I'm so sorry for your loss, Tyler. As a newcomer to this community, I can see you've received incredibly comprehensive and compassionate advice from everyone here. What strikes me most is how this discussion shows the importance of having a supportive community when navigating such complex and emotionally difficult decisions. Your situation really highlights why the Social Security system can feel so overwhelming - the rules for widows are actually more flexible than regular retirement benefits, but that flexibility comes with complexity. The key takeaway I'm seeing from all these responses is that you have time to make an informed decision, you have options to adjust later if needed, and most importantly, you don't have to figure this out alone. The practical steps everyone has outlined - getting written estimates, considering your complete financial picture, possibly meeting with a financial advisor, and scheduling an in-person SSA appointment - give you a clear roadmap forward. It's also reassuring to see how many community members have walked this same path and are willing to share their experiences. Thank you for asking such an important question that many widows face. This entire thread will be valuable for others going through similar situations. Take care of yourself during this difficult time, and remember that seeking help and taking time to make thoughtful decisions is a sign of wisdom, not weakness.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Tyler. This thread has been incredibly informative and I'm grateful to see such a supportive community helping you navigate this difficult situation. As someone who may face similar decisions in the future, I wanted to thank everyone for sharing their experiences and expertise. What really stands out to me is how the widow benefit rules, while complex, actually provide more flexibility than regular Social Security retirement benefits. The ability to take survivor benefits at 60 and potentially switch to your own retirement benefits later seems like a valuable safety net during such a challenging life transition. The practical advice about getting written estimates, scheduling in-person appointments at local SSA offices, and considering your complete financial picture (not just optimizing Social Security) really resonates with me. It's clear that this isn't just a financial decision, but also one that involves your emotional well-being during a difficult time. Tyler, I hope you feel supported by this community as you work through this decision. The fact that you're asking thoughtful questions and seeking multiple perspectives shows you're approaching this wisely. Take the time you need, and remember that having flexibility to adjust later takes some pressure off making the "perfect" choice right now.

This thread has been absolutely life-changing for me! I've been on SSDI for about 18 months and have been terrified to even consider part-time work because every time I called SSA, I got different answers that basically boiled down to "don't work or you'll lose everything." Reading everyone's detailed experiences has shown me that I was talking to the wrong people entirely. The specific scripts and department names you've all shared are invaluable - I had no idea about asking for the Work Incentives Unit or mentioning the Trial Work Period by name. The distinction between Technical Experts and regular reps/supervisors makes so much sense now. I'm especially grateful for the practical tips like calling early morning and having documentation ready. What really strikes me is how this one conversation has revealed an entire system of work incentive programs (TWP, EPE, IRWE, Ticket to Work) that I never knew existed. It's both frustrating that this information isn't more accessible and incredibly hopeful that there are actual specialists who understand these rules. I'm planning to call next week using all the strategies shared here. For the first time since starting SSDI, I actually feel like I might be able to safely explore returning to work without risking my benefits. Thank you all for turning what felt like an impossible situation into a manageable process with clear steps!

As someone who just started receiving SSDI benefits last month, this entire discussion has been incredibly educational! I've been so anxious about even considering part-time work because I was afraid of accidentally jeopardizing my benefits. Reading everyone's experiences with Technical Experts vs. regular reps has been a real eye-opener - I had no idea there were specialists specifically trained in work incentive calculations. The specific scripts people have shared are going to be so helpful when I'm ready to make that call. I love the suggestion to mention the Trial Work Period and Extended Period of Eligibility by name, and asking for the "Work Incentives Unit" sounds much more effective than just asking for "someone who can help." The early morning calling tip is definitely going in my notes too! What's really struck me is how many people have gotten generic "don't work or you'll lose benefits" responses from regular reps, when there are actually detailed programs designed to help people transition back to work safely. Learning about IRWE and the Ticket to Work program in this thread has shown me there's a whole system of protections I never knew existed. I'm not quite ready to start working yet, but when I am, I'll definitely be using all the strategies shared here. Thank you everyone for being so generous with your hard-won knowledge - this community is amazing for newcomers like me who are still learning to navigate such a complex system!

I'm new to this community and currently dealing with a similar situation after recently getting approved for SSDI. This entire thread has been incredibly educational - I had no idea about the complexity of LTD/SSDI coordination until reading everyone's experiences here. Based on all the detailed advice shared, I'm planning to take a proactive approach: request the detailed written calculation from my LTD company before they process anything, verify all effective dates and payment periods, and carefully review my policy for any provisions that might help minimize the offset. What strikes me most is how many people discovered calculation errors that could have cost them significant money. It really emphasizes the importance of not just accepting whatever the LTD company initially proposes, but actually reviewing their math against your policy terms. For anyone else new to this process - this thread is a goldmine of practical advice. The key seems to be preparation, documentation, and persistence in making sure everything is calculated correctly. Even though losing most of the backpay is disappointing, at least we'll have stable monthly income going forward from both sources. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences so openly. This community support makes a stressful process much more manageable!

