I'm a newcomer here but have been dealing with Social Security issues for my disabled brother for years. Reading through this thread has been really eye-opening - I had no idea about Adult Disabled Child benefits either! Just wanted to add one thing I learned the hard way: when you call SSA, try to call early in the morning (right when they open at 7 AM) or later in the afternoon after 3 PM. The middle of the day and Mondays are absolutely brutal for wait times. I've had much better luck getting through and speaking with knowledgeable representatives during those off-peak hours. Also, keep detailed notes of who you speak with (get their name and badge number if possible) and what they tell you. I've had different reps give conflicting information on the same case, so having that documentation helps when you need to reference previous conversations. The potential increase for your daughter sounds really promising based on the numbers you shared. It's great to see so many people here sharing their positive experiences - it gives me hope for navigating this system! Thanks to everyone for the detailed information and tips.

As someone new to this community, I want to thank everyone for sharing such detailed and helpful information about Adult Disabled Child benefits! I'm in a somewhat similar situation with my disabled nephew (he's 29 and has been on SSDI since he was 26), and honestly had never heard of ADC benefits until reading through this thread. What strikes me most is how many people seem to be unaware of this potential benefit - including myself until just now. It makes me wonder how many families might be missing out on additional support simply because they don't know to ask about it. I'm particularly grateful for the practical tips about calling SSA (especially the timing advice from Dylan Wright) and the professional perspective from Ava Hernandez about the application not putting current benefits at risk. That concern about jeopardizing existing SSDI seems to be a common worry based on the responses here. For the original poster, it really sounds like your daughter has a strong case for ADC benefits given that her disability began before 22 and she meets the other criteria. The potential increase from $1,230 to around $1,500 would be substantial. I'm definitely planning to look into this for my nephew as well - his current SSDI is only $1,050 and my sister's retirement benefit is significantly higher. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise. This is exactly the kind of community support that makes navigating these complex systems more manageable!

I've been considering this feature too, especially after hearing about so many data breaches lately. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been really eye-opening! It sounds like the consensus is that it's definitely worth doing for security, but you need to be strategic about timing. I'm particularly grateful for the tips about calling early in the morning and keeping the direct callback number handy. One question I haven't seen addressed: if you're married and both spouses want to use this feature, do you each need to call separately to unlock your own accounts? Or can one spouse handle both during a single call for something like a joint mortgage application? Also, has anyone used this in conjunction with identity monitoring services, and if so, did you find they complement each other well or is there any overlap/conflict? Thanks for all the detailed real-world experiences - this thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding what to actually expect!

This thread has been incredibly informative! I've been on the fence about using the Block Electronic Access feature, but reading everyone's real experiences has convinced me it's worth doing. The key takeaways I'm getting are: plan ahead (especially not during tax season!), call early morning to avoid hold times, and definitely keep that direct callback number somewhere safe. One thing I'm wondering about - has anyone had experience with this feature affecting employment background checks that verify Social Security numbers? I'm in a field where I occasionally need security clearance renewals, and I want to make sure I understand all the potential scenarios where I might need temporary access. Also, for those who mentioned using services like Claimyr to get through to SSA faster, have you found that to be consistently reliable, or is it hit-or-miss? Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - both the success stories and the horror stories! It really helps to know what to expect and how to prepare.

I'm in almost the exact same boat as you! Started collecting at 62 earlier this year while continuing some freelance work. The earnings limit rules are absolutely maddening - it's like they designed the system to be as confusing as possible. Based on what I've learned from this community and my own research, you're unfortunately going to be over the $22,320 limit since all your January-December earnings count. But here are a few things that might help: 1) Call SSA immediately to report your expected annual earnings. I know their phone system is a nightmare, but it's better than getting hit with surprise benefit suspensions later. 2) Make sure you're tracking EVERY business expense from your 1099 work. It's your net self-employment income that counts toward the limit, not gross receipts. Home office deduction, equipment, software, mileage - all of it can help reduce what counts. 3) Look into that monthly earnings test for your first year. If you have any months where you earned under $1,860 and didn't perform "substantial services," you might be able to get full benefits for those months even if your annual total is over. For taxes, I ended up hiring a CPA my first year and it was worth every penny. The interaction between 1099 income, Social Security taxation, and quarterly payments gets complex fast. Remember, any withheld benefits aren't lost forever - you'll get credit for them in higher monthly payments once you reach FRA. Small comfort when dealing with cash flow, but at least it's not money down the drain! This first year is definitely the hardest. You've got this!

