I'm 66 and went through this exact scenario 18 months ago after my knee replacement surgery. I was on paid medical leave and decided to file for SS retirement benefits rather than return to work. Here's what I learned: **You can absolutely receive both benefits simultaneously** - they're separate income sources and SSA doesn't prohibit this combination. **Key steps I recommend:** 1. **Get written confirmation from HR** about how your PML is classified (wages vs. non-wages) and whether collecting SS affects your leave eligibility 2. **Calculate the earnings test impact** - if your PML counts as wages, it might temporarily reduce your SS payments since you're filing before FRA 3. **Consider the permanent 7.8% reduction** - weigh this against your health situation and financial needs **My experience:** I received both benefits for 14 weeks without issues. My PML was classified as wages, so my SS was temporarily reduced by about $150/month until the leave ended. Once I stopped receiving PML, my full SS benefit resumed. The peace of mind of having the income security now was worth more to me than waiting for the higher benefit later, especially given my health concerns. Don't let anyone pressure you either way - this is a very personal decision based on your specific circumstances. Feel free to ask if you want more details about the application process or timeline!

I'm 67 and went through this exact situation 2 years ago after rotator cuff surgery. I was on employer-paid medical leave for 16 weeks and filed for SS retirement benefits about 8 weeks into my leave. Here's what I discovered: **The short answer is YES** - you can typically receive both your employer's PML and SS retirement benefits at the same time. They're considered separate income sources. **However, there are some important nuances:** 1. **Check how your PML is classified** - Ask HR if it's reported as "wages" on your W-2. If yes, it counts toward the earnings test and could temporarily reduce your SS payments until you reach FRA. 2. **Get everything in writing** - I cannot stress this enough. Ask HR for written confirmation that starting SS won't affect your PML eligibility and how the leave payments are classified for tax purposes. 3. **Consider the timing** - Since you're only 14 months from FRA, you'll have about a 7.8% permanent reduction in benefits. Given your health situation though, the financial security now might outweigh the higher future payments. **My experience:** I successfully collected both benefits for the entire 16-week period. My PML was classified as wages, so my SS was temporarily reduced by about $180/month due to the earnings test. Once my leave ended, my full SS benefit kicked in. The process was straightforward once I got all the documentation sorted. The key is being proactive about understanding your employer's specific policies and getting clear answers in writing. Best of luck with your recovery and decision!

Carmen, I went through almost the exact same situation last year - back surgery, SSDI denial, and turning 62 while appealing. Here's what I wish someone had told me: 1. **Financial bridge**: Taking early retirement at 62 while appealing SSDI can be a smart financial move. You'll have income while waiting for your appeal decision, which can take 12-18 months. 2. **No harm to your case**: Filing for early retirement won't hurt your SSDI appeal. SSA treats them as separate determinations, and many people do both simultaneously. 3. **The math works in your favor**: If you win SSDI later, you'll get bumped up to the full retirement amount PLUS backpay for the difference. If you lose the appeal, at least you had income during the waiting period. 4. **Construction background helps**: Given your 30+ years in construction and limited education, you actually have a good shot at approval under the medical-vocational guidelines, especially at your age. Back problems + inability to do past heavy work + limited transferable skills = strong case. My advice: File for early retirement when you turn 62 next month to get income flowing, but absolutely continue your SSDI appeal. Get all your post-surgery medical records to your attorney (if you don't have one, get one - they're worth it). The financial difference between early retirement and SSDI is too significant to give up on. Hang in there - the system is frustrating but it does work eventually for legitimate cases like yours.

I'm sorry but I think there might be some confusion in this thread. The comment asking about my SSDI appeal outcome was actually posted by Eli Butler, but it was tagged to Emily Sanjay who shared the great advice about the financial bridge strategy. To clarify - I'm Carmen Diaz, the original poster asking about SSDI vs early retirement. Emily Sanjay was the one who went through a similar situation and gave the excellent breakdown about filing for early retirement while continuing the SSDI appeal. But I'm definitely interested to hear Emily's response about her outcome and the monthly difference between early retirement and SSDI amounts if she's willing to share! That information would be really valuable for my decision-making. Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses - this community has been amazing in helping me understand my options.

As someone new to this community, I'm absolutely amazed by the incredible support and practical advice shared in this thread! @Hannah White, your situation is so frustrating but you've really struck gold finding this community - the collective wisdom here is incredible. I wanted to add one more potential approach that worked for my neighbor last year: if you have a local Senior Center or AARP office nearby, many of them have volunteers who specifically help people navigate SSA issues. They often have direct contacts or know the local field office staff personally, which can sometimes open doors that regular channels can't. Also, regarding the Congressional representative route that several people mentioned - this really is a game-changer! I helped my elderly father use this service for a Medicare issue, and I was shocked at how quickly they responded and resolved something he'd been struggling with for months. The fact that you've documented 7+ hours of hold time shows incredible persistence. Between all the strategies shared here - the specific phone menu paths, Congressional office, in-person visits, mail verification, and even that three-way call option - you definitely have multiple paths forward now. Really hoping one of these breaks through for you soon! Thank you to everyone who shared their hard-earned experience here. This is exactly the kind of real-world problem-solving that makes all the difference when dealing with bureaucratic nightmares.

