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I scheduled my bills around my SS deposit dates! For end of month birthdays (21-31) payments come on 4th Wednesday. April 23, May 28, June 25, July 23, August 27, September 24, October 22, November 26, and December 24 are the 4th Wednesdays for rest of 2025.
I work at a local SSA field office and can confirm what others have said about the website issues - we've been getting a lot of calls about this lately. The MySocialSecurity portal has been having intermittent problems since they started rolling out security updates last month. If you're still having trouble after trying the browser suggestions, you might want to wait until after their scheduled maintenance this weekend. Also, just wanted to mention that if you do visit a field office, calling ahead to schedule an appointment will save you a lot of waiting time. We're usually less busy on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings if that helps with planning.
Thank you for this update! I don't use Twitter so I would have missed this. At least there's an official timeline now. I appreciate everyone's help and suggestions!
I've been dealing with this exact same issue! Been locked out for about 10 days now with the same error message. I tried calling the 800 number yesterday and after waiting 2 hours and 45 minutes, I finally got through to someone who told me they're aware of the problem but couldn't give me any specifics on when it would be fixed. She did mention that if it's truly urgent (like needing to report a death or stop payments), they can sometimes handle certain things over the phone, but for most account access issues we just have to wait. So frustrating when you're trying to plan for retirement and can't access your own information!
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this too! It's really reassuring to know I'm not the only one experiencing this problem, but also frustrating that so many of us are affected. Thank you for sharing what the phone representative told you - that's helpful context. I wonder if my situation counts as "urgent" since I need to verify my earnings record before my FRA next month? Maybe I should try calling again and specifically mention the timing. Did they give you any tips for getting through faster on the phone, or is it just a matter of waiting it out?
I'm new here but dealing with a similar situation, so this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm 63 and started collecting early retirement last year, then got diagnosed with a chronic condition and applied for SSDI. Still waiting on approval, but reading everyone's experiences gives me hope. One quick question for those who've been through this - when SSA converts your payment from retirement to disability, do you get any kind of notification letter explaining the change? I want to make sure I understand exactly what's happening with my benefits if/when my SSDI gets approved. Also, QuantumQuest, have you considered reaching out to your local SSA field office in addition to calling the main number? Sometimes it's easier to get face-to-face help, especially for complex situations like ours. Just a thought!
Welcome to the community! Yes, SSA should send you notification letters when they process benefit changes like converting from retirement to disability payments. You'll typically get an award letter for your SSDI approval that explains your new benefit amount and effective date. They should also send a separate notice explaining how your benefits are being coordinated. That's a great suggestion about visiting the local field office! I've been so focused on trying to call that I didn't even think about going in person. Sometimes face-to-face really is the way to go for these complex situations. Thanks for the tip, and good luck with your SSDI application - sounds like you're on the right track!
I'm also new to this community and this thread has been incredibly informative! I'm currently going through a very similar situation - I'm 64, started early retirement last year, and just got approved for SSDI due to a combination of chronic back issues and diabetes complications. One thing I wanted to add that I learned through my own research: make sure you keep detailed records of ANY work you do, even if it's just a few hours here and there. SSA can ask for this information going back several years, and having good documentation can save you a lot of headaches later. Also, regarding the Trial Work Period that several people mentioned - I was told by my disability attorney that even if you don't use all 9 trial work months, it's still good to be conservative with your earnings. The last thing you want is to accidentally trigger a review of your disability status right when you're getting back on your feet financially. QuantumQuest, your situation with the heart condition improving is actually pretty common - many people worry that if their condition gets better, they'll automatically lose SSDI. But as long as you follow the work rules and report your activity, you should be able to test the waters with part-time work safely. Good luck!
I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm 64 and took early retirement last year, but recently developed chronic kidney disease that's progressing rapidly. My nephrologist says I'll likely need dialysis within the next 6 months, which would make working impossible. Reading about the disability freeze and potential benefit increase gives me hope that I might have options. Has anyone here dealt specifically with kidney disease for SSDI approval? I'm wondering if conditions that worsen over time (rather than sudden onset) face different challenges in the approval process.
I'm sorry to hear about your kidney disease diagnosis. Progressive conditions like CKD can actually be easier to document for SSDI purposes because there's typically a clear medical timeline showing deterioration. The SSA has specific listings for chronic kidney disease (Section 6.02) that include criteria for creatinine clearance levels and need for dialysis. Your nephrologist's documentation will be crucial - make sure they document your current kidney function levels, prognosis, and how the condition limits your daily activities and work capacity. Since you're still under your FRA, you're in a good position to apply. The key is establishing that your kidney disease reached disabling levels before you reach full retirement age. Keep all your lab results and specialist reports - they'll be essential evidence for your case.
