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wait hold up - ur saying u can collect SSDI and then switch to regular SS later?? does that mean u get two checks?? i'm confused how that works
No, you don't get two checks. When you reach Full Retirement Age (FRA), your SSDI benefits automatically convert to retirement benefits, usually at the exact same amount. It's just an administrative change on SSA's end - your benefit amount typically stays the same and you continue getting one monthly payment. The advantage is that taking SSDI early (if you qualify) doesn't reduce your benefit amount like taking early retirement would. So you avoid the early filing reduction that would normally apply if you took retirement benefits before your FRA.
Something nobody's mentioned yet: if you have enough work credits and are approved for SSDI, you'll automatically qualify for Medicare after 24 months of receiving SSDI benefits, regardless of your age. This could be really important if you're losing employer health insurance and aren't yet 65. In my case, this was almost as valuable as the SSDI payments themselves. Also, have you looked into whether your employer's long-term disability insurance might cover you? Many people don't realize they have LTD through their job that could help bridge the gap while waiting for SSDI approval (which can take many months).
The Medicare info is SO important - thank you! I was actually really worried about health insurance between retirement and 65. I hadn't even thought about checking my employer's LTD policy. I'll look into that right away. The early retirement package includes 18 months of subsidized COBRA, but after that I'd be on my own until Medicare eligibility.
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I just delt with this last year!!!! make sure ur sister knows that if her husbands check was from SSDI there might be a disability freeze on his earnings record that could effect the PIA calculation for her survivors benefit!!! The SSA ppl didn't even mention this to me until my THIRD CALL and it made a $137 difference in my monthly payment!!!! The system is SO COMPLICATED uggggh
I had no idea about the disability freeze! What exactly should she ask about? Is there specific terminology she should use when mentioning this?
Tell her to specifically ask: "Since my husband was on SSDI, is there a disability freeze on his earnings record, and how does that affect my survivor benefit calculation?" They should check if years of zero/low earnings due to disability were excluded from his benefit calculation. If they act confused just keep asking to speak to someone who understands disability freezes and PIA calculations!
To address your original question more precisely about the percentages: - At 65 and 11 months: 95.9% of his benefit - At 66 (November 2024): 97.2% of his benefit - At 66 and 4 months (February 2025): 100% of his benefit The reduction is approximately 0.396% per month before her survivor FRA. The financial decision weighs immediate need against long-term gain. If she waits from October 2024 to February 2025 (4 months), she gains 4.1% higher benefit for life. Whether that's worth it depends on: 1. Her immediate financial needs 2. Life expectancy considerations 3. The actual dollar difference (4.1% of a $2,000 benefit is $82/month or $984/year) If she's in difficult financial circumstances, taking the slightly reduced amount now might make more sense than waiting for the higher amount.
Thank you for breaking down the exact percentages and monthly reduction rate. That helps tremendously with the decision. Since her husband's benefit was around $2,300, we're looking at about a $94 difference between claiming now versus at her FRA. Given her current financial situation, I think she'll probably claim soon rather than waiting for the full 100%.
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I've been running a small Etsy shop since I was 68 (I'm 74 now), and while my Social Security hasn't been affected, the tax situation is something you really need to understand. At tax time, my first year was super confusing with the Schedule C, self-employment tax, and estimating quarterly payments. Would it be an actual job with a W-2 or are you doing independent contractor work with a 1099? That makes a big difference for tax purposes.
It would be contractor work with a 1099. I'm thinking I should probably talk to a tax professional before starting, just to make sure I understand all the implications. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Based on all the information shared here, let me summarize for you: 1. Your Social Security benefits will NOT be reduced no matter how much you earn (since you're over FRA) 2. Your Medicare premiums probably won't increase unless your household income is already close to $206,000 3. You may need to pay taxes on more of your Social Security benefits if your combined income exceeds the thresholds mentioned 4. As a 1099 contractor, you'll need to pay self-employment tax and possibly quarterly estimated taxes A consultation with a tax professional would definitely be worthwhile before you start. They can help you plan for quarterly payments and maximize any home office or business deductions you might be eligible for.
This is super helpful! I'll definitely speak with a tax professional. I hadn't thought about the home office deduction - that could help offset some of the self-employment tax. Thank you all for your advice!
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I herd that Oregon PERS is different from some other states because Oregon never opted out of Social Security completley. Is that right? Some of my Oregon freinds pay into both systems I think??
That's partially correct. Oregon has multiple tiers in their PERS system, and some Oregon public employees are covered by Social Security while others aren't. It depends on when they were hired and what government entity they work for. Some local governments in Oregon have opted to participate in Social Security, while others haven't. If someone paid into both systems throughout their career, the WEP impact would be different than for someone who switched between covered and non-covered employment.
I thought Biden already signed something about this! Now I'm confused. My brother who retired from teaching in Illinois got a letter about his SS benefits going up but maybe that was just the regular COLA?
Your brother likely received notification about the 2023 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), which was 8.7% - one of the largest in decades due to inflation. This increase applies to all Social Security recipients. It wasn't specific to government employees and wasn't related to any changes in the WEP or GPO provisions. The 2024 COLA will be 3.2%, and those notices usually go out in December.
Edwards Hugo
My husband and I went through something similar!!! The withdrawal form was soooo confusing and when we submitted it they said it was filled out wrong. They made us redo EVERYTHING and it took almost 3 months to process!! Meanwhile they kept depositing money we knew we'd have to pay back and it was so stressful!!! Just warning you it might not be quick or easy!!!
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Dylan Fisher
•This is why I recommend sitting down with an SSA representative when filling out Form SSA-521. They can ensure everything is filled out correctly the first time, which helps avoid the scenario you experienced.
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Harper Collins
Thank you all for the helpful responses. After reading your comments and doing more research, I think we're going to schedule an appointment at our local SSA office to go through all the calculations. Since I'm still within that 12-month window, we have some time to make the decision. I'm leaning toward the withdrawal since we both have longevity in our families (parents lived to late 80s/early 90s), but we need to make sure we understand all the implications for my wife's benefits and whether she should file on her own record in the meantime (she worked as a teacher for about 15 years).
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Alfredo Lugo
•That's a wise approach. Since your wife worked as a teacher, you should also ask specifically about the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) if she's eligible for a pension from that work. These can significantly affect Social Security benefits and must be factored into your calculations. Good luck with your decision!
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