I'm dealing with this same frustrating situation right now! I've been trying to get through to SSA for my Medicare enrollment for over a week. The wait times are absolutely insane - I've been disconnected twice after waiting over 2 hours each time. One thing that's helped me stay somewhat organized while going through this process is keeping a call log with dates, times, and how long I waited before giving up or getting disconnected. It's maddening but at least I can track patterns. I'm definitely going to try that 8 AM sharp strategy everyone keeps mentioning. Has anyone had success with the local SSA office phone number instead of the national 800 number? I'm wondering if calling my local office directly might have shorter wait times, though I know they probably route everything through the same system anyway. Also, for anyone else in this boat - make sure you're calling from a phone that won't automatically hang up after a certain time on hold. I learned that the hard way when my cell phone cut me off after 2 hours!

I just went through this exact same struggle three weeks ago! After multiple failed attempts with the phone system, I found a combination approach that finally worked. First, I started the Medicare application online at ssa.gov (under "Apply for Benefits" > "Medicare Only") which at least got something in their system. Then I called the 800 number at exactly 8:00 AM on a Wednesday morning with my confirmation number from the online application. Having that reference number seemed to help - the agent could pull up my case immediately and we finished everything in about 20 minutes over the phone. The key documents I needed were: birth certificate, Social Security card, photo ID, and details about my current insurance coverage (including when it ends). Since you mentioned you have a marketplace plan ending when you turn 65, make sure to have those policy details handy - they'll want to coordinate the timing so there's no coverage gap. Don't stress too much about the deadline - you have until June since you're turning 65 in March. But definitely try that early morning call strategy with your online application reference number if you can get one started. Good luck!

Just wanted to add one more practical tip from my recent experience - when you do apply (whether online or in person), make sure you have all your documents ready beforehand. You'll need your birth certificate, W-2s or tax returns for the past 2 years, and bank account info for direct deposit. I made the mistake of starting my online application without having everything gathered, and it timed out on me twice! Had to start over each time. Now I keep a folder with copies of everything so it's ready when I need it. Also, if you apply online, you can save your progress and come back to it later, which is really helpful if you want to double-check any information or decisions about your start date.

This is such a comprehensive thread with lots of great advice! I'm in a similar situation and wanted to add one point about the online application process that might be helpful. When you apply online at ssa.gov, there's actually a really clear section where you can specify your "month of election" (when you want benefits to start). The system won't let you pick a date before you're eligible, but it gives you a dropdown menu of all the months after your eligibility date. It's much more straightforward than I expected! I also discovered that after you submit your online application, you get a confirmation receipt number that you can use to check your application status. This was a huge relief since I was worried about whether everything went through properly. You can call the 1-800-772-1213 number and use that receipt number to get updates on processing. One last tip - if you're still working and plan to continue after starting benefits, the online application actually has a section where you can estimate your future earnings. This helps them calculate how the earnings limit might affect your payments, which ties into what @Dylan Campbell mentioned about the $22,500 threshold.

As a newcomer to this community who just started collecting Social Security at my FRA this past month, I'm so grateful to have found this incredibly informative thread! I'm in a very similar situation - began collecting in March 2025 after earning about $91,000 in 2024, which should definitely be one of my higher earning years and replace a much lower year from the late 1980s. Like everyone else who's commented, I was initially really worried about whether I needed to contact SSA immediately to make sure my 2024 earnings get properly factored into my benefit calculation. Reading through all these real-world experiences has been absolutely invaluable in understanding that the automatic recalculation process is reliable and trustworthy. The detailed timeline from the former SSA employee was particularly reassuring - knowing I should check my earnings record on my.ssa.gov this summer to verify my 2024 earnings appear correctly, and then expect a potential adjustment notice between August-November gives me such a clear roadmap. It's incredibly comforting to know that millions of these adjustments happen automatically every year. What strikes me most is how much more helpful these personal experiences are compared to trying to decode the official SSA publications. The collective wisdom here has transformed what felt like a confusing and stressful process into something manageable with realistic expectations and a clear timeline to follow. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences - you've made starting this Social Security journey so much less overwhelming for newcomers like myself! It's wonderful to find such a supportive community where people genuinely help each other navigate these important processes.

