I want to add some encouragement here - you absolutely made the right choice taking survivor benefits at 60 given your health concerns at the time. That's exactly what those benefits are designed for, and there's no shame in using them when you needed them most. What's happening now is actually routine and potentially very good news for you. Since you're past your full retirement age, your own Social Security benefit has been earning delayed retirement credits (worth 8% per year) while you've been collecting survivor benefits. So even though you couldn't have predicted your longevity, the system actually worked in your favor. Here's what I'd suggest for your call preparation: - Have your most recent tax returns handy (2019-2020 when you were still working) - Write down your exact birth date and your late husband's birth date - Ask them to confirm your earnings record is complete through 2020 - Request they explain the exact dollar amounts of both benefits before making any changes The fact that they reached out to YOU means they've already done preliminary calculations and believe you might qualify for higher benefits. This is their way of making sure you get every penny you're entitled to. Try not to stress - you've navigated this well so far and this next step should only improve your situation.

I went through this exact same process about 18 months ago! I was so worried when I got that letter from SSA, but it turned out to be the best thing that happened to my retirement finances. Like you, I had been collecting survivor benefits since age 60 (mine were reduced because I took them early). When I reached my full retirement age of 66 and 8 months, I got a similar letter about scheduling a phone appointment. I was terrified they were going to tell me I owed money back or that I had done something wrong. The reality was completely different - my own retirement benefit had grown to be about $380 more per month than my survivor benefit! Since I was past my FRA, I also qualified for 4 months of retroactive payments. The SSA representative was actually very patient and explained everything clearly. Here's what I wish I had known going into that call: they've already run the numbers and have a pretty good idea that your own benefit is likely higher. That's why they're reaching out. They're not trying to take anything away from you - they're trying to make sure you get the maximum benefit you're entitled to. Don't second-guess your decision to take survivor benefits at 60. With your health situation, that was absolutely the right call. You needed that income then, and it didn't hurt your own retirement benefit at all. You played it perfectly! Good luck with your appointment - I think you're going to be pleasantly surprised with the outcome.

Thank you all so much for the helpful responses! To summarize what I've learned: 1. My January 2025 benefit (paid in February) will automatically include the 2025 COLA 2. The delay to February is just the normal payment cycle (January entitlement paid in February) 3. I should double-check my MySocialSecurity account when the award letter arrives to confirm everything This community has been incredibly helpful - I was really worried about losing out on the COLA increase for my budget planning. I appreciate everyone taking the time to explain how this works!

You're absolutely right to summarize those key points! Just to add one more helpful tip for your budget planning - when you do receive your award letter, it will show your exact monthly benefit amount with the 2025 COLA already included. This makes it much easier to plan your finances since you won't have to calculate the increase yourself. Also, keep in mind that Medicare Part B premiums (if applicable) will be deducted from your Social Security payment, so make sure to account for that in your budgeting as well. Congratulations on reaching your full retirement age and getting your benefits sorted out!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's incredibly frustrating when government systems don't communicate properly with each other! I'm approaching 65 myself and had no idea about this retroactive Medicare enrollment issue. From reading everyone's responses, it sounds like you're on the right track by getting the documentation from SSA and working with your HSA administrator. Just wanted to add that you might also want to check if your employer offers any kind of benefits counseling or has dealt with this situation before with other employees. Some larger companies have benefits specialists who are familiar with these Medicare/HSA conflicts and might be able to help you navigate the process more smoothly. Also, definitely keep records of all your phone calls with SSA (dates, times, reference numbers if they give you any) in case you need to reference them later for tax purposes or if there are any disputes. This whole situation really highlights how much these agencies need to improve their communication with beneficiaries!

