i dont understand why ur waiting till 70 for ur own benefits? thats forever away! why not just take everything now and be done with it? my brother waited and then passed away before he ever got to collect the higher amount. just my 2 cents

UPDATE: I was able to get through by utilizing the phone number of my local office! I called as soon as they opened at 9am and was connected within 10 minutes. They've scheduled my appointment for next Tuesday, and I've already completed my Medicare enrollment online. Thank you everyone for your suggestions and support!

DONT FORGET ABOUT TAXES!!!!! Even if you stay under the earnings limit, you might still have to pay taxes on your Social Security benefits if your combined income is high enough. Up to 85% of your benefits can be taxable depending on your total income. Nobody warned me about this and I got hit with a surprise tax bill my first year on SS. 😡

When I retired last year the SSA rep told me something that helped me understand this: think of the earnings limit as ONLY counting money you actively work for. Your pension, investments, rental income, and most importantly your SS benefits do NOT count toward the earnings limit. Only wages from a job or self-employment count.

wait i'm confused why does everyone keep saying ex spousal benefits?? isnt that only for retirement?? i thought he needed disability benefits??? im so confused by all these different SS benefits!!

Make sure your uncle applies as soon as possible! Benefits aren't retroactive indefinitely - typically only 6 months back from application date. Since he's 85, he's potentially been eligible for many years and has missed out on significant benefits. The process can take time, especially with international documentation, so start immediately.

One important thing to mention regarding EDS and related conditions - these can be tricky cases because symptoms can vary in severity day to day. Make sure your son's medical records capture this variability rather than just how he presents on "good days." A symptom diary documenting day-to-day limitations can be extremely helpful evidence. Have him track things like: - Pain levels throughout the day - Activities attempted and whether he could complete them - Hours spent resting/recovering after activities - Medication side effects - Episodes of dizziness, fatigue, joint dislocations, etc. This kind of documentation can be powerful when combined with medical records, especially for conditions with invisible symptoms that might not be obvious during brief medical appointments.

A simple journal is fine, but I recommend creating a consistent format that includes: 1. Date and time 2. Symptom/limitation description 3. Severity rating (1-10) 4. Duration 5. What helped (if anything) 6. What activities were impacted This format makes it easier for SSA to connect symptoms to specific functional limitations that would prevent work. For example, instead of just "I was dizzy today," entries like "Severe dizziness (8/10) when standing for more than 5 minutes; had to lie down for 2 hours afterward; couldn't prepare meals or shower" provide the functional details SSA needs. Also, make sure your son is seeing his doctors regularly throughout this process. Gaps in treatment can be used against your case, even when those gaps occur because he's too ill to get to appointments.

random question but does anyone know if this works the same way if the husband took SS early and the wife waits till FRA? my parents situation is opposite of yours

Yes, the rules work exactly the same regardless of which spouse files early. The early filer gets their own reduced benefit, and then when the other spouse files, the early filer may get a top-up if 50% of the second filer's PIA (reduced for the early filing penalty) exceeds their own benefit amount.