I'm new to this community, but I had to join this conversation because this thread is absolutely incredible! @Hannah White, I'm so sorry you're dealing with this nightmare - the two-factor authentication catch-22 is one of the most frustrating bureaucratic problems I've ever heard of. Reading through all the advice here, I'm blown away by how many alternative solutions exist that most people (including me) would never know about. The Congressional representative option seems like an absolute game-changer - I had no idea they helped with federal agency issues like this! And @Oliver Schmidt's three-way call verification process sounds like it could be perfect for your exact situation. What really impresses me is how this community has essentially created the most comprehensive SSA troubleshooting guide I've ever seen. Between the specific phone menu paths, timing strategies, local office tips, and backup verification methods, you now have multiple approaches to try simultaneously. Your persistence through 7+ hours of documented hold time is incredible, and honestly highlights how broken these systems can be for regular people just trying to access their own benefits. I'm bookmarking this entire thread because this is exactly the kind of real-world advice you can't find anywhere else. Really hoping one of these community-shared strategies breaks through for you soon - and thank you for starting a conversation that's clearly helping so many others facing similar challenges!

I'm new to this community and stumbled across your post while researching representative payee responsibilities myself. This thread has been incredibly informative! I just wanted to add that when I was first appointed as rep payee for my nephew, I made the mistake of mixing his benefits with my regular checking account thinking it would be simpler. Big mistake! The SSA representative strongly advised me to open a separate account specifically for his benefits to make tracking much easier. It also helps when tax time comes around because you can clearly see the deposits and withdrawals that belong to him versus your own finances. Some banks even offer special accounts for representative payees that come with better record-keeping features. Just thought I'd share this tip since it would have saved me a lot of stress if I'd known from the beginning!

As someone who's been a representative payee for my disabled brother for over 5 years, I can confirm what others have said - you're only taxed on YOUR caregiver benefits, not the money you manage for your son. The key thing that helped me was understanding that you're essentially acting as his "financial guardian" for that larger payment, not receiving it as your own income. One practical tip I wish someone had told me early on: when you get your SSA-1099 form, it might show the total of both payments, but you can call SSA to get a breakdown if needed. Also, consider meeting with a tax professional for your first filing as a rep payee - it's worth the cost for peace of mind and they can help you understand exactly what to report going forward. The record-keeping does seem overwhelming at first, but it becomes routine. I use a simple Excel sheet with monthly tabs tracking his expenses by category, and it makes the annual SSA-623 form much easier to complete. You're doing great by asking these questions early - shows you're taking the responsibility seriously!

Hi Anastasia! I'm also new to this community and wanted to congratulate you on your Social Security approval! What an exciting milestone to reach. I've been reading through all these incredibly detailed responses and I'm amazed by how much helpful information has been shared. As someone who's still about 5 years away from retirement, this entire conversation has been such a valuable learning experience. I had no idea about so many of these details - like how benefits are paid a month behind or the birth date payment schedule system. The advice about regularly checking your mySocialSecurity account seems particularly useful since it sounds like information often appears there before the physical mail arrives. And all the tips about keeping organized records and being prepared to review the award letter carefully for accuracy are exactly the kind of practical insights that are so valuable to know ahead of time. I hope your award letter arrives within the next couple of weeks as everyone has suggested, and that everything goes smoothly with your first payment in February. Thank you for asking such thoughtful questions that have helped educate all of us newcomers about this important process! This community really seems like an amazing resource for navigating these significant life transitions. Welcome, and best of luck with everything!

Hi Anastasia! Welcome to the community and congratulations on your Social Security approval! I'm also pretty new here and wanted to share my experience since I just went through something very similar. I applied for my benefits to start in November 2024 and got my approval letter about 6 weeks ago. Just like you, I was anxiously waiting for the award letter with the actual payment amount! Mine took exactly 18 days to arrive after the approval letter, and it showed up in my mySocialSecurity account about 4 days before the physical letter came in the mail. Since you're born on the 19th, you'll definitely be in that third Wednesday payment group starting in February. I'm born on the 23rd so I get paid on the fourth Wednesday, and I can confirm the payments are very reliable once they start. One thing I wish I had known - when the award letter comes, it will show your gross benefit amount at the top, but then list all the deductions below (Medicare Part B, any tax withholding, etc.). So the actual deposit amount might be a bit different from what you're expecting based on online calculators. Just something to keep in mind for your budgeting! The whole process feels overwhelming at first, but once you get that award letter and see your first payment, it becomes much more routine. Everyone here has given you such great advice already. This community has been incredibly helpful for navigating all these new retirement processes!