That's great advice - thank you! I'll definitely pack a small cooler with water and snacks for her if we end up having to go in person.

This is incredibly helpful - I didn't know local offices could do same-day "emergency" appointments for tax deadlines! I'm going to try calling our local SSA office directly tomorrow morning. And thank you for the tip about tax withholdings - I would have missed that completely when calculating from bank statements. Really appreciate you sharing what actually worked!

Thank you! I'll specifically ask about his PIA when I call. This has been really helpful - I understand my options much better now.

This is really valuable information about the restricted application strategy! I hadn't heard about delaying my own retirement benefit to get those delayed credits while taking the survivor benefit. That 8% per year increase could really add up. Do you know if there's a calculator somewhere that can help figure out which option would be better long-term? And you're absolutely right about getting everything in writing - I've already gotten different answers from the automated phone system versus what people are saying here.

That's not quite right. If you expect to earn over the limit, you should report your estimated earnings to SSA right away. They'll reduce your benefits proactively throughout the year. If you don't report it, and they discover later (through tax records) that you earned over the limit, they'll send you an overpayment notice and you'll have to pay back the excess benefits. Much better to have them withhold correctly from the start!

Wow, I hadn't even thought about the tax implications! That's a really important point. With my bookkeeping income of $22,000 plus pension of $18,000, plus whatever I'd get from SS at 62 (probably around $1,500/month), I might be looking at some of my benefits being taxable. Do you know if there are any strategies to minimize this tax hit, or is it just something you have to factor into the overall decision?

The benefit increase is applied immediately once the recalculation is completed (typically in October of the year following your work year). There's no additional waiting period - you'll simply see the increased amount in your payment. Sometimes you might receive a small retroactive payment if the increase applies to benefits you've already received in the current year.

Great questions! Yes, even part-time earnings of $15,000 can definitely increase your benefit if that amount is higher than one of your lowest earning years in your top 35. Since you retired at 62, you might have some very low or zero earning years that could easily be replaced by even modest part-time work. The increase might seem small on a monthly basis, but remember it's permanent for the rest of your life, so even a $20-30 monthly increase adds up over time. And yes, SSA does send you a letter explaining the recalculation when it happens - they're actually pretty good about documenting benefit changes. The letter will show your old benefit amount, new amount, and briefly explain why it changed (usually says something like "due to additional earnings"). Just keep in mind that since you claimed at 62, you're subject to the earnings test until you reach your FRA, so watch those earning limits if you're still a few years away from full retirement age!

Medicare is primarily for those 65+, but it's also available to people who've received SSDI for 24 months, regardless of age. This is sometimes called "Medicare for the disabled." It provides the same coverage as Medicare for seniors.

This is really great advice! I hadn't thought about looking into state disability programs. We're in California - do you happen to know if they have any programs that might help during the waiting period? And thanks for the heads up about the different Medicare parts. I'm already feeling overwhelmed trying to understand all of this, so starting to research 6 months early sounds like a smart idea.

California does have some good options! Look into Medi-Cal (California's Medicaid program) - many SSDI recipients qualify based on income limits, and it can provide coverage during the Medicare waiting period. There's also the California COBRA Continuation Coverage program and subsidized plans through Covered California that might be more affordable than regular COBRA. I'd recommend calling your county's social services office - they often have benefits specialists who can walk you through all available programs. The sooner you apply for anything you might qualify for, the better, since there can be waiting periods for approval.