Medicare approval made my SS retirement estimates and work credits disappear - help!

This is completely normal! Once you apply for any benefit through Social Security (including Medicare), your account switches to a different mode. The retirement estimator and work credits display disappear because the system now considers you a beneficiary rather than just a potential future claimant. Nothing is wrong with your account or your future retirement benefits - it's just how their system works.

Oh thank goodness! I was panicking thinking something had gone terribly wrong. So my work credits are still there in the system even though I can't see them anymore?

happened to me 2, freaked me out! but ur actual benefits will still be same when u apply, they just dont show the calculator anymore once ur getting ANY kind of benefit

That's such a relief to hear someone else went through this too! I wish the SSA would warn people this would happen - gave me quite a scare.

I HATE how SSA does this!! It makes NO sense to hide your retirement info just because you got Medicare! They should explain this to people instead of letting us panic when everything disappears. I called them FOUR times about this same issue before I got someone who could explain why all my info vanished. Their online system is stuck in the 1990s I swear.

same! their website is so confusing...

If you really need to see your estimated retirement benefits again, you can call the SSA directly and request that they provide you with a benefits estimate. The representatives can access this information even though it no longer displays in your online account. Just be prepared for a potentially long wait time when calling - I had to wait over 2 hours last month when I needed to discuss my retirement options.

Calling SSA is the WORST experience. I finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an agent in 20 minutes instead of waiting for hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - saved me from having to redial all day. Much better than waiting on hold forever.

This is a common source of confusion. When you're approved for Medicare, your MySocialSecurity account transitions from a \

Thank you for explaining this so clearly! I'll try requesting that benefit verification letter right away. Do you know if that letter will actually show my estimated benefit amount or just confirm that I'm eligible?

The benefit verification letter will confirm your eligibility but won't show your estimated amount. For a detailed benefit estimate, you'll need to either use the online calculator at ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/estimator.html (which requires entering your personal information each time) or contact SSA directly to request a calculation. They can generate an official estimate based on your complete earnings record.

Perfect! I'll use that online estimator then. Much appreciated for all the helpful information!

my sister had this happen too but she got confused and thought she lost her medicare when the account changed lol

also just fyi when u do apply for retirement make sure u specify if u want medicare premiums taken out of SS check or billed separately, they dont always ask!