Thank you all for the helpful responses! From what I understand: 1. We need to follow BOTH sets of rules since she receives both benefits 2. The SSI rules are stricter with the $2,000 asset limit and income reporting 3. My work income won't affect her benefits 4. When I file for retirement, they'll check if she'd get more on my record 5. ABLE accounts might be a solution for saving beyond the $2,000 limit I'm going to look into the ABLE account option right away and also consider whether keeping that small SSI payment is worth the restrictions. The Medicaid connection is important though, so I'll need to check with our state about that before making any decisions. This community is amazing - thank you for helping me understand this complicated situation!

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you understand the timing implications when you do decide to file for your own retirement benefits. There's something called the "deemed filing" rules that might affect your strategy. If you file for your own retirement before your Full Retirement Age (FRA), you'll be required to file for any other benefits you're eligible for at the same time. This won't directly affect your daughter's benefits, but it's something to keep in mind for your overall planning. Also, regarding the ABLE account suggestion - absolutely look into this! Ohio has the STABLE Account program which is one of the better ABLE programs available. You don't have to use your own state's program - you can choose any state's ABLE program that accepts out-of-state residents. Some have better investment options or lower fees than others. One more tip: keep detailed records of everything related to both benefits. With dual benefits, documentation becomes even more important if there are ever questions or overpayments. SSA's computer systems sometimes don't handle dual benefit cases smoothly, so having your own records can save a lot of headaches later.

To answer your follow-up question: Yes, you should proactively report significant income changes to Social Security throughout the year. You can do this by calling them directly or visiting your local office. Many people don't realize this, but if you expect to earn over the limit, you can ask SSA to start withholding some benefits in advance to avoid an overpayment situation. They can adjust your benefits throughout the year based on your estimated earnings. And regarding your pension question - correct, regular pension income doesn't count toward the earnings limit. Only wages from jobs and net earnings from self-employment count.

Just wanted to add a few practical tips for anyone dealing with the earnings limit: 1. Keep detailed records of your monthly earnings - don't rely on SSA to track everything perfectly. I use a simple spreadsheet to monitor my year-to-date earnings. 2. If you're self-employed, remember they count NET earnings, not gross income. So you can deduct legitimate business expenses. 3. There's actually a "grace year" rule for the first year you claim retirement benefits where they use a monthly test ($1,896/month for 2025) instead of the annual limit. This can be helpful if you retire mid-year. 4. Bonuses, overtime, and vacation payouts all count toward the earnings limit, so factor those in when planning your work schedule. The system is definitely confusing, but once you understand the rules it becomes more manageable. Good luck with your part-time work plans!

Hi everyone! I'm new to this community and have been reading through this incredibly informative discussion. My situation is a bit different - I'm 64 and my husband is 61, so we're looking at this from the opposite perspective, but the spousal benefit calculations are just as confusing for us. One thing I wanted to add that might help others in similar situations: I recently attended a Social Security workshop at our local senior center, and they emphasized the importance of getting your official benefit estimates directly from SSA rather than relying on rough calculations. The presenter mentioned that there can sometimes be surprises in your earnings record (missing years, incorrect amounts, etc.) that could affect your benefit calculations. Also, for anyone still working like Raúl mentioned, don't forget that if you're planning to delay benefits, you might want to continue working those extra years since Social Security uses your highest 35 years of earnings. If your current earnings are higher than some of your earlier years, those additional years of work could actually increase your Primary Insurance Amount. Omar, your decision to have your wife wait until FRA sounds really smart based on all the great advice here. The math definitely seems to favor patience when you can afford to wait. This community is such a valuable resource - thank you all for sharing your experiences and knowledge!

