I just want to say it's wonderful you're planning ahead like this. So many families don't think about these things until there's a crisis. Your son is fortunate to have you looking out for him!

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who works in disability advocacy. The peace of mind you're getting from this thread is well-deserved! One small tip that might help with future planning - keep documentation of all his expenses related to his disability and care needs. While they may not directly reduce tax liability (since he likely won't owe taxes anyway), having detailed records can be helpful if you ever need to demonstrate his financial situation to SSA or other agencies. Also, if the group home rates do increase significantly, there are sometimes state programs that can help bridge the gap between what he receives and what care costs. Your local Area Agency on Aging or disability services office would know what's available in your area.

I've been helping people navigate Social Security earnings limits for several years, and I wanted to add a few key points that might help clarify the process: The monthly earnings test ($1,860 for 2025) is specifically designed for people in their first year of benefits who have irregular income patterns - like your seasonal work situation. SSA recognizes that some people might have a few high-earning months but stay under the annual limit overall. Here's what I always tell people in your situation: When you call SSA, be very specific about your seasonal pattern. Say something like "I typically earn $500-800 per month from January to March, then $3,000-4,000 per month from April to August, then back down to $800-1,000 for the rest of the year." This helps them understand that you're not trying to game the system - you genuinely have predictable seasonal fluctuations. One critical detail: Make sure you understand whether your work income comes as W-2 wages or 1099 contractor payments, as SSA handles these slightly differently in their calculations. Also, if you receive any income in December for work performed in January (or vice versa), clarify with SSA which month they'll count it toward. The good news is that after your first year, you'll only need to provide an annual estimate and update them if it changes significantly. The monthly reporting complexity is truly just a first-year issue. Document everything during that initial setup call - it will save you hours of confusion later!

I went through this exact process when I started collecting at 62 while still working part-time, and I want to emphasize something that really helped me: create a simple monthly tracking system from day one. I used a basic Excel spreadsheet with columns for: Month, Estimated Earnings, Actual Earnings, Monthly Limit ($1,860), Over/Under Limit, and Notes. This helped me stay on top of my numbers and made it much easier when I needed to call SSA with updates. One thing that caught me off guard - if you work for multiple employers (which is common with seasonal/part-time work), make sure SSA knows about ALL of them when you give your initial estimate. I forgot to mention a small side job and it created confusion later when that income showed up on my W-2. Also, don't stress too much about being perfect with your estimates. SSA expects that estimates will be somewhat off - they're more concerned about people who massively underestimate to avoid withholding. As long as you're making a good faith effort to be accurate and report significant changes, you'll be fine. The monthly limit complexity really is just for that first year. Once you get past that grace year, it becomes so much simpler - just one annual limit to worry about instead of tracking every single month!

I wanted to add one more perspective that might be helpful in your decision-making process. Have you considered doing a partial analysis of what your wife's break-even age would be in both scenarios? Here's what I mean: Calculate the total dollars she'd receive if she starts at 62 (reduced benefit) versus waiting until 67 (full benefit). The break-even point is typically around age 78-80, but this gets more complex when you factor in the spousal benefit component. Since you're waiting until 70, there's another break-even calculation to consider: the total household income from her filing early versus both of you waiting for maximum benefits. This calculation should factor in: - Her reduced benefit from 62-70 - The potential spousal addition when you file at 70 - Your maximized benefit starting at 70 - The survivor benefit protection (your full benefit) if you predecease her One often-overlooked advantage of the early filing strategy in your case: it provides income diversification timing. Instead of both of you starting benefits simultaneously at your respective optimal ages, you'd have staggered income streams starting at different times. This can provide more flexibility for tax planning and spending strategies. I'd also suggest checking if your wife has any pension benefits that might affect the Social Security decision. Some government pensions can impact Social Security benefits through the Windfall Elimination Provision or Government Pension Offset rules. The key is making sure you're comparing apples to apples when looking at lifetime value rather than just monthly payment amounts.

One aspect that hasn't been mentioned yet is the impact of inflation on your decision timeline. While everyone's focused on the break-even calculations (which are important), consider that the purchasing power of that early benefit at 62 might be significantly different than the purchasing power of waiting until 67. With recent inflation trends, there's something to be said for getting guaranteed income starting sooner, especially if you can invest those early payments in inflation-protected assets. The COLA adjustments help, but they're based on the previous year's inflation and don't always keep pace perfectly. Also, I'd suggest looking into whether your wife has any gaps in her work history that might affect her benefit calculation. If she has years with zero earnings that are being factored into her highest 35-year average, continuing to work even part-time until 67 could potentially increase her benefit amount more than you might expect. One practical tip: you can request a detailed benefit estimate from SSA that shows exactly what her benefit would be at different claiming ages, plus what the spousal benefit would look like. This takes the guesswork out of your calculations and gives you the actual numbers to work with rather than estimates. The decision ultimately comes down to your risk tolerance, health outlook, and overall financial security. There's no universally "right" answer, just the right answer for your specific situation.

