I was in your exact situation two months ago with my 17-year-old daughter. After wasting days trying to get through on the phone, I tried that Claimyr service someone mentioned above. Got connected to an agent in about 20 minutes and had the whole application done in another 30. My daughter's first payment arrived about 3 weeks later. They backpaid from when I first got my benefits too!

I'm going through the exact same frustrating process right now! Just got my letter about potential benefits for my 15-year-old last week. The phone system is absolutely broken - I've tried calling multiple times and either get disconnected or the wait times are insane. One thing I learned from reading through all these comments is that I need to gather ALL the documents beforehand. I'm going to try the early morning call strategy on Wednesday that someone mentioned, and if that doesn't work, I'll show up at the local office before they open with a folding chair and every piece of paperwork I can think of. It's ridiculous that in 2025 we still have to jump through these hoops for something that should be straightforward. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - at least now I know I'm not alone in this nightmare!

Have you both checked your benefit estimates on the My Social Security portal? Sometimes the estimates on the statements can be off, especially if you have years of zero or low earnings in your work history. Might be worth making sure the $2,700 and $1,500 figures are accurate before making any final decisions.

This is such a comprehensive discussion! I'm new to navigating Social Security planning and this thread has been incredibly helpful. One thing I'm wondering about - are there any official SSA resources or calculators that can help compare these different claiming strategies? It sounds like there are a lot of variables to consider (earnings limits, tax implications, COLA adjustments, reduction percentages) and I'm wondering if there's a good tool to model different scenarios rather than trying to calculate everything manually. Also, @Aileen Rodriguez - have you considered getting a written estimate from SSA for both strategies? I've heard that sometimes having them put the projected benefits in writing can help ensure you're getting consistent information, especially given some of the experiences people have shared about getting different answers from different representatives.

This is really helpful information! I'm dealing with a similar situation with my mom's SSI application. She has a prepaid burial plan that cost around $8,000 - does anyone know if that's treated the same way as cemetery plots? I'm worried because it's a lot more money than just the plot itself. The funeral home has all the paperwork but I'm not sure if SSA will see it as a resource or if it's excluded like the burial plots everyone is talking about.

I just wanted to add that it's worth keeping good documentation of all these excluded resources. When my dad applied for SSI, the caseworker asked for proof that his cemetery plot was actually purchased for burial purposes (apparently some people try to claim investment property as burial plots). We had to provide the original purchase contract and cemetery deed. Also, if your uncle ever moves to a different state, make sure to notify SSA because some states have different supplemental rules that might affect his benefits. The federal SSI rules about burial plots stay the same, but state supplements can vary.

Just want to follow up to say that when I called SS about my IRMAA appeal, they told me I could also fax the completed SSA-44 form with supporting documentation to my local office. Might be worth trying that approach if you continue having trouble reaching someone by phone. The fax number should be available on the SSA website for your local office.

I went through this exact same situation last year! My income dropped significantly when I switched from corporate to consulting work. Here's what I learned: You definitely qualify for an IRMAA appeal with that income reduction. The key is documenting the "life-changing event" properly. Since you went from employment to self-employment, that counts as work reduction. For your S-Corp structure, only your $15K salary plus any distributions you take will count toward IRMAA - the business profits staying in the company won't affect your personal MAGI. A few practical tips: - Try calling SSA right at 8am when they open - I had better luck then - Have your SSA-44 form filled out before you call so you're ready - Keep detailed records of every call attempt (date/time) in case you need to escalate The whole process took about 6 weeks for me, but the premium reduction was backdated to when it should have started. Don't give up - that $258K to $74K drop should easily get you out of the IRMAA surcharge tiers!

I'm dealing with similar spinal issues and wanted to share something that might help with your decision-making process. Since you mentioned your boss is starting to notice productivity issues, have you considered talking to HR about requesting reasonable accommodations under the ADA before making any major employment decisions? Things like a sit/stand desk, more frequent breaks, or even working from home a few days a week could help you maintain your job longer while you're going through the disability application process. This creates a paper trail showing you tried to continue working with accommodations, which can actually strengthen your SSDI case by demonstrating that even with workplace modifications, your conditions prevent you from maintaining substantial gainful activity. Also, given your upcoming laminectomy, make sure your surgeon documents in detail your current functional limitations and expected recovery timeline. Post-surgical complications or incomplete recovery can be significant factors in disability determinations, especially when you're already dealing with multiple conditions affecting different body systems. The fact that you're 59 with 35 years of work history puts you in a strong position under the medical-vocational guidelines if your conditions prevent you from doing any work you've done in the past 15 years. Don't lose hope - the process is daunting but your situation sounds like it has merit.

I want to echo what others have said about documentation being absolutely critical. As someone who went through the SSDI process with multiple conditions (though different from yours), I can't stress enough how important it is to be completely honest with your doctors about your pain levels and limitations. One thing I learned the hard way is that SSA doesn't just look at your individual conditions - they also consider the cumulative effect of multiple impairments. In your case, the combination of severe TMJ affecting eating/speaking, spinal issues requiring multiple surgeries, GERD with Barrett's, and fibromyalgia creates a compelling picture of someone whose overall functioning is significantly compromised. Since you're still working full-time, consider keeping a detailed daily log of how your symptoms affect your work performance - times you had to take breaks due to pain, days you couldn't concentrate because of medication side effects, instances where TMJ made it difficult to communicate with colleagues, etc. This real-world evidence of how your conditions impact your ability to perform work tasks can be incredibly valuable. Also, don't underestimate the impact of Barrett's esophagus - this is a serious condition with cancer risk that requires ongoing monitoring and can significantly affect your quality of life and ability to work consistently. The insurance gap issue mentioned by others is real and scary, but don't let fear paralyze you into continuing to damage your health. There may be options you haven't considered yet, and a disability attorney can help you navigate the timing to minimize gaps in coverage.