Wow, this thread has been incredibly educational! As a 64-year-old who's been considering early retirement, I had absolutely no idea that SSDI was still an option after 62. My understanding was the same as your coworker's - that once you hit 62, disability was off the table. Learning that SSDI actually pays your FULL retirement amount (not the reduced early retirement amount) is huge! That could be the difference between financial security and struggling. I'm also grateful for all the practical tips shared here - the importance of keeping detailed medical records, understanding the SGA limits, knowing about SHIP counselors, and being specific about which benefit you're applying for when dealing with SSA. It's clear that navigating this system requires a lot more knowledge than most of us realize. Thank you to everyone who shared their personal experiences and professional insights. This is exactly the kind of real-world information that can make or break someone's financial future in their later years.

This is exactly why I love this community! I'm 62 and have been so confused about all these options. My biggest takeaway from reading everyone's experiences is that you really need to be proactive about understanding your choices BEFORE you need them. The stories about people having to fight to get the right application type processed, or missing out on higher benefits because they didn't know SSDI was still available after 62, are eye-opening. I'm definitely going to start building that medical documentation file now (even though I'm healthy) and research our local SHIP counselor. It sounds like having an expert guide you through these decisions could save thousands of dollars in the long run. One question I have - if you're planning to work until your FRA but develop a condition that might qualify for SSDI, is there any advantage to applying for disability right away versus waiting to see if you can push through to full retirement? The timing seems really crucial for maximizing benefits.

Welcome to the confusing world of SSA! 😅 You've got it exactly right - you only get reimbursed for actual double-payment months, not every month you paid in advance. The tax withholding on reimbursements is definitely frustrating but unfortunately that's just how their ancient system works. One tip: when you start your benefits, keep a close eye on your first few payments to make sure everything is calculating correctly. Sometimes there are little glitches in the transition period that need to be caught early. And definitely save all your documentation - you'll need it for tax time next year to sort out any overwithholding issues. Good luck with your upcoming benefits! The learning curve is steep but this community is really helpful for navigating all the SSA quirks.

This whole situation perfectly illustrates why so many people get frustrated with SSA! I went through something similar when I started my benefits last year. The key thing that helped me understand it was realizing that their computer systems literally can't tell the difference between a regular benefit payment and a reimbursement - everything gets processed the same way with the same tax withholding rules applied. For anyone else reading this who might face a similar situation: the "double payment" reimbursement only happens when there's an actual overlap month where you paid directly AND they would also deduct from your benefit. So if you prepaid multiple months, you won't get reimbursed for all of them - only the ones where there would be true double billing. And unfortunately yes, they will withhold taxes on these reimbursements even though it doesn't make logical sense. Just another quirk of dealing with government systems that haven't been updated since the 1980s! Keep all your paperwork and work with a tax professional if needed to make sure you're not overpaying when you file next year.

I want to add some encouragement here - you absolutely made the right choice taking survivor benefits at 60 given your health concerns at the time. That's exactly what those benefits are designed for, and there's no shame in using them when you needed them most. What's happening now is actually routine and potentially very good news for you. Since you're past your full retirement age, your own Social Security benefit has been earning delayed retirement credits (worth 8% per year) while you've been collecting survivor benefits. So even though you couldn't have predicted your longevity, the system actually worked in your favor. Here's what I'd suggest for your call preparation: - Have your most recent tax returns handy (2019-2020 when you were still working) - Write down your exact birth date and your late husband's birth date - Ask them to confirm your earnings record is complete through 2020 - Request they explain the exact dollar amounts of both benefits before making any changes The fact that they reached out to YOU means they've already done preliminary calculations and believe you might qualify for higher benefits. This is their way of making sure you get every penny you're entitled to. Try not to stress - you've navigated this well so far and this next step should only improve your situation.

I went through this exact same process about 18 months ago! I was so worried when I got that letter from SSA, but it turned out to be the best thing that happened to my retirement finances. Like you, I had been collecting survivor benefits since age 60 (mine were reduced because I took them early). When I reached my full retirement age of 66 and 8 months, I got a similar letter about scheduling a phone appointment. I was terrified they were going to tell me I owed money back or that I had done something wrong. The reality was completely different - my own retirement benefit had grown to be about $380 more per month than my survivor benefit! Since I was past my FRA, I also qualified for 4 months of retroactive payments. The SSA representative was actually very patient and explained everything clearly. Here's what I wish I had known going into that call: they've already run the numbers and have a pretty good idea that your own benefit is likely higher. That's why they're reaching out. They're not trying to take anything away from you - they're trying to make sure you get the maximum benefit you're entitled to. Don't second-guess your decision to take survivor benefits at 60. With your health situation, that was absolutely the right call. You needed that income then, and it didn't hurt your own retirement benefit at all. You played it perfectly! Good luck with your appointment - I think you're going to be pleasantly surprised with the outcome.

Thank you all so much for the helpful responses! To summarize what I've learned: 1. My January 2025 benefit (paid in February) will automatically include the 2025 COLA 2. The delay to February is just the normal payment cycle (January entitlement paid in February) 3. I should double-check my MySocialSecurity account when the award letter arrives to confirm everything This community has been incredibly helpful - I was really worried about losing out on the COLA increase for my budget planning. I appreciate everyone taking the time to explain how this works!

You're absolutely right to summarize those key points! Just to add one more helpful tip for your budget planning - when you do receive your award letter, it will show your exact monthly benefit amount with the 2025 COLA already included. This makes it much easier to plan your finances since you won't have to calculate the increase yourself. Also, keep in mind that Medicare Part B premiums (if applicable) will be deducted from your Social Security payment, so make sure to account for that in your budgeting as well. Congratulations on reaching your full retirement age and getting your benefits sorted out!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's incredibly frustrating when government systems don't communicate properly with each other! I'm approaching 65 myself and had no idea about this retroactive Medicare enrollment issue. From reading everyone's responses, it sounds like you're on the right track by getting the documentation from SSA and working with your HSA administrator. Just wanted to add that you might also want to check if your employer offers any kind of benefits counseling or has dealt with this situation before with other employees. Some larger companies have benefits specialists who are familiar with these Medicare/HSA conflicts and might be able to help you navigate the process more smoothly. Also, definitely keep records of all your phone calls with SSA (dates, times, reference numbers if they give you any) in case you need to reference them later for tax purposes or if there are any disputes. This whole situation really highlights how much these agencies need to improve their communication with beneficiaries!

This is exactly why I always recommend people research Medicare enrollment rules BEFORE applying for Social Security benefits, especially if they're still working and contributing to an HSA. The retroactive enrollment rule has been around for decades but SSA does a terrible job of explaining it upfront. One thing that might help - if you're within 12 months of your Social Security application, you technically have the right to withdraw your entire application (called a "withdrawal of application"). This would also cancel your Medicare Part A enrollment, allowing you to continue HSA contributions. However, you'd have to pay back any Social Security benefits you've already received, and you can only do this once in your lifetime. For most people, it's not worth it financially, but it's an option if maximizing HSA contributions is really important to your retirement strategy. You'd need to run the numbers carefully with a financial advisor to see if it makes sense in your situation. The good news is that once you get through this initial mess and get your excess HSA contributions sorted out with your tax preparer, everything should be much clearer going forward. Just make sure your payroll department stops the HSA deductions immediately if they haven't already!