I went through something very similar when I started collecting benefits in 2023. The confusion is totally understandable! Just to add to what others have said - you might want to contact SSA sooner rather than later to report your expected 2024 earnings. They can set up monthly withholding if needed, which is often better than getting hit with a big overpayment notice at the end of the year. Also, keep all your pay stubs and documentation - if there are any disputes later, you'll want that paper trail. The $8,750 payout definitely puts a dent in your remaining earning capacity for the year, but at least now you know where you stand!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! I retired in March 2024 and got a vacation payout in February. What really helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to track my earnings month by month for the rest of the year. Since you started benefits in February, you can use the monthly earnings test for 2024 - you can earn up to $1,860 per month without affecting your benefits (that's the monthly limit). This might give you more flexibility than just looking at the annual $22,320 limit. Also, double-check if your employer withheld Social Security taxes from that January payout - sometimes they don't if you've already maxed out for the previous year, which could affect how SSA views the income.

As a new community member, I wanted to add my recent experience to this excellent discussion! I just went through a very similar situation last month when trying to schedule an appointment for my disability benefits review. Like many others here, I was initially told "phone appointments only" by my local office, which was frustrating since my case involves multiple medical conditions and a lot of documentation that really needed to be reviewed in person. After reading advice similar to what's been shared in this thread, I called the national number (1-800-772-1213) early in the morning and was very specific about my needs. I explained that I had "disability benefits review requiring coordination of multiple medical records and treatment documentation that needs visual verification." The representative immediately understood and scheduled me for an in-person appointment within two weeks. What really made the difference was being prepared with specific details about WHY I needed face-to-face service, rather than just requesting it generally. Having my list of medical providers and documentation types ready when I called seemed to help the representative understand the complexity involved. For anyone still struggling with this issue, the strategies shared here really do work - call the national number, be specific about your complexities, and don't give up if the first person says no. This community's advice is spot-on!

As a new community member, I'm so thankful to have found this incredibly comprehensive discussion! I've been dealing with a similar SSA appointment issue for the past month and was feeling really discouraged until I read through all these success stories and strategies. My situation involves applying for retirement benefits, but I have complications from working for a multinational company where I split time between the US and several international locations, plus I have some periods where I was receiving temporary disability that need to be factored into my benefit calculations. Every time I've called my local SSA office, I get the standard "we only do phone appointments now" response, which has been so frustrating because I know my case is too complex for a phone consultation. After reading all the excellent advice shared here, I have a clear plan: I'm going to call the national number (1-800-772-1213) first thing tomorrow morning at 8 AM and specifically explain that I need "retirement benefits application involving multinational employment records and disability benefit coordination requiring document verification and visual review." Based on everyone's experiences, I'm confident this approach will work much better than my previous generic requests for in-person appointments. This thread has been an absolute goldmine of practical strategies and real success stories. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and proving that with persistence and the right approach, it's definitely possible to get the in-person service we need for complex cases!

I've been following this thread as someone who went through a similar TSP situation while on SSDI, and I'm really impressed with the quality of advice here! Just wanted to add one more data point - I took a TSP loan about two years ago for $6,500 and it was honestly one of the best financial decisions I made during my disability period. The application process through TSP's website was straightforward, and like others mentioned, calling them directly really helped. They were able to explain exactly how the payments would work with my specific situation. I chose a 3-year repayment term which kept my monthly payments around $190 - very manageable on my SSDI income. What I found really helpful was that TSP sends you a clear amortization schedule showing exactly how much of each payment goes to principal vs. interest, and how the interest goes back into your own account. It felt good knowing I wasn't losing money to a bank or credit card company. The peace of mind knowing my SSDI benefits were completely unaffected was huge. The loan route definitely sounds like your best bet - you'll avoid that painful tax hit and early withdrawal penalty while still getting the funds you need. Best of luck with whatever you decide!

I'm so glad you found this community and got such thorough answers! As someone new to navigating both SSDI and retirement account decisions, I've learned so much just from reading through this thread. The distinction between earned vs. unearned income for SSDI purposes is something I never fully understood before. It sounds like the TSP loan route is definitely the way to go based on everyone's experiences. The fact that multiple people have successfully done this while on SSDI and saved thousands compared to straight withdrawals is really compelling evidence. I'm bookmarking this thread for future reference - the real-world payment amounts and timelines everyone shared are incredibly valuable. Hope your back continues to heal and you're able to get your finances back on track without any stress about your benefits. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge here!

