I'm really glad to see how this community came together to help you navigate such a complex situation, Oliver. Your plan sounds excellent based on all the detailed advice you've received here. One small additional tip that might save you some time: if you do end up visiting a local SSA office instead of calling, try to go early in the morning right when they open, or consider scheduling an appointment online if your local office offers that option. Walk-ins can sometimes wait hours, especially at the end of the month when benefit payments are processed. Also, when you do get your husband's PIA documentation, double-check that it includes any delayed retirement credits or special provisions that might have applied to his case. Sometimes these details can get overlooked but could affect your final survivor benefit amount. You've got a really solid strategy laid out, and it's clear you're approaching this thoughtfully despite dealing with such difficult circumstances. Best of luck with everything!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Oliver. What a difficult situation to navigate while you're still grieving. I wanted to add one more consideration to all the excellent advice you've received: since you mentioned living mostly on savings right now, you might want to factor in the impact of early withdrawal penalties or taxes on those savings when comparing the timing of your Social Security claiming strategies. If taking your reduced retirement benefit at 63 means you can preserve more of your savings (and avoid potential penalties), that could outweigh some of the reduction in monthly benefits. Conversely, if you can comfortably live on savings until your FRA without significant tax consequences, waiting might be better. Also, don't forget that once you start receiving Social Security benefits, up to 85% of those benefits could be taxable depending on your total income (including your part-time work). This is another factor to discuss with SSA when they run your scenarios. You're handling this incredibly well given the circumstances. The strategy you've outlined based on everyone's input sounds very sensible. I hope you're able to get through to SSA soon and get the exact numbers you need to make the final decision with confidence.

Just wanted to chime in with one more important consideration - make sure you understand how the earnings test works in your birth month and the month you start receiving benefits. Since you started collecting in January 2025, you'll want to be extra careful about your earnings in January specifically. Also, I'd recommend downloading the SSA publication "How Work Affects Your Benefits" (Publication No. 05-10069) from their website. It breaks down all the rules for working while receiving early retirement benefits, including special situations like self-employment. One last tip from my own experience - consider getting a tax professional who specializes in self-employment and Social Security issues for at least your first year. The cost of their services is also a deductible business expense, and they can help you set up good record-keeping systems from the start. It's much easier to do it right from the beginning than to try to sort everything out at tax time!

Welcome to the community! Your situation sounds very manageable, and you're smart to research everything upfront. I went through something similar when I started collecting at 64 and then picked up some part-time consulting work. A few practical tips from my experience: 1. Open a separate business checking account for your 1099 income - it makes tracking so much easier and looks more professional if you ever get audited 2. Use a mileage tracking app on your phone for business travel - I use MileIQ but there are several good free options 3. Take photos of all your receipts and store them in a cloud folder organized by month Since you're doing product demonstrations, you might also be able to deduct things like professional development courses, industry publications, or networking events related to your field. The IRS allows "ordinary and necessary" business expenses, which can be pretty broad for demonstration work. One thing to watch out for - make sure the companies hiring you are actually treating you as an independent contractor and not an employee. If they're controlling how you do the work too much, the IRS might reclassify you, which could affect your tax situation. Good luck with the trade shows! It sounds like a fun way to stay active in retirement while staying within the earnings limits.

As a new community member, I'm really grateful to have found this discussion! Reading through everyone's experiences and advice has been incredibly educational. The situation with bank fraud and needing to quickly update Social Security direct deposit is exactly the kind of emergency that would leave me feeling overwhelmed and unsure where to start. What really stands out to me is how this community came together with such practical, actionable advice. The multi-channel approach of simultaneously updating online, calling (using services like Claimyr), and visiting in person is brilliant - I never would have thought to hedge my bets like that. Learning about security measures like eBlocks, credit freezes, and the FTC identity theft reporting process has been invaluable. The suggestion about maintaining a separate account dedicated to government payments is something I'm definitely going to implement proactively. It's such a simple way to protect your benefits from everyday banking complications. Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences and practical solutions. It's clear this community has members who genuinely care about helping others navigate these complex situations. This thread will undoubtedly help many people beyond just the original poster!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely amazed by the incredible support and expertise shown in this thread! Reading through everyone's experiences has been like taking a masterclass in both Social Security administration and identity protection. The original situation - dealing with bank fraud while trying to quickly update direct deposit - is such a perfect example of how multiple crises can compound each other. But what's remarkable is how this community rallied with such practical, tested solutions. I'm particularly impressed by the strategic approach of using multiple channels simultaneously (online, phone via Claimyr, and in-person visits) to ensure the change goes through quickly. As someone who tends to panic in emergencies, having this kind of systematic game plan is incredibly valuable. The security recommendations throughout this thread - eBlocks, credit freezes, the FTC identity theft reporting, and especially the idea of maintaining a dedicated account just for government payments - are all things I'm going to implement proactively. It's so much better to have these protections in place before you need them. Thank you to everyone who shared their real-world experiences and specific resources. This thread has become an invaluable guide that will help many people navigate similar challenges. I'm grateful to be part of such a knowledgeable and caring community!

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.