This is exactly why I always recommend people research Medicare enrollment rules BEFORE applying for Social Security benefits, especially if they're still working and contributing to an HSA. The retroactive enrollment rule has been around for decades but SSA does a terrible job of explaining it upfront. One thing that might help - if you're within 12 months of your Social Security application, you technically have the right to withdraw your entire application (called a "withdrawal of application"). This would also cancel your Medicare Part A enrollment, allowing you to continue HSA contributions. However, you'd have to pay back any Social Security benefits you've already received, and you can only do this once in your lifetime. For most people, it's not worth it financially, but it's an option if maximizing HSA contributions is really important to your retirement strategy. You'd need to run the numbers carefully with a financial advisor to see if it makes sense in your situation. The good news is that once you get through this initial mess and get your excess HSA contributions sorted out with your tax preparer, everything should be much clearer going forward. Just make sure your payroll department stops the HSA deductions immediately if they haven't already!

I'm also dealing with a chronic condition that's affecting my ability to work, so I really appreciate everyone's insights here. One thing I wanted to add based on my research is that the Social Security Administration has something called the "Blue Book" which lists specific medical conditions and the criteria they use to evaluate disability claims. Rheumatoid arthritis is covered under Section 14.09 - Inflammatory Arthritis. Having your condition match the specific criteria in the Blue Book can really strengthen your case. Your rheumatologist should be familiar with these requirements and can help document your symptoms in a way that aligns with what SSA is looking for. Also, since you mentioned you're a nurse, SSA will consider whether you can do any other type of work given your age, education, and experience. At 58, you're closer to the age where they give more consideration to the difficulty of learning new job skills, which can work in your favor during the evaluation process. Hope this helps add another piece to the puzzle!

I've been following this conversation and wanted to share some additional insights that might help with your SSDI application process. As someone who works in disability advocacy, I see a lot of misconceptions about SSDI benefits. You're absolutely right to be relieved about the age issue - SSDI is NOT reduced for age like early retirement benefits are. Your SSDI benefit will be calculated based on your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is what you'd receive at full retirement age regardless of when you actually apply for SSDI. A few practical tips for your application: 1. Request copies of ALL your medical records before applying - don't rely on SSA to get them 2. Ask your rheumatologist to complete a Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) form that specifically details your physical limitations 3. Document how your RA affects your ability to perform "activities of daily living" - this is crucial for the evaluation Regarding the spousal benefits question from earlier - you're correct that you'd apply for those when your SSDI converts to retirement benefits at age 67. At that point, if 50% of your husband's PIA exceeds your own benefit amount, you'll receive the difference as a spousal benefit supplement. The process is frustrating and lengthy, but with good medical documentation and persistence, many people with legitimate disabilities do get approved. Best of luck with your application!

I went through this exact same process last year when I turned 66 and 8 months! Your timing sounds perfect - applying in April for May benefits gives SSA plenty of processing time. Since your birthday is on the 17th, you're absolutely right that you'll get paid on the third Wednesday of May. One thing that really helped me was setting up text alerts with my bank so I'd get notified the moment any deposit hit my account. Made that first payment feel more real when I got the alert! Also, don't be surprised if you get a phone call from SSA in the next week or two asking to verify some basic information from your application. It's totally routine - they called me about 5 days after I applied just to confirm my mailing address and direct deposit info. The whole call took maybe 3 minutes. You mentioned being nervous even though you waited until FRA - I felt the exact same way! But honestly, claiming at full retirement age is the sweet spot. You get your full benefit without any early filing reductions, and you don't have to gamble on delayed retirement credits. You made a smart choice. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but it sounds like you've got everything lined up perfectly. That third Wednesday in May is going to feel pretty great!

I'm going through this exact same process right now! I just turned 66 and 8 months last week and submitted my application online on Monday. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring - especially hearing from people who've successfully navigated this timeline recently. One thing I wanted to add that I learned during my research: if you're still working (even part-time), make sure SSA has your most recent earnings information. I called them before applying because my 2024 W-2 showed higher earnings than what was reflected in my Social Security statement, and they were able to update my record which actually increased my projected benefit amount by about $30/month. Also, I set up account alerts on my MySocialSecurity account so I'll get email notifications for any status changes. Might be worth doing if you haven't already! The anxiety about this whole process is so real, even when you've done everything by the book. But reading everyone's positive experiences here gives me hope that our May payments will arrive right on schedule. Here's to joining the ranks of Social Security recipients! 🎉