Reading through this entire thread has been both educational and inspiring. Isabella, I'm so impressed by how you've handled everyone's advice and transformed what started as a panic into a clear action plan. I wanted to add one more resource that might be helpful: many hospitals and medical centers have financial counselors who specialize in helping patients navigate insurance transitions. Since you mentioned having frequent treatments and specialist visits, your medical team might have someone on staff who has dealt with similar situations before. They often know about local programs and resources that even attorneys might not be aware of. Also, when you do meet with an elder law attorney, consider asking if they offer payment plans or if they'd accept payment from the crypto conversion as part of your legal spend-down strategy. Some attorneys who specialize in benefits law understand that their clients are often in tight financial situations and can be flexible about payment arrangements. One last thought - you mentioned your nephew was "big into tech." If he kept detailed records of his crypto purchases and transactions, that documentation could be incredibly valuable for tax purposes when you do convert any of it. It might be worth asking the executor if those records are available. You've got such a solid plan now with SHIP counseling, elder law consultation, medical documentation, and all the various programs people have mentioned. Your thoughtful approach to this challenging situation is really admirable. Best of luck with everything!

Isabella, I've been following your journey through this thread and I'm so glad to see how you've transformed what started as overwhelming panic into a structured action plan. Your methodical approach to gathering information before making decisions is exactly the right way to handle something this complex. I wanted to add one practical tip that might help during your upcoming consultations: prepare a one-page summary of your situation including your current benefits, medical conditions, treatment costs, and the inheritance details. Having this written summary will help you communicate efficiently with SHIP counselors, attorneys, and other professionals, and ensures you don't forget important details when you're feeling anxious during appointments. Also, since you mentioned your neighbor might help with appointments, consider giving her a copy of this summary too. Sometimes having an advocate who can ask follow-up questions or clarify things you might miss can be incredibly valuable. Your proactive approach and willingness to seek proper guidance gives me confidence that you'll find a path that preserves your health coverage while allowing you to benefit from your nephew's generous legacy. The fact that you're prioritizing doing things legally and ethically, despite the complexity, speaks volumes about your character. Keep us updated on how things progress - this community clearly cares about your wellbeing and your experience could help others facing similar challenges in the future.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely shocked by what you've been through - 5+ hours on hold is completely unacceptable! Reading through all the incredible advice here has been more educational than anything I've ever gotten from SSA directly. The insider knowledge from Brady about the "critical payment" option and all the success stories with Congressional intervention give me real hope that there are actually effective ways to navigate this broken system. PrinceJoe, I really hope you finally hung up and got some rest after that marathon torture session! Your situation at 90+ days is exactly what Congressional representatives are there to help with. The strategy that's emerged seems solid: try that 8 AM sharp call tomorrow with the "critical payment" approach, but definitely contact your representative's office too since you're way past normal timeframes. It's infuriating that we have to become experts in government bureaucracy just to access our own earned benefits, but this community has armed you with proven tactics from people who've actually won these battles. Thank you everyone for sharing real solutions - this thread is going to help so many others trapped in SSA phone purgatory!

As someone completely new to dealing with SSA issues, I'm absolutely appalled by what you've gone through - being kept on hold for over 5 hours only to find out they don't even answer after closing time is beyond unacceptable! This thread has been incredibly eye-opening though. The insider advice from Brady about requesting "critical payment" assistance and all the success stories with Congressional intervention have shown me that there are actually effective ways to fight this broken system. PrinceJoe, I really hope you finally hung up and got some rest after that torturous hold session! Your situation being 90+ days past due is exactly what Congressional representatives are equipped to handle. The strategy everyone has laid out seems perfect: call at exactly 8 AM tomorrow and immediately ask for "critical payment" help, but also reach out to your Congressional representative's office since you're so far beyond normal timeframes. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to become bureaucratic warfare experts just to access benefits we've earned through decades of paying into the system, but this community has given you a proven battle plan from people who've actually succeeded. Thank you to everyone for turning this nightmare into actionable hope - this thread should be bookmarked by anyone facing SSA phone hell!