I'm new to this community but going through a very similar situation right now. Just got my SSDI approval after 14 months and I'm trying to prepare for dealing with my LTD company about the backpay offset. After reading through all these experiences, it's clear that getting a detailed written calculation upfront is absolutely critical. I had no idea that calculation errors were so common - it sounds like many people saved significant money just by carefully reviewing the LTD company's math against their policy terms. My situation: LTD monthly benefit of $3,900, SSDI approved for $2,750, with about $12,800 in backpay after attorney fees. Based on everyone's calculations here, I'm expecting to lose most of that backpay but keep around $1,150/month from LTD going forward. One thing I'm particularly concerned about after reading these responses - has anyone dealt with LTD companies that tried to rush the offset process or pressure you into accepting their calculation quickly? I want to make sure I have adequate time to review everything, but I'm worried they might try to process the offset before I can properly verify their numbers. This thread has been incredibly valuable for understanding what to expect. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences - it's making what seemed like an impossible situation to navigate feel much more manageable!

I'm a newcomer to this community but have been dealing with similar WEP/GPO issues with my own government pension. This thread has been incredibly educational! One thing I wanted to add that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're considering the strategy of taking your own reduced benefit at 62 plus part-time work, make sure to factor in state income taxes on your Social Security benefits. Some states don't tax Social Security at all, while others do. This could impact which strategy gives you the most after-tax income, especially when combined with your fully-taxable pension. Also, I noticed someone mentioned the importance of substantial earnings for WEP reduction. You can actually look up the "substantial earnings" thresholds for each year on the SSA website - they adjust annually for inflation. For 2024, it's $31,275, but it was much lower in earlier years. Your 15 years of SS-covered work might qualify for more substantial earnings years than you think, which could significantly reduce the WEP penalty. The complexity is definitely overwhelming, but seeing how everyone here has worked through similar situations gives me confidence that we can figure this out! Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and strategies.

I'm new to this community but wanted to thank everyone for this incredibly detailed discussion! As someone who will be facing similar decisions with my own state pension in a few years, this thread has been like a masterclass in Social Security planning. One additional resource I wanted to mention - the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts (NARSSA) has a directory of advisors who specifically focus on Social Security optimization, including complex cases involving government pensions. They have specialized training in WEP/GPO scenarios that regular financial planners might not have. Also, I've seen some people mention creating a my.ssa.gov account to review earnings records. If you haven't done this yet, I'd recommend doing it ASAP - not just to see your earnings history, but because the site also shows your estimated benefits under different claiming scenarios. While it won't account for WEP/GPO reductions (you need SSA staff for those calculations), it gives you a baseline to work from. Logan, your situation is complex but you're asking all the right questions. The fact that you're thinking through all these angles before your 62nd birthday next month puts you ahead of many people who make these decisions without fully understanding the implications. Best of luck with your SSA consultation!

This has been such a helpful discussion! I'm 44 and have been avoiding looking at my SSA projections because I was worried they'd be either unrealistically low or I wouldn't understand how to interpret them properly. Reading through everyone's experiences here has given me the confidence to finally dig into my account. The key insight that SSA shows everything in today's purchasing power is brilliant - it means I can actually do meaningful planning by comparing those estimates directly to my current expenses. No more trying to guess what inflation will do to both sides of the equation over the next 23 years! I'm particularly excited to try the Excel FV formula approach that Love 2 Fly and Carmen shared for modeling different inflation scenarios. And QuantumQuasar's idea about tracking estimates over time in a spreadsheet seems like such a simple but powerful way to understand how projections evolve as you approach retirement. The real-world example from StarSeeker showing how COLA adjustments led to benefits 18% higher than originally estimated really drives home that Social Security provides genuine inflation protection, even if we can't predict exact amounts. That makes it feel like a much more reliable foundation for retirement planning than I initially thought. Thanks to everyone for sharing such practical, actionable advice - this thread should definitely be bookmarked for anyone trying to understand Social Security planning!

This thread has been absolutely fantastic! I'm 39 and just logged into my SSA account for the first time in years after reading through all these insights. Like so many others, I was completely puzzled by whether my estimated $2,320 monthly benefit at FRA was realistic or if I needed to somehow adjust it for future inflation. Understanding that SSA presents everything in today's purchasing power has completely changed my approach to retirement planning. Now I can directly compare that estimate to my current monthly expenses of about $4,100 and clearly see I need to plan for roughly an $1,780 gap in today's terms - no guesswork about what dollars will be worth in 28 years! I've already started implementing some of the excellent tips shared here. I created a simple spreadsheet to track my annual estimates going forward, and I'm going to use that Excel FV formula to model different COLA scenarios. The professional perspective about keeping everything in "real dollars" throughout retirement planning was especially enlightening - it explains why mixing current and future inflated amounts was making my calculations so messy. StarSeeker's real-world example showing an 18% increase over three years due to COLA adjustments gives me genuine confidence that Social Security provides meaningful inflation protection, even if we can't predict exact amounts. Combined with all the practical tools shared here, I finally feel like I have a solid foundation for Social Security planning instead of just hoping for the best! Thanks to everyone who contributed their knowledge and experiences - this community discussion has turned a confusing government system into something I can actually work with for retirement planning.