I had a similar situation with my 1099-SSA showing "benefits repaid" when I never actually sent any money back to SSA. In my case, it turned out to be related to a spousal benefit coordination issue - they had to adjust my benefits retroactively when my husband's earnings record was updated, and the system recorded the adjustment as "repaid benefits" even though it was just an internal accounting correction. The key thing I learned is that SSA's computer system uses the same "repaid" category for many different types of benefit adjustments, not just actual cash repayments. It's definitely worth calling to get the specific reason, but don't panic - it's usually just confusing paperwork, not an indication that you actually owe money back. Good luck getting through to them!

I went through something very similar when I first started collecting benefits while still working part-time! The "benefits repaid" amount on your 1099-SSA is almost certainly due to the annual earnings test since you mentioned earning $29,000 while collecting benefits before your full retirement age. Here's what likely happened: SSA calculated that you earned about $6,680 over the 2024 earnings limit ($22,320), so they withheld roughly $3,340 in benefits (half of the overage). Instead of reducing your monthly payments after the fact, they probably built this reduction into your initial benefit calculation, which is why your monthly amount stayed consistent. The confusing part is that their system shows this as "benefits repaid" even though you never actually sent them money - it's just how they account for earnings test reductions. Your actual taxable Social Security income should be based on what you actually received (Box 5), not the gross amount minus the "repaid" amount. Definitely call SSA to confirm this explanation and get the specific breakdown. They should be able to explain exactly how the earnings test affected your benefits and why it appears this way on your 1099-SSA.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Isabella. Losing a parent is incredibly difficult, and having to navigate all these bureaucratic details while grieving makes it even harder. Based on what others have shared here, it sounds like you're getting solid advice. Just wanted to add a couple of practical tips that might help your mom through this process: - When she calls SSA, have her keep a log of who she speaks with, the date/time, and what was discussed. Sometimes information gets lost between calls. - If she's comfortable with it, consider being on the call with her for moral support. SSA allows this if she gives verbal permission. - The local SSA office might be less busy than the national phone line. You could try walking in early in the morning if phone calls aren't working. Your mom is lucky to have you helping her through this. Take care of yourself too during this difficult time. The financial stress will ease once you get through the application process, but the emotional support she needs from you is just as important.

I'm deeply sorry for the loss of your father, Isabella. Having gone through this process when my own parent passed, I understand how overwhelming it can be during such a difficult time. The advice you've received here is excellent. I'd like to emphasize a few key points: 1) Timing is critical - survivor benefits can only be backdated 6 months, so don't delay the application even if you're still gathering documents. 2) When your mom calls, she should specifically ask to "report a death and apply for survivor benefits" - this ensures she gets transferred to the right department immediately. 3) Consider bringing a trusted family member or friend to any in-person appointment for emotional support and to help remember important details. 4) If the phone wait times are impossible, many people have success visiting their local SSA field office first thing in the morning when they open. You can find the nearest office on the SSA website. Your mother will likely receive your father's full $2,400 benefit since she's over full retirement age, which should provide some financial relief during this transition. You're being such a wonderful support to your mother during this time. Take care of yourself too - grief is exhausting, and navigating bureaucracy while mourning adds another layer of stress.

I'm new to this community but dealing with a similar situation with my father who's on SSDI for chronic back issues. After reading through all these responses, I feel much more informed about how the system actually works. What really stands out to me is how many people here have direct experience with declining various treatments without losing benefits, which contradicts some of the scarier stories you hear online. The distinction everyone's making between symptom management (like pain therapy) versus treatments that could actually restore work capacity makes perfect sense. For degenerative conditions like your brother's disc disease, it seems like SSA recognizes these are progressive issues that therapy might help manage but won't "cure." One thing I'm curious about - has anyone here actually been through a Continuing Disability Review where treatment compliance was specifically questioned? It would be helpful to know what that process looks like in practice, especially for spinal conditions. The consistent advice about maintaining regular medical documentation and having reasonable explanations for declining treatments seems like the smart approach regardless.

As someone new to this community but unfortunately familiar with SSDI due to my own disability journey, I wanted to add my perspective on this important topic. What I've learned through my own experience and research is that the "failure to follow prescribed treatment" rule is much more narrowly applied than many people fear. The regulation specifically requires three conditions to be met: the treatment must be prescribed by a physician, it must be expected to restore your ability to work, and you must have no good reason for refusing. For degenerative disc disease like your brother has, pain management therapy typically fails the second test - it's designed to help manage symptoms and improve quality of life, not restore someone's ability to perform substantial gainful activity. I've actually refused several recommended treatments myself (including physical therapy that wasn't helping and some medications with severe side effects) and it's never been questioned during my interactions with SSA. What they really care about during reviews is whether your condition still meets the disability criteria, which is determined through your ongoing medical records and functional assessments. The most important thing your brother can do is maintain regular care with his specialists to ensure there's continuous documentation of his condition. If the therapy question ever comes up, having a reasonable explanation like "previous similar treatments weren't effective" or "managing condition through other doctor-approved methods" should be sufficient. The key is showing he's not abandoning medical care entirely, just making informed decisions about specific treatments that may not be beneficial for his situation.

Another Texas teacher here. One important thing nobody's mentioned: If you keep working in a SS-covered job AFTER starting your TRS pension, those earnings are still subject to WEP, but they're calculated differently. In my case, I retired from teaching but work part-time as a consultant. That income still counts toward Social Security, and if I work enough years, it could eventually help reduce my WEP penalty further. The most accurate way to get your personal estimate is to contact SSA directly. I know it's frustrating with the wait times, but you need someone to calculate your specific situation. I used Claimyr.com to bypass the hold times and got connected to an agent in under 5 minutes. Worth every penny because I was able to get exact figures for my planning.

I'm a newer member here but wanted to share what I learned going through this process recently. The key thing that helped me was getting my actual earnings record from SSA (at my.ssa.gov) and identifying which years qualified as "substantial earnings." What really surprised me was that the WEP reduction isn't just a flat percentage - it's calculated using a different formula for the first "bend point" of your Social Security benefit calculation. With your 20+ years in the private sector, you're likely looking at a reduction somewhere between 25-45% depending on your specific earnings history. One piece of advice: don't just rely on online calculators. I thought I had it figured out, but when I finally got through to an SSA specialist (took 3 tries), my actual projected reduction was different than what the calculators showed. The human factor really matters with these complex cases. Also, keep all your documentation organized - you'll need your TRS benefit estimate and your complete SS earnings record when you apply. The more prepared you are, the smoother the process will be.

THE SSA NEVER GIVES YOU BACK YOUR MONEY WITHOUT A FIGHT!!!! I had the EXACT same situation and they claimed they never got my income information from the IRS even though I filed my taxes on time!!!! Had to go to my local office THREE TIMES to get it straightened out and they acted like they were doing me a favor giving me MY OWN MONEY back!!!! The whole system is designed to STEAL from seniors!!!!!

I'm going through something similar right now! My situation is a bit different though - I estimated $20,000 for 2024 but ended up earning closer to $17,500 because I had to reduce my hours for health reasons. They've been withholding about $200 per month from my benefits. From what I'm reading here, it sounds like the automatic adjustment should happen, but there might be delays or issues. I'm definitely going to check my online SSA account regularly starting this summer to see if there's any indication of an adjustment coming. @StarStrider - I hope you get your $360 back soon! It's frustrating when you're already dealing with reduced income and then have to worry about whether the government systems are working properly. Keep us posted on how it goes!