I just went through this exact situation last year when I started benefits at 62! The earnings limit confusion is real - SSA's explanations are absolutely terrible. Unfortunately, ALL your 2024 earnings count toward the $22,320 limit, including everything from January before your benefits started. Based on your numbers ($18,500 + $10,000), you'll be about $6,180 over, which means they'll likely withhold around $3,090 from your 2025 payments ($1 withheld for every $2 over the limit). Here's what I wish I'd known earlier: Call SSA NOW to report your expected annual earnings! Their phone system is awful, but it's so much better than getting surprised with suspended payments later. I waited too long and they completely withheld my benefits for two months with zero warning. Since you're 1099, make absolutely sure you're deducting every legitimate business expense - home office, equipment, software, mileage, everything. It's your NET self-employment income that counts toward the limit, not gross receipts. This could significantly help your situation. Also look into the monthly earnings test for your first year of retirement. If you have any months where you earned under $1,860 AND didn't perform substantial services, you can get full benefits for those months even with your annual total being over. Definitely hire a tax professional your first year - the intersection of 1099 income, Social Security taxation, and quarterly payments gets complex fast. Best money I ever spent. Remember, any withheld benefits aren't lost forever - you'll get credit through higher monthly payments once you reach FRA. Think of it as forced savings with terrible customer service! The first year is definitely the hardest, but you'll figure it out.

I'm going through something similar as a retired teacher. Just wanted to add that you should definitely still apply when you turn 62 - sometimes the calculations work out differently than expected, especially if your husband's benefit amount is higher than you think. Also, keep all your documentation from your police department about your pension details. When I applied, they needed specific information about whether my pension was from "substantial" vs "non-substantial" earnings years. The whole process is confusing but getting that official determination letter will be important for your records. And like others mentioned, the survivor benefit rules are different and potentially more favorable, so this isn't necessarily the end of the story.

I'm a newcomer here but dealing with a very similar situation as a retired firefighter. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about the difference between WEP and GPO or how the survivor benefits work differently. My wife worked in the private sector her whole career and has been collecting SS for two years now. I'm 63 with a firefighter pension but only about 20 quarters of SS-covered work from before I joined the department. Sounds like I'm probably in the same boat as most of you with the GPO reduction wiping out any spousal benefits. But the advice about applying anyway for the official determination and keeping survivor benefits in mind for the future is really valuable. Also appreciate the tip about Claimyr - I've been trying to get through to SS for months with no luck. It's frustrating that after decades of public service, these rules seem to penalize us for having dedicated our careers to serving our communities, but at least now I understand what I'm dealing with. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences.

I'm new to this community and experiencing this exact same issue! Just checked my MySocialSecurity account yesterday and panicked when I saw $0 for 2024 despite working steadily all year. This thread has been incredibly reassuring - I had no idea that SSA operates on such a delayed timeline. The explanation about the annual tax reporting cycle (W-2s due January 31st, then 6-12 months processing time) makes perfect sense now, but you're all absolutely right that SSA should explain this clearly on their website. A simple notice would save so many people unnecessary stress! I'm definitely going to contact my HR department tomorrow to verify they have my correct SSN for W-2 reporting - that's such a practical step I can take right now while waiting for the normal processing timeline. Also starting a filing system for all my pay documents after reading everyone's advice about keeping detailed records. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it's such a relief to know this delay is completely normal and affects everyone. This community is invaluable for getting real answers about these confusing government processes!

I'm new to this community and just went through this exact same worry! My 2024 earnings are also showing $0 despite working full-time all year. I was convinced my employer had somehow messed up my Social Security reporting and was starting to panic about my future benefits being affected. This entire thread has been such a lifesaver - I had absolutely no clue that SSA works on these delayed annual cycles rather than real-time updates. The breakdown of the timeline (W-2s submitted by January 31st, then 6-12 months for processing) finally makes everything click. It's honestly shocking that MySocialSecurity doesn't have a simple notice explaining this normal delay right on the earnings page! I'm definitely taking everyone's advice about contacting my HR department to verify they have my correct SSN and will be submitting my W-2 properly. That feels like such a practical step I can take right now instead of just worrying. Also going to start keeping much better records of all my paystubs and tax documents after seeing how many people emphasize the importance of documentation. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this community has given me so much peace of mind about what I thought was a major problem but is actually just how the system normally works. It's incredible how much stress could be avoided if SSA just explained their process better!