As a newcomer to this community, I've been absolutely amazed by the depth and quality of advice shared in this discussion! I'm currently 64 and facing a similar decision about when to claim benefits, and reading through all these responses has been like getting a masterclass in Social Security planning. What really stands out to me is how this conversation has evolved from a straightforward eligibility question into a comprehensive analysis of earnings tests, deemed filing rules, tax implications, state tax considerations, and even Medicare planning. It's clear that Social Security optimization is far more complex than most people realize. I wanted to add one small point that might be helpful for others following this discussion: if you're considering waiting until FRA or beyond, make sure to also review your spouse's earnings record and projected benefits. Sometimes couples can benefit from coordinating their claiming strategies - for example, one spouse might claim earlier to provide some household income while the other delays to maximize their benefit with delayed retirement credits. Also, for those who mentioned using financial planners, look specifically for advisors who hold the RSSA (Registered Social Security Analyst) certification. They've received specialized training in Social Security optimization strategies and can help navigate all these complex scenarios. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise here. This is exactly the kind of community knowledge-sharing that helps people make better financial decisions for their retirement!

As a newcomer to this community, I've been following this incredibly detailed discussion and want to thank everyone for creating such a valuable resource! I'm 63 and was actually considering a very similar strategy to what the original poster described, but after reading through all these responses, I now realize I was about to make a significant financial mistake. The explanation of how the earnings test, deemed filing rules, and permanent benefit reductions all work together to create a "perfect storm" against early claiming while working full-time has been eye-opening. I particularly appreciated the real-world examples people shared - like the sister who "got almost nothing" due to the earnings test and the mother-in-law who experienced the "triple whammy" of reduced benefits, earnings test withholding, AND higher taxes. What's really struck me is how this discussion demonstrates that Social Security planning isn't just about knowing the rules - it's about understanding how all these different factors interact with your specific financial situation. The original poster came in with what seemed like a simple eligibility question, but the community helped reveal that the real question is about optimizing a comprehensive retirement strategy. I'm definitely going to check out that SSA publication "When to Start Receiving Retirement Benefits" that was mentioned, and I'll be looking for a financial advisor with RSSA certification. Most importantly, I'm going to wait until my FRA rather than rushing into an early claim that could cost me tens of thousands of dollars over my retirement. Thank you to everyone who shared their expertise, experiences, and resources. This is community knowledge-sharing at its finest!

Welcome to the community! As someone who's helped several families navigate SSI applications, I wanted to add a few practical points that might be helpful: Regarding finding disability attorneys - the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives (NOSSCR) has a lawyer referral service on their website where you can search by location. Most disability attorneys offer free consultations, so you can speak with a few to find someone you're comfortable with. For the Roth IRA situation specifically - one thing to keep in mind is that if your son withdraws the funds, any earnings portion may be subject to early withdrawal penalties and taxes since he's under 59½. However, the contributions can typically be withdrawn penalty-free. You might want to check with the IRA custodian about the contribution vs. earnings breakdown before making withdrawals. Also, I'd strongly recommend keeping a detailed log of how any withdrawn funds are spent. Create a simple spreadsheet with date, amount, what was purchased, and attach receipts. This kind of organization makes it much easier if SSA requests documentation later. The ABLE account suggestion from earlier is excellent if your son qualifies. Even if he doesn't use it for the current IRA funds, it could be valuable for any future savings or gifts from family members. @Marcus Marsh - you're doing the right thing by getting informed before moving forward. Taking time to understand the rules upfront can prevent complications later in the process.

As someone who recently went through the SSI application process for my adult son, I wanted to share a few additional resources that might be helpful. First, don't overlook your state's Department of Developmental Services or similar agency - they often have benefits specialists who can walk you through the SSI application process for free and help with the resource spend-down planning. They understand both the federal SSI rules and any state-specific programs your son might qualify for. Second, if you haven't already, consider getting a letter from your son's doctor documenting his functional limitations and how his TBI affects his daily living activities. This medical evidence will be crucial for the disability determination, and having it organized upfront can speed up the process. Finally, regarding the timing of the application - while you're figuring out the Roth IRA situation, you might want to call SSA to ask about filing a "protective filing date." This establishes your intent to apply and can sometimes preserve an earlier application date while you're gathering documentation. The fact that you're taking time to understand the rules and ask questions shows you're being a thoughtful advocate for your son. The SSI program exists specifically to help people like him, and you shouldn't feel guilty about accessing these supports.

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for this incredibly comprehensive discussion! I'm 59 and facing a similar situation after my divorce was finalized last year (married 14 years), so this thread has been an absolute goldmine of information. What really resonates with me is the consistent message about the permanence of these decisions since the 2016 deemed filing rules took effect. The personal stories from @Kyle Wallace and others about getting incorrect advice from SSA representatives are both heartbreaking and terrifying - it's shocking that such consequential financial decisions can be derailed by misinformation from the very agency that should be the most reliable source. @Madison Tipne, after reading through all these detailed experiences and advice, I'd strongly encourage you to take the following steps before making any final decision: 1) Schedule that SSA appointment to get written benefit estimates for both scenarios, 2) Consider the break-even analysis that @Natalie Chen mentioned - calculate how long you'd need to live for waiting to pay off financially, 3) Factor in your current health and family longevity patterns, 4) Document every interaction with SSA in writing, and 5) Seriously consider consulting with a qualified Social Security claiming strategist given the hundreds of thousands of dollars potentially at stake. The "practice run" with the online application that @Giovanni Marino mentioned sounds brilliant - I had no idea that was possible! That could give you actual numbers to work with rather than estimates. Thank you to everyone who shared both their successes and mistakes. Your collective wisdom is helping so many of us navigate these complex waters!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to express my gratitude for this incredibly informative discussion! I'm 60 and recently divorced after 18 years of marriage, so I'll be facing similar decisions in the near future. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both enlightening and somewhat daunting - I had no idea how dramatically the 2016 deemed filing rule changes affected Social Security strategy options. The personal accounts from community members about permanent benefit reductions and incorrect advice from SSA representatives really highlight how critical it is to get this decision right the first time. @Madison Tipne, after absorbing all the wisdom shared here, it seems the path forward involves several key steps: getting written benefit estimates from SSA for both your own and ex-spousal benefits (at age 62 vs FRA), running break-even calculations to understand the long-term financial impact of different timing decisions, and strongly considering consultation with a qualified Social Security claiming specialist given the potentially life-changing financial implications. The suggestion about doing a "practice run" with the online application to see actual benefit amounts is particularly clever - I'll definitely keep that in mind for my own situation. What I find most valuable about this thread is how it demonstrates that these aren't just mathematical decisions, but complex choices that need to account for health, longevity expectations, current financial needs, and risk tolerance. The collective experiences shared here - both successes and cautionary tales - provide invaluable real-world guidance that you simply can't get from official publications. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share your knowledge and experiences so openly. This discussion should be essential reading for anyone approaching these important Social Security decisions!

