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Here's another tip: When you submit your application online, you'll get a confirmation number. Write this down immediately! I didn't, and when I needed to follow up on my application status, they kept asking for it. Also, create a my Social Security account online if you haven't already - you can track your application status there and it's much easier than calling.
Just to clarify something important: Even though you'll continue working, you should still apply for Medicare at 65 (if you haven't already), regardless of when you plan to start your Social Security benefits. Many people don't realize these are separate decisions. Missing your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period can result in permanent premium penalties, even if you have employer coverage.
just to add another thing that tripped me up - any medical expenses paid by workman's comp don't count toward the offset, only the actual cash benefits you receive. SSA only cares about the income replacement part
I worked for SSA for 23 years before retiring. The workers' compensation offset is one of the most misunderstood aspects of SSDI. To be clear: 1. You never have to pay back SSDI you've already received because of workers' comp (unless there was an actual overpayment for some other reason). 2. The offset is applied prospectively - meaning they adjust future payments, not demand repayment. 3. Your state matters - some states have what's called "reverse offset" laws where the workers' comp gets reduced instead of your SSDI. 4. The calculations can be complex, and I've seen many cases where SSA calculated incorrectly and had to be corrected. I recommend getting a benefit verification letter that shows the offset calculation, then verify it matches your actual situation. If something seems wrong, request an explanation or reconsideration.
One more thing I think is important to mention: If your ex has remarried but you haven't, you can still claim on their record. Their current marriage has no impact on your eligibility. Also, you can claim even if your ex hasn't filed for their own benefits yet, but they must be eligible for benefits (at least 62) and you must have been divorced for at least two years. Lastly, taking ex-spouse benefits doesn't create any notification or paperwork for your ex, and they'll never see any reduction in their own benefits. The SSA handles everything independently.
Try logging out completely and clearing your browser cookies, then log back in. Sometimes the system gets stuck in a weird state. That fixed a similar issue for me where I couldn't access certain forum features a few months ago.
hey quick question thats off topic but since ur applying for SSDI - did they make u wait the full 5 months before your first payment? my doctor said sometimes they waive that for certain conditions
Yes, unfortunately they made me wait the full 5 months. From what I understand, the waiting period is pretty much mandatory for everyone on SSDI. I think your doctor might be confusing it with the 24-month Medicare waiting period, which can sometimes be waived for certain conditions like ALS. But the 5-month SSDI waiting period applies to almost everyone.
Olivia Garcia
Wait i'm confused...I thought the spousal benefit reduction was only based on when YOU file...but I thought the survivor benefit reduction was based on when the DECEASED person filed??? Is that not right?? Can someone clarify??
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Elijah Jackson
•There are two separate reductions that can apply to survivor benefits: 1. If the deceased spouse took reduced retirement benefits, the survivor benefit maximum is limited (with some exceptions). 2. If the surviving spouse claims survivor benefits before their own FRA, the survivor benefit is reduced based on the survivor's age. In the original poster's case, since her husband already took reduced benefits at 62, her eventual survivor benefit maximum is already affected by that decision. If she also takes her spousal benefit early, and later converts to survivor benefits, that early filing reduction would not carry over to the survivor benefit - that's a common misconception.
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Noah Lee
After reading through this discussion, I think there's an important distinction that needs clarification: The reduction from claiming spousal benefits early does NOT carry over to survivor benefits. These are completely separate calculations. For survivor benefits: 1. If you claim survivor benefits before your FRA, they are reduced based on YOUR age at the time you claim THOSE benefits. 2. Survivor benefits can be affected by whether your deceased spouse claimed early, but NOT by whether YOU claimed spousal benefits early. This is a common area of confusion. You can claim reduced spousal benefits early, and later still receive unreduced survivor benefits if you wait until your FRA to claim them (assuming your spouse didn't take reduced benefits, which in this case he did at 62).
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Liam Brown
•Thank you for this important clarification! So my husband's decision to take benefits at 62 already impacted any future survivor benefits I might receive, but my decision about when to take spousal benefits won't further reduce those survivor benefits? That's very helpful information.
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