This has been such an incredibly helpful thread! I'm 64 and was honestly dreading having to figure out the Social Security timing, but reading everyone's real experiences has made it so much clearer. The biggest revelation for me was understanding that applying early for processing time doesn't affect your benefit amount - it's only when you choose to START benefits that matters. I was terrified I'd accidentally lock myself into reduced benefits just by submitting paperwork too early. I'm planning to wait until my FRA at 67, so based on everyone's advice here, I should apply around March when I'm 66 years and 8 months. The 4-month window seems like the sweet spot to avoid both processing delays and having forms expire. I also love the tip about doing a "practice run" with the online application - that's going to save me so much stress when it's time for the real thing. And I'm definitely setting up my My Social Security account this week to check my earnings record and get familiar with the system. One question: for those who applied online, did you run into any technical glitches or is the system pretty reliable? I'm reasonably comfortable with computers but always worry about government websites crashing at the worst possible moment! Thank you everyone for sharing such detailed, practical advice. This community knowledge is invaluable!

Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly reassuring! I'm 65 and was getting overwhelmed by all the conflicting advice I'd heard from friends and family about Social Security timing. The clarification that applying early (for processing) is completely separate from when you choose to START benefits is exactly what I needed to understand. I'm planning to wait until my FRA of 66 and 10 months (born in 1958), so I should be applying around February next year. The consensus here seems to be that 3-4 months ahead is the sweet spot, and hearing from the former SSA employee about potential application updates if you apply too far in advance makes perfect sense. One thing I want to add that might help others - I just spent some time on the SSA website's benefit estimator, and it's actually pretty user-friendly once you get the hang of it. You can model different claiming ages and see the exact dollar impact. For me, waiting those extra 10 months past age 66 to reach my full FRA makes a significant difference in monthly payments. The advice about triple-checking that benefit start date on the application is gold - I can totally see how easy it would be to accidentally select the wrong month and end up with reduced benefits when that wasn't your intention. Thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences, especially the warnings about common pitfalls. This is exactly the kind of practical guidance you can't get from official sources!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to express my gratitude for this incredibly detailed and helpful discussion! My family is just beginning to navigate a potential similar transition - my 20-year-old disabled son currently receives SSI, and my wife and I are starting to think about when we might claim our Social Security benefits. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both educational and reassuring. The consistent advice about maintaining financial protections (special needs trust and ABLE account) even without SSI asset restrictions makes complete sense, especially given how frequently benefit rules seem to change. I'm particularly struck by how many state-specific programs and resources exist that aren't widely advertised or known even by the agencies that should be referring people to them. The emphasis on contacting specialized disability divisions directly rather than general offices, and the importance of using specific terminology when advocating, are exactly the kinds of practical insights I was hoping to find. The healthcare coverage gap during the Medicare waiting period is definitely my biggest concern. It's encouraging to see that so many of you found alternative solutions through persistent research and advocacy, even when initial contacts weren't helpful. One question I have is about preparation timing - would it be beneficial to start researching these state-specific Medicaid alternatives and getting our financial protections reviewed even before we're ready to make the transition? It sounds like having everything in place ahead of time could make the actual transition much smoother. Thank you all for creating such a supportive community where real experiences and practical solutions are shared so openly. This discussion has been invaluable for helping me understand what we'll need to prepare for!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to thank everyone for this incredibly comprehensive discussion! I'm facing a very similar situation with my 22-year-old disabled daughter who currently receives SSI, and my husband is considering when to start collecting his Social Security benefits. Reading through all these experiences has been both overwhelming and reassuring - overwhelming because of the complexity involved, but reassuring because it's clear that with proper planning and advocacy, families can successfully navigate these transitions. The consistent advice about maintaining the special needs trust and moving forward with an ABLE account despite the asset limit relief really resonates with me. It sounds like these tools offer valuable protections and benefits beyond just SSI compliance, and given how often benefit rules change, having that flexibility seems crucial. I'm definitely taking notes on all the resources mentioned here - contacting Aging and Disability Services departments directly, looking into HCBS waivers, researching transitional Medicaid programs, and connecting with Protection & Advocacy agencies. The emphasis on using specific terminology when advocating and getting everything documented in writing are exactly the kinds of practical tips I was hoping to find. The healthcare coverage gap during the Medicare waiting period is my biggest concern, but seeing how many of you found creative solutions through persistent research gives me confidence that options exist even when they're not immediately obvious. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space where real experiences and actionable advice are shared so openly. This discussion has already changed how I'm approaching our planning process - I'm going to start researching these programs well before we make any benefit changes, just as several of you have recommended. This community is truly invaluable for families navigating these complex systems!