I'm going through the exact same frustrating experience! Filed my retirement application in mid-November 2025 for a January 2026 start date and I've been stuck in step 2 since December. It's now been over 4 months with zero progress and I should have been receiving payments since February. Reading through all these comments has been both eye-opening and validating - it's clear there's a massive systemic processing issue affecting applications from the November/December 2025 timeframe. The pattern is too consistent to be coincidental. What's most frustrating is the complete lack of transparency from phone support - just the same robotic "it's still processing" response with absolutely no useful details about what's actually happening or any realistic timeline. I've tried calling multiple times, speaking to supervisors, calling at different times of day, but everyone gives me the exact same scripted response. It's like they're reading from the same useless playbook. Based on all the excellent advice shared here, I'm planning to take a multi-pronged approach: visiting my local SSA office in person next week with all my documentation, asking specifically about the critical case designation for financial hardship, and potentially trying that Claimyr service Madison mentioned to actually reach someone with real case information. I'm also going to start documenting every interaction more carefully - dates, rep names, exactly what they tell me - in case I need to escalate to a congressional inquiry. The financial stress of budgeting around benefits that should have started months ago is real, even knowing we'll eventually get retroactive payments. Thank you all for creating such a valuable resource here! This thread has given me hope that there are still options to try when the normal channels completely fail us. I'll definitely update everyone on any progress I make. Hopefully we can all start seeing some movement on our cases soon!

I'm experiencing the exact same frustrating situation! Filed my retirement application in December 2025 for March 2026 benefits and have been stuck in step 2 for over 3 months now. Like everyone else here, I keep getting the same useless "it's still processing" response when I call, with absolutely no specifics about what's causing the delay or any realistic timeline. What's really striking is reading through all these comments and seeing how many of us filed during that same November/December 2025 timeframe and are experiencing identical delays. This is clearly a widespread systemic issue, not individual application problems. The complete lack of transparency from SSA phone support is maddening - it's like they're all reading from the same unhelpful script. I'm planning to follow the excellent advice shared in this thread: visiting my local SSA office in person next week with all my documentation, asking specifically about the critical case designation for financial hardship that Miranda mentioned, and potentially trying that Claimyr service to actually reach someone with detailed case information. I'm also going to start documenting every interaction more carefully in case I need to escalate to a congressional inquiry. The financial stress of budgeting around benefits that should be starting soon is real, even knowing we'll eventually get retroactive payments. Thank you all for creating such a valuable resource here - it's both reassuring and helpful to know I'm not alone in this bureaucratic nightmare! I'll definitely update this thread with any progress I make. Hopefully we can all start seeing some movement on our cases soon and get the benefits we've earned.

I went through this same situation about 18 months ago when my oldest turned 18. Your younger children's benefits will definitely increase automatically - it just takes some patience! My two younger kids went from about $510 each to $765 each once the family maximum was redistributed between just two children instead of three. The process took about 8 weeks in our case, and SSA backdated the payments to cover the months we should have received the higher amounts. One thing that really helped was setting up a my Social Security account online so I could monitor the changes more easily than calling that impossible 800 number. The financial impact was much less scary than I anticipated - we only saw about a $30 net decrease in our total monthly family benefits. Losing my oldest's $510 but gaining an extra $255 per month for each of my younger kids really helped cushion the blow. Make sure to document your current payment amounts with screenshots before the change happens. SSA doesn't send any notification letters about the increase, so having your own records is crucial if you ever need to reference the change later. Good luck with the transition!

I'm currently going through this exact situation - my oldest turns 18 in about 3 weeks and I have two younger kids (13 and 10) receiving auxiliary benefits. This entire thread has been such a lifesaver! Reading everyone's real experiences with actual dollar amounts and timelines has completely eliminated the anxiety I was feeling about this transition. Based on all the shared experiences here, I now understand that: 1) the increase happens automatically but takes 6-10 weeks to process, 2) my younger kids' benefits should increase significantly when the family maximum gets redistributed between fewer children, 3) the net impact on our total family budget will be much smaller than I feared, and 4) keeping detailed records is crucial since SSA doesn't send notification letters. My kids currently get about $530 each, so based on the patterns everyone has shared, they should jump to around $795 each once my oldest ages out. That would mean we go from $1,590 total for three kids down to about $1,590 for two kids - essentially breaking even, which is incredible! I've already taken screenshots of our current payment amounts, set up online account monitoring, and saved our local SSA office number just in case there are processing delays. Thank you all so much for sharing your real-world experiences - this community support has made what seemed like a scary financial transition feel completely manageable!