As a new community member who just started collecting Social Security at my FRA last month, I want to add my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has contributed to this incredibly comprehensive and reassuring discussion! I'm in a very similar situation - began collecting in February 2025 after earning about $87,000 in 2024, which should definitely help my benefit calculation since it would replace a significantly lower earning year from the mid-1980s. Like so many others here, I was initially quite anxious about whether I needed to proactively contact SSA to ensure my 2024 earnings get included in my benefit calculation. This entire thread has been absolutely invaluable in helping me understand that the automatic recalculation process is both reliable and well-established. The detailed timeline provided by the former SSA employee was particularly enlightening - knowing I should monitor my earnings record on my.ssa.gov around summer 2025 and then anticipate a potential adjustment notice between August-November gives me a clear and realistic expectation framework. It's incredibly reassuring to learn that this process successfully handles millions of adjustments automatically every year. What I find most valuable about this discussion is how everyone has shared genuine, real-world experiences rather than just repeating policy language from official sources. The practical wisdom about exercising patience while staying appropriately informed through periodic monitoring feels like exactly the right balanced approach. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their expertise and personal experiences - you've transformed what initially felt like a daunting bureaucratic challenge into a manageable process with clear milestones and realistic expectations. Finding such a knowledgeable and supportive community has made navigating Social Security as a newcomer so much more confidence-inspiring!

Thank you all for the helpful responses! This has cleared up so much confusion for me. I appreciate the technical details and real-life experiences shared here. I'm going to go ahead with my plan to claim at 62, and my husband will still plan to work until his FRA of 67. Knowing that my early filing won't impact potential survivor benefits gives me peace of mind. I'm also relieved to learn about being able to switch between benefits if circumstances change. Social Security really should make this information clearer on their website and publications!

Just wanted to add one more consideration that might be helpful - since you're planning to claim at 62 and your husband will continue working until 67, make sure you're aware of the earnings test that might apply to your benefits. If you're still working and earning over the annual limit ($22,320 for 2024), Social Security will temporarily withhold some of your benefits until you reach your FRA. However, those withheld benefits aren't lost forever - they get added back to your benefit amount once you reach FRA through a recalculation. Just something to keep in mind as you finalize your plans!

I'm new to this community and SSI rules, but this discussion has been incredibly informative! My elderly mother is in a similar situation where we're trying to establish fair share payments to avoid the in-kind support reduction. What's really eye-opening is seeing how much variation there seems to be between different SSA offices and caseworkers - some requiring comprehensive documentation while others streamlining to focus mainly on housing costs. Your sister's contributions of $425 for rent and $150 for utilities definitely sound substantial for a two-person household and should qualify as fair share regardless of the food calculation debate. I'm taking notes on everyone's advice about documenting everything even if the caseworker says it's not needed - that seems like the safest approach given all the inconsistent experiences people are sharing. The suggestion about getting any guidance in writing from your caseworker is brilliant - I wouldn't have thought of that but it makes perfect sense as protection if interpretations change or you get assigned to a different worker. Has your sister been keeping bank records or receipts showing these monthly payments? That paper trail seems crucial based on what others are emphasizing here. Thanks for starting this thread - the real-world knowledge being shared is so much more practical than trying to navigate the official guidelines alone. It's giving me a much better understanding of what to expect when we go through this process with my mother's case!

I'm new to this community and SSI rules, but this thread has been incredibly enlightening! My uncle is currently receiving SSI and lives with our family, so we'll likely need to navigate this fair share calculation process soon. What really stands out from reading everyone's experiences is how much inconsistency there seems to be between different SSA offices and caseworkers. It's both helpful and concerning to know that some are focusing primarily on housing costs while others still require comprehensive documentation including food expenses. Your sister's payments of $425 for rent and $150 for utilities ($575 total) definitely sound substantial for a two-person household and should qualify as fair share regardless of whether food gets included in the calculation. The advice about documenting everything even if the caseworker says certain expenses aren't needed seems really smart given all the conflicting information people are receiving. I'm particularly interested in the suggestion about getting guidance in writing from the caseworker - that seems like excellent protection if policies change or you get assigned to a different worker who interprets things differently. Has anyone found that certain SSA offices are more consistent than others, or is this inconsistency pretty widespread across regions? Thanks for starting this discussion - the practical knowledge being shared here is so much more valuable than trying to decipher the official guidelines alone. It's giving me a much better understanding of what to expect and how to prepare when we eventually go through this process!