just wondering, has ur sister checked if shes eligible for any of her late husbands Medicare?? my aunt got Medicare at 62 thru her deceased husbands benefits even tho normal Medicare age is 65. might help with her health issues

WARNING ABOUT SURVIVORS BENEFITS! If your sister gets a job while collecting early survivors benefits (before her FRA), she'll be subject to the earnings limit ($22,320 in 2025) and could lose some benefits if she earns over that amount. This trips up so many people! Also, make sure she applies for the one-time $255 death benefit if she hasn't already. It's not much but every bit helps in this situation.

My uncle said nobody actually reports their part-time income and SSA doesn't really check anyway lol

So after reading everyone's comments, it sounds like I should: 1) Understand it's actually $1 reduction for every $2 I earn above the limit (not $3 like I thought); 2) For 2025, they'll only count my earnings after I start benefits in July; 3) I need to report my expected earnings when I apply; 4) It's based on gross wages. Am I missing anything else important?

One important point nobody has mentioned yet: if you're approved for SSDI, you'll become eligible for Medicare after 24 months on disability, regardless of your age. This can be extremely valuable for ongoing medical treatment related to your injuries. Also, when you reach Full Retirement Age (67 for someone your age), your SSDI automatically converts to retirement benefits at the same amount. At that point, any offset with workers' compensation ends. For documentation, focus on these key elements for your SSDI application: 1. Medical evidence showing your condition is severe 2. Doctor's statements specifically addressing work limitations 3. Treatment history showing you're following prescribed therapies 4. Detailed work history showing you can no longer perform previous jobs Keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit to SSA. Their record-keeping can be inconsistent.

Thank you all for the helpful responses. I'm definitely going to apply for SSDI this week. Still a bit confused about how they'll calculate that 80% limit for the offset, but sounds like I'll be dealing with that down the road. Anyone know if I should mention the workers comp when I apply for SSDI, or will they find out about it anyway? Don't want to mess anything up on the application.

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I checked my MySocialSecurity account and you were right - it was labeled as my September benefit payment. It's slightly less than my regular monthly amount because I started benefits mid-month. Mystery solved! I appreciate everyone taking the time to explain this.

make sure to save the extra $$ for taxes! they might not have taken out enough depending on ur withholding choices

Since you mentioned your health isn't the best, here's another strategy to consider: Apply for reduced survivor benefits now, but ALSO apply for SSDI (disability benefits). If approved for SSDI, you'd receive your full retirement benefit amount without reduction. The SSDI approval process is lengthy and often involves appeals, but it's worth pursuing if your health condition is documented and severe enough to limit your ability to work. You can apply for both benefits simultaneously. This approach gives you some income now through survivor benefits while potentially securing your full retirement rate through SSDI if your health deteriorates further.

Thank you all for the helpful advice. I've scheduled an appointment with SSA (took forever to get through) to review my specific numbers. Going to get documentation of all my options before making a decision. I think I'm leaning toward taking the survivor benefit now and then switching to my own retirement benefit at 70, but I want to see the actual dollar amounts first. Will update once I have more information!