Jessica, I wanted to add to what Amaya shared - kidney disease cases often have good outcomes with SSDI because the medical evidence is so objective. My brother-in-law went through this process two years ago when his kidney function dropped below 30%. The key things that helped his case were: 1) Regular lab work showing declining GFR over time, 2) Documentation from his nephrologist about fatigue and other symptoms affecting his work capacity, and 3) Records showing he was placed on the transplant waiting list. Since you're already working with a nephrologist who can document the progression, you're in a much better position than people trying to prove subjective pain conditions. The fact that dialysis is anticipated actually strengthens your case significantly - SSA recognizes dialysis as automatically disabling under their listings. Don't wait too long to apply though, since you need to establish the disability onset before your FRA. Good luck!
I've been following this discussion as someone who went through a similar process recently. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the importance of timing your application strategically. Since you're already 65 and receiving reduced retirement benefits, you have a limited window to apply for SSDI before reaching your full retirement age (which sounds like it's 66 and 6 months for you). What really helped in my case was filing the SSDI application as soon as possible after my diagnosis, even while I was still gathering medical records. SSA allows you to submit additional evidence after filing, but they can't backdate your application beyond when you actually filed. Given that you mentioned your health has "gotten much worse" since starting retirement benefits, you'll want to establish a clear timeline showing when your conditions became disabling. Also, don't be discouraged if you get conflicting information from different SSA representatives - this is unfortunately common with these crossover cases between retirement and disability. The policy is clear that you can apply, but not all front-line staff are familiar with these more complex situations. Stay persistent and document everything!
This is such valuable advice about the timing aspect! I'm actually in a very similar boat - turned 65 recently and started getting reduced retirement benefits, but my health situation has deteriorated significantly since then. Reading through all these responses has been eye-opening because I honestly didn't even know this was an option. The part about not all SSA staff being familiar with these crossover cases really resonates - I called twice last month and got completely different answers from different representatives. One told me it was impossible, another said "maybe" but couldn't explain how it would work. It sounds like I need to be more persistent and maybe ask specifically to speak with someone who handles disability applications rather than just general customer service. Thank you for emphasizing the importance of filing quickly even while gathering records - I was thinking I needed everything perfect before applying but that could cost me precious time!
Paolo Esposito
As a newcomer to this community, I found this discussion incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation - turning 67 next year and trying to decide on timing. What really stands out to me from reading everyone's experiences is how the monthly calculation works rather than yearly. One thing I'm curious about that I didn't see addressed: if you delay past FRA but then need to claim benefits earlier than planned due to an emergency, can you still get credit for the partial months you did delay? Or do you lose those credits if you don't follow through with your original timeline? Also, has anyone here used the Social Security statement estimator to model different claiming scenarios? I'm wondering if their online tools accurately reflect these partial-year delayed retirement credits when you're planning.
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Aiden Chen
•Welcome to the community, Paolo! Great questions. Yes, you absolutely keep the delayed retirement credits for any partial months you did delay, even if you need to claim earlier than originally planned. The credits accumulate month by month and become part of your permanent benefit calculation once you file - there's no "all or nothing" requirement. Regarding the SSA estimator tools - they do show the delayed retirement credit increases, but I've found they sometimes round to the nearest month or year in their projections. For precise planning with partial months, you might want to do the math manually using the 2/3% per month figure that others mentioned here. Hope this helps with your planning! This community has been fantastic for sharing real experiences with these decisions.
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Laura Lopez
Welcome Paolo! Your questions are excellent and show you're thinking strategically about this. To add to what Aiden shared - I actually had to pivot my timing due to an unexpected situation, and I can confirm you absolutely keep any delayed retirement credits you've already earned. I originally planned to wait until 68 but ended up filing at 67 and 4 months due to a family emergency. Those 4 months of delayed credits (about 2.67% increase) stayed with my benefit permanently. The SSA doesn't penalize you for changing your mind - they just calculate based on your actual filing date. One tip: when you do file, whether it's your original plan or an emergency situation, make sure to mention your delay period to the claims rep. While the system should auto-calculate, I've seen enough stories here about initial errors that it's worth being proactive about it. The peace of mind knowing you have that flexibility while still earning credits each month you wait is really valuable when you're making these decisions!
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