Hi everyone! I'm new to this community and have been following this discussion with great interest as my spouse and I are navigating similar Social Security decisions. What strikes me most about this thread is how complex these spousal benefit rules really are - and how much misinformation is floating around out there. I've learned more from reading through these responses than from several articles I found online. One thing I wanted to add that might help others: I recently discovered that the Social Security Administration has a really helpful publication called "When to Start Receiving Retirement Benefits" (Publication No. 05-10147) that breaks down a lot of these scenarios with actual examples. It's available as a PDF on their website and covers spousal benefits, survivor benefits, and the break-even analysis calculations that Omar was working through. Also, for anyone feeling overwhelmed by all these calculations and strategies, don't forget that you can schedule an appointment at your local Social Security office to go through your specific situation with a representative. Yes, the phone lines are terrible, but the in-person appointments tend to be much more productive for complex planning questions like these. Omar, it sounds like you and your wife have gotten excellent advice here about waiting until her FRA. The community knowledge in this thread has been really impressive - thanks to everyone who took the time to share their expertise and experiences!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Mei. Losing a spouse is one of the most difficult experiences anyone can go through, and having to navigate the SSA system while grieving just adds another layer of stress to an already overwhelming time. Three weeks is absolutely an appropriate time to follow up on your survivor benefits application - you're being responsible and proactive, not pushy at all. Based on all the excellent advice shared here, it sounds like you have a solid plan for calling at 8 AM tomorrow. I wanted to add one suggestion that might help: when you call, consider asking if they can provide you with a claim number or reference number specific to your survivor benefits application (different from your regular SSN). Having this number can sometimes help future representatives access your file more quickly and avoid confusion with your existing retirement benefits. Also, since you mentioned the financial stress of losing your husband's income, definitely ask about any hardship provisions or expedited processing they might have available. Every little bit of acceleration could help in your situation. The fact that your husband was already on SSDI should work in your favor since the SSA already has all his earnings and benefit information in their system. Once everything is approved, that retroactive payment back to your application date should provide meaningful relief. You're handling this incredibly difficult situation with such strength and wisdom. I hope your call tomorrow provides the clarity and timeline you need. Please update us when you're able - your experience could be really helpful for others who might face similar circumstances.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Mei. What you're going through - losing a spouse and then having to navigate the SSA system while grieving - is incredibly difficult, and you're handling it with remarkable strength. Three weeks is definitely an appropriate time to follow up. You're not being impatient at all; you're being responsible about securing your financial stability during a vulnerable time. Reading through all the excellent advice here, it's clear this community has provided you with a comprehensive plan for your call tomorrow. I wanted to add one small suggestion: when you do call at 8 AM tomorrow, ask specifically if your case has been assigned to a particular claims examiner or case worker. Sometimes getting a direct contact can help streamline future communications and avoid having to re-explain your situation to different representatives each time you call. Also, given the financial hardship you're experiencing after losing your husband's income, make sure to emphasize this when asking about any expedited processing options. The SSA does have procedures for urgent financial situations, and your circumstances clearly warrant consideration. The retroactive payment you'll receive once approved - potentially several thousand dollars at this point with that $450 monthly increase - should provide significant relief from the financial pressure you're under. Since your husband was already on SSDI, they have all his information in their system, which should help streamline the process. You're advocating for yourself during one of life's most challenging transitions, and that takes real courage. I hope your call tomorrow provides the answers and timeline you need. Please update us when you're able - your experience will undoubtedly help others facing similar circumstances.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Luca. What a difficult situation to be in during an already challenging time. From everything shared here, it sounds like you have some really good options to consider. The strategy of taking survivor benefits now while working and potentially switching to your own retirement benefit later seems promising if your work record is strong. One practical tip that helped me when I was navigating Social Security - when you do call or visit the office, write down your questions beforehand and ask them to walk through specific dollar amounts with your actual earnings. Sometimes the general rules sound scarier than they are when you see your real numbers. Also, don't feel pressured to make a final decision in that first appointment - you can always ask them to mail you a written estimate to review at home. The community here has given you excellent advice about the my.ssa.gov account and being specific about applying for survivor benefits only. You've got this, and remember that getting some financial relief now while you figure out the longer-term strategy is completely valid. Take care of yourself during this process.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Luca. This thread has been incredibly helpful - so many people sharing their real experiences. One thing I wanted to add that might give you some peace of mind: when I was going through this decision process, my local SSA office let me do a "what if" calculation appointment before I actually filed. They showed me exactly what my monthly benefit would be with my current earnings, what would happen if I reduced my work hours, and what my break-even point would be compared to waiting. It was really eye-opening and helped me feel confident in my decision. Also, I've found that once you start receiving benefits, the quarterly earnings reports they send make it much easier to track how the earnings limit is affecting you - it's not as mysterious as it seems beforehand. Given everything you've shared about your financial struggles, starting the survivor benefits while continuing to work part-time sounds like a reasonable path forward. You can always reassess as your situation changes. Wishing you the best as you navigate this difficult time.