I'm at week 6 of waiting for my online retirement application and this thread has been incredibly helpful and reassuring! Like so many others here, I've been anxiously checking my mySocialSecurity account daily seeing nothing but "processing" with zero communication from SSA. I was really starting to worry that something was wrong with my application, especially after hearing about some people getting approved in just a few days. But reading everyone's experiences here - ranging from 4 weeks all the way up to 7 weeks - really confirms that this extended waiting period is completely normal, even though it's nerve-wracking. I've definitely been guilty of the obsessive daily account checking that so many others mentioned! Based on all the advice here, I'm going to try switching to weekly checks and maybe give it one more week before attempting to call, though the phone horror stories are definitely making me hesitant. It's really comforting to know about the retroactive payments - takes away some of the financial stress knowing we won't lose money due to these processing delays. Thanks to everyone for sharing their timelines and experiences - it's amazing how much better it feels knowing this waiting game is just how the system works and we're definitely not alone in this!

I'm at week 3.5 of waiting for my online retirement application and this entire discussion has been such a huge relief! I was definitely starting to get anxious seeing nothing but "processing" with absolutely no updates or communication from SSA. Reading everyone's experiences here - from the quick 3-day approval (though that seems very unusual) all the way up to 7+ weeks - really shows there's quite a range of normal processing times. I've been checking my mySocialSecurity account way too often hoping for any change, but it sounds like that's pretty typical behavior based on everyone's comments! I'm going to follow the advice here and try to limit myself to checking once a week instead of daily, and definitely wait until at least the 6-week mark before attempting to call given all the horror stories about phone wait times. The information about retroactive payments is really reassuring too - good to know we won't lose any money due to processing delays. Thanks to everyone for sharing their timelines and experiences - it's so comforting to know this waiting period is completely normal and we're all going through the same frustrating but necessary process!

As a newcomer to this community, I found this thread incredibly helpful! I'm 64 and planning to start collecting Social Security in a few years, so understanding the difference between regular retirement benefits and SSI is really valuable. It's good to know that inheritance won't affect my future retirement benefits. One thing I'm curious about - for those of us approaching retirement age, are there any other types of "windfall" income (like lottery winnings, gifts, etc.) that WOULD affect regular Social Security retirement benefits? Or is it pretty much just earned income from work that matters for the earnings test if you claim benefits before full retirement age? Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and knowledge here!

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who contributed to this discussion! I'm 62 and considering when to start taking Social Security, so learning about these different scenarios is really valuable. @James Maki - congratulations on your inheritance, and I'm glad you got such clear answers here! It's reassuring to know that regular retirement benefits aren't affected by inheritance. One follow-up question for the group: I keep seeing mentions of "full retirement age" in relation to the earnings test. For someone like me who's still working and considering when to claim benefits, is there a good rule of thumb about whether it makes sense to wait until full retirement age to avoid any earnings complications? I know it varies by person, but I'd love to hear about others' experiences with timing their claims. This community seems like such a great resource for navigating all these Social Security questions!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to express my gratitude for this incredibly comprehensive discussion! I'm 61 and have been wrestling with similar questions about my state pension and Social Security timing, and this thread has provided more clarity than months of trying to research this on my own. The reassurance that pension income doesn't count toward the earnings limit is huge - I had been operating under the assumption that my monthly pension payments would eat into that $22,000+ threshold, which was really limiting my thinking about potential part-time work after claiming benefits. What's particularly valuable is seeing how many different scenarios people have navigated. The WEP impacts seem to vary so much based on specific employment situations, and the survivor benefit strategies are something I hadn't even considered exploring. I'm definitely taking the advice about scheduling an in-person SSA appointment rather than battling the phone system. After reading about everyone's experiences, it's clear that complex pension situations really need that face-to-face review of your complete work history. One thing that really stands out is how this community has created such a supportive environment for sharing these complicated financial decisions. The willingness of members to share both their successes and their mistakes is incredibly valuable for those of us still figuring out our path forward. Thank you all for taking the time to share your knowledge and experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that makes such a difference when facing these life-changing decisions!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful for this thorough and helpful discussion! I'm 60 and facing a very similar situation with a teacher's pension from 25 years in public education, plus some private sector work. Reading through everyone's experiences has been more educational than anything I've found elsewhere. The clarification that pension income absolutely does NOT count toward the Social Security earnings limit is such a relief - I had been calculating my potential part-time work income assuming my monthly pension would use up most of that $22,000+ threshold. This opens up much more flexibility for staying active in the workforce after claiming benefits. I'm particularly struck by how many people discovered their WEP situation wasn't as bad as they initially feared. Like several others here, I've been assuming the worst-case scenario about my benefits being drastically reduced, when I should really get my specific situation calculated by SSA first. The advice about scheduling face-to-face appointments rather than dealing with phone wait times is invaluable. I've been procrastinating on contacting SSA because of all the horror stories about their phone system, but it sounds like in-person meetings are much more productive for complex pension situations like ours. What really stands out is how supportive and generous this community is with sharing both successes and mistakes. The real-world experiences shared here are exactly what those of us approaching these decisions need to hear. Thank you all for taking the time to help newcomers navigate these life-changing choices!