Update: I called SSA this morning (waited about 45 minutes) and got some helpful info. The agent confirmed I can suspend anytime after FRA, and my benefits will grow by 2/3% every month they're suspended. She also mentioned that if I earn enough at my new job, I could potentially increase my benefit amount that way too because they'll recalculate based on my new earnings if they're higher than what was previously used. So it's like a double advantage! Thanks everyone for your helpful advice!

Congratulations on the job offer! One additional tip I'd share - make sure to get written confirmation from SSA when you request the suspension. I suspended mine two years ago and the agent gave me a confirmation number over the phone, which came in handy later when I had questions about my account. Also, if your new job has health insurance, you might want to compare it with your Medicare coverage to see if there are any advantages to switching temporarily while you're working. Some employer plans can be quite comprehensive and might save you money on out-of-pocket costs. The fact that you're getting both delayed retirement credits AND potentially higher lifetime earnings makes this a really smart financial move!

Thanks everyone for clearing this up! So if I understand correctly: 1. SSA uses my highest 35 years of earnings (not 5) 2. They adjust the older earnings for inflation 3. If I don't have 35 years, they use zeros for missing years 4. Working longer could help if I replace lower earning years This changes my retirement planning quite a bit - in a good way! Actually makes me feel better about my situation since my income went down in recent years but I had some good income years in the past.

Great summary Oliver! Just wanted to add one more helpful detail - when you do create your my Social Security account (once the website cooperates!), you'll also see your estimated benefits at different retirement ages. This can help you decide whether it makes sense to work a few extra years to replace some lower-earning years in your calculation, or if you're better off claiming benefits earlier. The tool shows you exactly how much your monthly benefit would increase if you delay retirement, which is really useful for planning.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience since I went through something very similar with my father last year. He received a termination notice for exceeding the $2000 limit when his stimulus payment and a small insurance settlement hit his account in the same month. The key thing that saved us was being very specific about exclusions when we met with SSA. We brought printed copies of the relevant regulations (POMS SI 01130.700 for tax refunds and SI 01130.400 for burial funds) to show the caseworker exactly what exclusions applied. Having the actual policy numbers really helped because not all staff are familiar with every exclusion. For your mom's situation, the tax refund exclusion is solid - as long as she can show it was a legitimate tax refund received within the last 12 months. For the burial fund, make sure to bring the will or any documentation showing those funds were specifically designated "for final expenses" or similar language. One tip that really helped us: when you calculate the numbers, write it out clearly for the caseworker. Something like "Total deposits: $3,250, minus tax refund exclusion: $1,420, minus burial fund: $1,200, equals countable resources: $630." Sometimes seeing it broken down step-by-step helps them process the exclusions correctly. Your mom is lucky to have you advocating for her through this! The 6-month notice period is actually a good sign - it means they're giving her time to resolve it rather than cutting benefits immediately.

I'm new to this community but wanted to offer some encouragement after reading through your situation. My grandmother went through almost the exact same thing two years ago when she received an unexpected inheritance and tax refund that pushed her over the $2000 SSI limit. What really stood out to me from all the excellent advice already shared here is how well-positioned your mom seems to be for getting this resolved. The combination of the tax refund exclusion ($1,420) and the burial fund designation ($1,200 from the will specifying "final expenses") should definitely get her well under the limit without any spending down required. One small addition to all the great tips already mentioned - when you go to SSA tomorrow, consider bringing a simple one-page summary sheet with your mom's information, the exclusions you're requesting, and the math breakdown. Sometimes having everything on one clear page helps the caseworker follow along more easily, especially if they're handling multiple cases that day. Also, don't be discouraged if the first person you speak with isn't immediately familiar with these exclusions. As others have mentioned, asking to speak with a supervisor or more experienced claims rep can make a big difference. The tax refund exclusion in particular is something that should be routine for them to apply. Really hoping your appointment goes smoothly tomorrow! This thread has shown what an amazing, knowledgeable community this is - everyone genuinely wants to help families navigate these stressful situations successfully.

I just wanted to chime in as someone who was also confused by this change! I received my 2024 SSA-1099 last week and panicked when I saw the 'A' next to my Social Security number. I thought there might be an error or that someone had tampered with my benefits. It's such a relief to read everyone's experiences and the official confirmation from SSA representatives. I really wish they had sent out a simple notice explaining these new letter codes when they implemented the system - would have saved so many of us from unnecessary worry! Thanks to everyone who took the time to call SSA and share what they learned.

I'm so glad I found this thread! I just received my 2024 SSA-1099 form yesterday and immediately noticed the 'A' next to my Social Security number. As someone who's been receiving benefits for only about 8 months now, I had no idea what it meant and was worried it indicated some kind of problem with my account. Reading through everyone's experiences and the official confirmation from SSA representatives has been incredibly reassuring. It's clear this is just part of their internal system modernization and nothing to be concerned about. I really appreciate how helpful this community is for newcomers like me who are still learning to navigate all these Social Security processes. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and taking the time to get official answers!

I've been on SSDI for about 8 months now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was actually in a very similar situation recently when my transmission went out and I needed to find a replacement vehicle. Reading through everyone's experiences really clarifies that SSDI doesn't have the same asset restrictions as SSI. What gave me the most confidence was learning that insurance settlements for property damage are specifically not counted as income by SSA. Your situation sounds very straightforward - you're using compensation from your damaged car to purchase a replacement, which is exactly what that settlement was intended for. I ended up keeping a simple folder with my insurance paperwork, purchase receipt, and a brief note connecting the two, just like several people mentioned. While I never needed to show it to anyone, having everything organized gave me peace of mind during what was already a stressful car shopping process. That Honda Civic sounds like a perfect choice for reliable transportation! From everything I've learned through this community and my own experience, you should be able to move forward with confidence. The consensus is clear - SSDI recipients can purchase necessary vehicles without reporting requirements or benefit concerns.

I'm new to SSDI (just started receiving benefits about 3 months ago) and this entire thread has been incredibly educational for me! I had no idea about the difference between SSDI and SSI asset rules before reading everyone's responses. Like many others here, I've been putting off some necessary purchases because I was so confused about what might affect my benefits. My laptop completely died last month and I've been hesitating to replace it, but reading through all these experiences with car purchases is helping me understand that SSDI really doesn't have those asset restrictions. @Abigail, your insurance settlement situation sounds very straightforward based on all the expert advice here. It's so smart that you asked the community before making the purchase - I wish I had found this place sooner when I was stressing about my laptop replacement! The documentation tips everyone has shared are invaluable. Even though we don't have reporting requirements for purchases, keeping organized records just makes sense when dealing with any government benefits. I'm definitely going to start implementing that practice going forward. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences and knowledge. This community is such a great resource for newcomers like me who are still learning to navigate the SSDI system!