Hi! I'm new to this community and wanted to share my recent experience since it sounds very similar to yours. About 3 weeks ago, I received an unexpected one-time payment from SSA that initially had me worried it might be an error. Like you, I couldn't find any explanation in my mySocialSecurity account and was concerned they might ask for it back later. After reading through all these incredibly helpful responses, I decided to call SSA (it took several attempts to get through, but I finally did using early morning hours). It turned out to be a legitimate adjustment related to some missing earnings from a seasonal job I had in 2018 that weren't properly credited to my record initially. What really reassured me from everyone's stories here is how common these types of corrections seem to be, especially for people with complex work histories. The agent explained that SSA does periodic data matching and reviews that can identify discrepancies years later, which results in these retroactive adjustments. My advice based on this experience and all the great guidance here: definitely call SSA and ask for that Manual Explanation of Benefits form (SSA-L8151) that others mentioned. Document everything during your call, but try not to stress too much - the pattern from everyone's experiences suggests these are usually legitimate payments people are actually entitled to. Given your overseas work history, this could very well be a similar earnings record correction. Good luck, and please update us when you find out what it was for!

Hi there! I'm new to this community and just wanted to say how reassuring this entire discussion has been to read through. I'm not currently dealing with an unexpected SSA payment myself, but as someone who's still learning about how Social Security works, seeing all these detailed real-world experiences has been incredibly educational. What strikes me most is the clear pattern that emerges - the vast majority of these unexpected payments turn out to be legitimate adjustments rather than errors, often resulting in both retroactive pay AND ongoing benefit increases. The stories about international work corrections, employer reporting fixes, military service adjustments, and earnings record updates really show how SSA works behind the scenes to ensure people get what they're entitled to. The practical advice shared here is invaluable - especially requesting the Manual Explanation of Benefits form (SSA-L8151), calling during off-peak hours, documenting everything, and using callback services when the regular lines are jammed. Even though I don't need this information right now, I'm definitely bookmarking it for future reference. To the original poster - given your overseas work history from the early 2000s, this really does sound like it could be one of those earnings record corrections that others have described. The community's advice about calling SSA for confirmation while not spending the money until you get written documentation seems spot-on. Best of luck getting through to them - hopefully you'll have another positive outcome story to share with us soon!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Gael. What you're going through sounds incredibly stressful on top of an already devastating situation. Reading through all the advice here, it's clear you're dealing with one of the most complex benefit scenarios possible - the intersection of survivor benefits, DAC benefits, and SSI. No wonder you're getting conflicting information! One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you might want to consider contacting your local AARP office or disability advocacy organization. They often have volunteers who specialize in helping people navigate SSA bureaucracy and can sometimes accompany you to appointments or help you prepare your documentation. Also, when you do get through to a Technical Expert, ask them to schedule a follow-up appointment rather than trying to handle everything in one phone call. These cases are complex enough that even experts sometimes need time to research the specific interactions between programs. The fact that you've already set up the special needs trust shows you're thinking strategically about your daughter's long-term security. That preparation, combined with all the excellent advice in this thread, should put you in a strong position to get the benefits you're both entitled to. Hang in there - you're clearly a wonderful advocate for your daughter, and with persistence, you'll get through this maze of regulations.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Gael. Losing your husband at such a young age while caring for a disabled daughter must be incredibly overwhelming, especially when you're getting such confusing information from SSA. I went through a similar situation when my wife passed away, leaving me with our autistic son who was 28 at the time. The key thing I learned is that you absolutely ARE entitled to Child-in-Care benefits (not "mother's benefits" - the terminology matters!) as long as you're the primary caregiver for your disabled adult daughter. Here's what helped me cut through the confusion: 1. When you call, immediately ask for a "Technical Expert" and say you need help with "Child-in-Care survivor benefits for a parent caring for a disabled adult child" 2. Reference POMS RS 00615.742 specifically - this shows you know the rules and helps them find the right guidance 3. Your Child-in-Care benefits have ZERO asset limits - that's only for SSI 4. Apply immediately! Don't wait for perfect information. Survivor benefits can be retroactive up to 6 months, but every month you delay costs you money. The family maximum will likely be split between you and your daughter, but if you later work and your portion gets reduced, you can request redistribution to increase her share (most offices won't do this automatically, so you have to ask). Your daughter's SSI will decrease when she starts getting DAC benefits, but she'll keep Medicaid coverage, which is often more valuable than the cash payment anyway. Don't let them tell you that you don't qualify - I was initially denied until I got to someone who actually understood these rules. You've got this!