difficulties - Vision problems if applicable - Need for rest periods throughout the day Demonstrate why these symptoms make even sedentary work impossible to sustain consistently.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the initial denial is soul-crushing when you're already struggling with your health. I went through something similar with my lupus diagnosis. Even though I had joint damage visible on X-rays and blood work showing active disease, they still denied me the first time. What really helped during my appeal was keeping a detailed symptom diary. I tracked not just my bad days, but HOW bad - like "couldn't get out of bed until 2pm due to fatigue" or "hands too stiff to type for more than 10 minutes." The specificity seemed to make a difference when I finally got to my hearing. Also, if your neurologist hasn't already, ask them to complete an RFC form (Residual Functional Capacity). It's different from a regular doctor's letter because it addresses specific work-related limitations like how long you can sit, stand, concentrate, etc. The judges seem to give these more weight than general "patient can't work" statements. Don't lose hope - the system is brutal but many of us do eventually get approved. You have a legitimate medical condition and a doctor supporting you. That's more than a lot of people have when they start this process.

Just to clarify a few points: 1. If you choose to withdraw your application (Form SSA-521), you must repay the full amount you received - there's no payment plan option for this. The repayment must be made in full. 2. If you choose to keep your application active but return to work: - Report your employment to SSA right away - If you're under Full Retirement Age and earn above $21,240 (2025 limit), benefits will be adjusted automatically - You may have months where you receive no payment due to high earnings - At Full Retirement Age, your benefit will be recalculated to give you credit for months benefits were withheld 3. For Medicare: If you withdraw your application, you'll need to decide whether to keep Medicare and pay premiums directly. If you have other health insurance through your new employer, you might consider whether to keep Part B.

Congratulations on the job offer! One important thing to add - if you decide to keep your Social Security active and let the earnings reduction happen naturally, make sure to report your new job to SSA as soon as possible. You can do this online through your my Social Security account or by calling them. If you don't report it promptly and SSA finds out later (which they will when you file taxes), they may create an overpayment that you'll have to repay anyway. It's much better to be proactive about it. Also, keep detailed records of your earnings and any correspondence with SSA. This will help if there are any discrepancies later when they do the annual earnings reconciliation. Good luck with your new job - it sounds like going back to work is the right choice for you at 63!