My neighbor said the tax thing depends on what state you live in too. Some states don't tax SS at all. I'm in Illinois and they don't touch my SS.

One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're thinking about working part-time at your cousin's landscaping business, make sure you understand whether you'll be classified as an employee or independent contractor. This affects how taxes are handled and what forms you'll need to file. If you're an employee, your cousin will withhold taxes and provide a W-2. If you're an independent contractor, you'll need to handle quarterly estimated tax payments yourself and receive a 1099. The self-employment tax rate is about 15.3% on top of regular income tax, so it's important to plan for this if you're going the contractor route. Also, since landscaping is seasonal work in many areas, you might want to estimate your annual earnings to see if you'll cross those Social Security taxation thresholds mentioned earlier. Better to plan ahead than be surprised at tax time!

I'm new to this community and wanted to first offer my deepest condolences on your father's passing. I just joined recently after my own family started dealing with Social Security issues, and I've been reading through this entire thread with amazement at how helpful and knowledgeable everyone has been. While I don't have direct experience with DAC benefits myself, I wanted to add one small suggestion based on what I learned when helping my disabled cousin with his SSA paperwork. Consider asking if they can provide you with a written summary or confirmation of what was discussed during your appointment. My cousin's case worker was willing to give us a brief written note outlining the next steps and timeline, which was incredibly helpful for our records and gave us something concrete to refer back to. Also, if your brother has any cognitive disabilities that might make it difficult for him to understand or participate in the appointment, don't hesitate to mention this to the SSA staff. They should be able to make accommodations or adjustments to help ensure he's comfortable and the process goes smoothly. The collective wisdom shared in this thread - from specific form numbers to practical tips about timing and preparation - has been absolutely invaluable. It's clear your brother has a strong case for increased benefits, and with all the excellent advice everyone has provided, you're well-prepared to advocate for him effectively. Best of luck, and please keep us updated on how everything goes!

I'm new to this community and wanted to first express my heartfelt condolences on your father's passing. I recently joined after my own family started navigating Social Security issues, and I've been incredibly impressed by the depth of knowledge and support shared in this thread. While I don't have personal experience with DAC benefits yet, I wanted to add something I learned when helping my neighbor with her SSA case last year. She found it really helpful to bring a small digital recorder (with permission from the SSA staff) to record important parts of the conversation, especially when they were explaining benefit calculations or timelines. This way she could review everything later without worrying about missing crucial details during what can be a stressful appointment. Also, if you're concerned about getting through on the SSA phone lines to schedule an appointment, many local offices allow you to schedule appointments online through your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. This can sometimes be faster than trying to call during peak hours. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so educational - from the specific forms to request to the importance of asking for survivor benefit specialists. Your brother clearly has a strong case for increased benefits, and with all the excellent preparation advice shared here, you're in great shape to advocate effectively for him. Wishing you both the best of luck with this process!

I'm glad this discussion has been so helpful! One thing I'd add is that you might want to consider the "earnings test" if you do decide to do any part-time work between now and your FRA. If you earn more than $23,400 in 2024 (the limit changes each year), Social Security will reduce your benefits by $1 for every $2 you earn above that limit - but only if you're actually claiming benefits. Since you're planning to wait until FRA to claim, this won't affect you. Just something to keep in mind if your plans change. Also, don't forget that Social Security benefits may be taxable depending on your total income, so factor that into your retirement planning too!

One more thing to consider - if you're married, make sure to coordinate your Social Security claiming strategy with your spouse! Even if your own benefit won't be significantly impacted by stopping work at 64, your spouse might be eligible for spousal benefits based on your work record. The timing of when each of you claims can affect the total household Social Security income. There are some complex "file and suspend" type strategies that were mostly eliminated, but there are still optimization opportunities for married couples. It might be worth consulting with a fee-only financial planner who specializes in Social Security to run the numbers for your specific situation, especially since you mentioned your financial advisor wasn't clear on these details.

