Exactly right about the Grace Year. During your first year receiving benefits, you can receive a full benefit check for any month you earn under the monthly limit (which is the annual limit divided by 12, so about $1,770 for 2025) regardless of your annual total. This is specifically helpful for seasonal workers like yourself. After your first year on benefits, they switch to the annual method. At that point, they only care if your total annual earnings exceed the yearly limit. One more thing to consider: The earnings limit increases in the year you reach FRA and then disappears completely once you hit your full retirement age. So these restrictions won't apply once you turn 67.

I went through this exact process 6 months ago at age 64 with similar health concerns. Here's what actually happened vs what I expected: The online application was much smoother than I feared, but they did follow up asking for documentation about 2 weeks later. They wanted my most recent tax return (including Schedule C and SE), a letter from my accountant verifying my expected 2025 earnings, and bank statements for direct deposit setup. The key thing that helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet showing my monthly income projections - they seemed to appreciate having it organized that way. Also, don't stress too much about perfect accuracy on future earnings estimates. They told me I can report changes quarterly if my health situation affects my work more than expected. The whole process from application to first payment took about 6 weeks. Good luck with your application!

My husband just went thru this. Apply online but then call to make sure they got it right. They messed up his first calculation and he had to call like 5 times to get it fixed!!

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences! This is really helpful. Based on what I'm reading, it sounds like there's some inconsistency in how different SSA offices are handling the WEP repeal implementation. Some people are getting it calculated correctly automatically, while others are having to fight for proper adjustments. I think I'll follow the advice about preparing a comprehensive spreadsheet of my work history and gathering all my documentation (W-2s from both covered and non-covered employment, pension statements) before I apply. I'm leaning toward applying in person at my local office rather than online, just so I can discuss the WEP situation directly with a specialist from the start. One quick question for those who've been through this recently - when you mention "substantial earnings," is that the same threshold SSA uses for quarters of coverage, or is there a different dollar amount that qualifies as "substantial" for WEP calculations?

Just wondering, have they given you blood thinners for life now? My uncle had PE last year and he's on permanent blood thinners. Does that affect your ability to work certain jobs? That might help your case since some jobs have higher injury risks when you're on anticoagulants.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - losing your job right after a medical emergency is devastating. As someone who works in disability advocacy, I want to emphasize that bilateral pulmonary embolism can absolutely qualify for SSDI, especially with your age working in your favor. The key is documenting not just the initial event but the ongoing limitations - shortness of breath, fatigue, exercise intolerance, and the bleeding risks from anticoagulants. Since you mentioned being on blood thinners, make sure your doctors document any work restrictions this creates. Many jobs become unsuitable when you're at increased bleeding risk. Also, PE often causes long-term pulmonary hypertension or chronic fatigue that may not show up immediately - keep detailed records of your symptoms and limitations. Given your tight financial situation, I'd suggest filing for both SSDI and early retirement simultaneously. The retirement benefits can provide immediate income while you wait for the SSDI decision. Don't let anyone tell you this hurts your SSDI case - it doesn't. You can always receive the higher benefit amount if disability is approved. Most importantly, get an attorney consultation ASAP. Many specialize in respiratory cases and offer free initial consultations. The 25% contingency fee is worth it for the expertise in presenting your case properly from day one.

I'm so sorry for your loss and the incredibly frustrating experience you're having with SSA. What you're going through is unfortunately very common, but that doesn't make it any less maddening. Based on your timeline, you absolutely have a valid claim. If your husband passed on October 28th and they reclaimed the payment that arrived November 3rd, they took back his September payment - which he was alive for the entire month to earn. That payment is rightfully yours. Here's what I'd recommend for your Tuesday appointment: - Bring bank statements showing both the deposit and withdrawal - Request to speak with a "Technical Expert" who specializes in survivor benefits - Ask for all interactions to be documented with case numbers - Don't accept vague promises - demand specific timelines Also consider filing a complaint with the SSA Office of Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov about the lost paperwork and contradictory information you've received. After 10+ months of runaround, you need external pressure to get this resolved. Stay strong - you're fighting for what's rightfully yours, and persistence will eventually pay off. Please keep us updated on how things go!

I'm so sorry for your loss and the incredible frustration you're experiencing with SSA. As someone who has helped family members navigate similar survivor benefit issues, I can tell you that your situation is unfortunately common but absolutely solvable. Based on your timeline, you have a very strong case. Your husband passed on October 28th, and the payment they reclaimed (deposited November 3rd) was for September - a month he was alive for entirely. That payment is rightfully yours. For your Tuesday appointment, I'd recommend bringing: - Bank statements showing the deposit and withdrawal - Death certificate and marriage certificate - All previous Form 1724 submissions (copies) - A written timeline of all your attempts to resolve this Most importantly, ask to speak with a "Technical Expert" who specializes in survivor benefits - regular representatives often lack the expertise for complex underpayment cases like yours. Don't accept vague promises about "processing" - demand specific timelines and case reference numbers. Also consider filing a complaint with the SSA Office of Inspector General (oig.ssa.gov) about the lost paperwork and contradictory information. After 10+ months, you need external pressure to cut through the bureaucracy. You've shown incredible persistence during an already difficult time. Keep fighting - you deserve that payment and shouldn't have to jump through these hoops to get it. Please update us after Tuesday's meeting!

Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses! I'm going to try to schedule an in-person appointment to file the restricted application for divorced spouse benefits. It sounds like I need to be really clear about what I'm asking for and bring all my documentation. I'm still not 100% certain if my own benefit at FRA would be higher than 50% of my ex's, but it's definitely worth checking. He had a pretty high-paying career, so it might work out in my favor. If I have trouble getting an appointment, I might try that Claimyr service someone mentioned. I just want to get this process started since I've already missed out on potential benefits for months!

Good luck with your appointment! Just wanted to add one more tip - if you're unsure whether your own benefit at FRA would be higher than 50% of your ex's benefit, you can request a Social Security Statement online at ssa.gov/myaccount to see your estimated benefits. This will help you know ahead of time if the divorced spouse benefit would actually pay you anything. Also, even if the divorced spouse benefit ends up being $0 because your own benefit is higher, filing the restricted application still serves a purpose - it formally establishes that you're NOT claiming your own retirement benefit yet, which protects you from any accidental processing errors that could start your own benefits early. Make sure to ask the rep to show you exactly what they're processing before you sign anything. Some people have had their own retirement benefits accidentally started when they only wanted the divorced spouse benefit. Better to double and triple check everything at the appointment!