This thread has been absolutely invaluable! As someone who's 63 and starting to seriously plan for claiming at 66, I've learned so much from everyone's real-world experiences. The distinction between gross benefit amounts and actual take-home pay is something I definitely needed to understand better. A few key takeaways I'm noting for my own planning: - Budget for Medicare Part B deductions ($174.70/month currently, but expect annual increases) - Consider voluntary tax withholding (10-12% seems to be the sweet spot for most people here) - Submit W-4V form well in advance since processing can take 1-2 months - Keep copies of everything submitted to SSA - Factor in the earnings limit if planning to work part-time after claiming before FRA One question I haven't seen addressed - for those who've been receiving benefits for a while, how accurate have the SSA's online benefit calculators been compared to your actual payments? I'm trying to decide how much cushion to build into my retirement budget for unexpected variations. Also, has anyone dealt with changing their withholding percentage multiple times, or is it better to try to get it right the first time? The ability to adjust seems helpful, but I don't want to create unnecessary complications if the processing is slow each time. Thanks again to everyone for sharing such detailed and practical insights - this is exactly the kind of information that's hard to find elsewhere!

As someone who just started receiving benefits 6 months ago, I can share some practical insights about the accuracy of SSA's calculators and the withholding adjustment process. The benefit calculators were spot-on for my gross benefit amount - within a few dollars of what I actually receive. The key is understanding that it's the GROSS amount, so you need to manually subtract all deductions to get your real take-home pay. Regarding changing withholding percentages - I've done it once so far. Started with 7% withholding but realized after my first quarterly tax review that I needed more taken out. Submitted a new W-4V form in March to bump it to 12%, and it took about 6 weeks to take effect (so May payment was the first with the new rate). The process was straightforward, but the delay meant I had to set aside extra from those interim payments. One tip: I keep a simple spreadsheet tracking my monthly SS payment, Medicare deduction, tax withholding, and net deposit. This helps me spot any changes immediately and makes tax planning much easier. Also want to echo what others said about Medicare Part B increases - mine went up $5/month this year with very little notice, so definitely budget some cushion for those annual adjustments. The combination of real experiences shared in this thread plus the official SSA resources should give you a solid foundation for planning. Good luck with your retirement!

Chad, I'm so sorry for your loss. Losing a spouse while trying to navigate these complex systems is overwhelming beyond words. I wanted to mention one resource that might help bridge the gap while you're preparing for your son's Adult Disabled Child application - many states have "Benefits Planning, Assistance and Outreach" (BPAO) programs that provide free counseling specifically for Social Security disability benefits. These counselors can help you understand exactly what documentation you'll need and can even help coordinate with SSA during the application process. You can find your local BPAO through the Social Security Administration's website or by calling their main number. Also, since your son will likely qualify for Medicare after his 24-month waiting period on DAC benefits, it might be worth researching Medicare Supplement plans now so you're prepared for that transition. The combination of Medicare and potentially Medicaid could provide excellent coverage for his ongoing needs. You're being incredibly proactive in planning for his future - that preparation will serve you both well when application time comes.

Chad, I'm so deeply sorry for the loss of your husband. What you're going through is unimaginable, and I'm amazed by your strength in planning ahead for your family's future during such a difficult time. Reading through all the excellent advice here, I wanted to add one more thing that might help - consider creating a "disability portfolio" for your son that includes not just medical records, but also photos and videos showing his daily challenges and limitations. Sometimes visual documentation can be powerful in helping SSA reviewers understand the real-world impact of his disabilities. For instance, if he needs help with tasks that most 17-year-olds can do independently, documenting that now could be valuable later. Also, since you mentioned he's had documented disabilities since age 3, you might want to contact his early intervention providers and ask them to write a summary letter about his long-term prognosis and functional limitations. These professionals often have insights about developmental trajectories that can be compelling evidence for SSA. You're doing everything right by planning ahead - your son is so fortunate to have such a dedicated advocate looking out for his future.