I'm so sorry for your loss, Olivia. I went through this exact situation when my father passed away in November 2023. The SSA will automatically send the 1099 to your father's last known address since he received benefits during part of 2025, but given that you sold his house, you'll definitely want to be proactive about getting a replacement. Wait until after February 1st when replacement forms become available, then call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 right at 7 AM when they open - this timing is absolutely critical for avoiding those brutal hold times. Have his Social Security number, death certificate, and your executor documentation ready when you call. When I called, the representatives were surprisingly understanding and helpful about estate situations. Make sure to ask them to update his file showing that he's deceased with you listed as the executor handling the estate - this will save you time on any future calls. You might also want to request a benefits verification letter along with the 1099 as backup documentation for your tax preparer. The whole estate process feels overwhelming, but this particular step is actually very manageable once you know what to expect. You've gotten fantastic advice from this community, and you're clearly well-prepared to handle this. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Olivia. I went through a very similar situation when my grandmother passed away in September. The SSA will automatically send the 1099 to your father's last address since he received benefits during 2025, but since you no longer have access to that mailbox, I'd strongly recommend calling them proactively. Wait until February 1st when replacement forms become available, then call 1-800-772-1213 right at 7 AM when they open - everyone's advice about the timing is spot on for avoiding those nightmare wait times. Have his SSN, death certificate, and executor paperwork ready. When I called, they were actually very understanding about estate situations and quickly processed my request. Also ask them to make a note in his file that he's deceased with you as the executor - this will help with any future calls. One thing I found helpful was also requesting a benefits verification letter along with the 1099 for extra documentation. Don't stress too much about this - it's actually one of the more straightforward parts of settling an estate once you know the steps. You've gotten excellent advice here and you're clearly well-prepared. Take things one step at a time during this difficult period.

I went through a very similar situation when my husband passed away 5 years ago. The lack of clear information from SSA is unfortunately very common, but don't give up! Here's what finally worked for me: I made an in-person appointment at my local SSA office and brought a written list of specific questions. I asked them to print out my complete earnings record and my husband's earnings record, then requested they calculate both scenarios side by side. One thing that might help - when you call or visit, ask specifically for a "restricted application analysis" or "comparative benefit analysis." Sometimes using their technical terms gets you transferred to someone who actually knows how to run these calculations. Also, your SSA.gov account should show your estimated retirement benefits at different ages, but unfortunately it won't show survivor benefit estimates. You'll need to get those numbers directly from them. The good news is that once you have the actual numbers, the decision becomes much clearer. In my case, taking my reduced retirement first and switching to survivor benefits at my FRA was the right choice, but everyone's situation is different based on their respective work histories.

I'm so sorry for your loss and I completely understand your frustration with getting clear information from SSA. This is actually a really common problem that many widows and widowers face. One thing that might help is to request what's called a "PEBES" (Personal Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement) for both you and your late husband during your appointment. This will show the actual dollar amounts for different claiming scenarios. Also, since your husband passed at 54 before claiming benefits, his survivor benefit would be based on what he would have received at his full retirement age (or what he was receiving if he had been collecting disability). This is different from spousal benefits and often provides more value. Your strategy of taking your own benefit first then switching could definitely make sense depending on the numbers. The key is getting someone at SSA who can run the actual calculations using their ANYPIA system. Don't be afraid to ask for a supervisor or technical specialist if the first person you speak with can't provide specific dollar amounts. You deserve to have all the information you need to make this important decision!

Looking at your situation, I think you're approaching this very thoughtfully. A $50/month reduction on a $2,400 benefit is only about 2%, which is quite reasonable for someone just 4 months from FRA. One thing that might help with your decision: you could also consider a hybrid approach - use some of your savings to bridge part of the gap and take SS maybe 2 months early instead of 4. This would reduce the permanent reduction while still preserving most of your emergency fund. Also, don't forget that once you start receiving benefits, you'll have that guaranteed monthly income stream, which itself provides a form of financial security that's worth considering alongside the dollar amounts. Sometimes the psychological benefit of having that steady payment coming in is just as valuable as preserving cash reserves. Whatever you decide, it sounds like you've done your homework and either choice (early benefits or using savings) seems reasonable given your circumstances.

I appreciate how much thought you've put into this decision! From what I've seen helping others navigate similar situations, your case is actually pretty straightforward - a 4-month early claim with only a $50/month reduction is quite manageable. Here's what I'd focus on: you mentioned having "enough in regular savings" to bridge the gap, but the key question is whether depleting those savings would leave you uncomfortably tight for true emergencies. If that $9,600 (4 months × $2,400) represents a significant chunk of your liquid emergency fund, then taking benefits early makes a lot of sense. Also consider that once you start receiving SS, you'll have more predictable monthly cash flow, which can actually reduce the amount you need to keep in emergency reserves. That steady $2,350/month (roughly) coming in provides its own form of financial security. The math works in favor of early claiming in your situation - you get immediate cash flow relief and only give up about $50/month long-term. Given your age and the short time frame involved, I'd lean toward filing early and keeping your savings intact. Just make sure to apply about 3 months before you want payments to start to account for processing time.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who works in benefits administration (though not SSA). When you file for your retirement benefits, make sure to explicitly ask the representative to review which parent's record would be more advantageous for your children. Don't assume they'll automatically check this - you need to specifically request it. Also, bring a copy of your wife's award letter showing her current benefit amount and the kids' auxiliary amounts. This will help the SSA worker calculate the comparison more quickly. One last tip: if you're filing online, there should be a section asking about dependents - make sure to indicate that your children are already receiving benefits on another record so the system flags this for manual review.

I went through this exact situation two years ago! My kids were getting benefits on my record when I retired early at 62, but when my husband filed at his full retirement age, his benefit was substantially higher. The switch was definitely possible, but here's what I learned: 1) You MUST specifically request the comparison when your husband files - it's not automatic, 2) Bring documentation of the current benefits the kids are receiving, 3) The processing took about 6-8 weeks in our case, but the kids continued getting their original benefits during the transition with no gap. The key thing that helped us was calling ahead to the SSA office and explaining the situation when we scheduled the appointment. They were able to have someone there who was familiar with these types of switches. Also, don't be surprised if you get different answers from different representatives - we had to speak with a supervisor to get consistent information. Good luck with your application next month!

I'm new to this community but have been lurking and learning so much from everyone's experiences! My family is in a very similar situation - my 28-year-old son has autism and has been on SSI since he turned 18. My husband just turned 65 and we're trying to figure out the optimal claiming strategy. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly enlightening. I had no idea about the family maximum benefit rule or the protective filing date - these are exactly the kinds of details that can make a huge financial difference but aren't well explained on the SSA website. One question I have after reading all this: for those who have gone through the SSI to DAC transition, approximately how long did the process take from application to first SSDI payment? I'm trying to plan for that potential gap period that @Yuki Nakamura mentioned, and want to make sure we have enough savings to cover any interruption in benefits. Also, has anyone had experience with their disabled adult child receiving both SSI and SSDI simultaneously? I'm curious how that worked out practically in terms of reporting requirements and monthly payments. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences - this discussion has been more helpful than hours of trying to navigate government websites!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share something that might be helpful for your planning. My daughter has Down syndrome and we went through the SSI to DAC transition about three years ago when my husband reached his FRA. Regarding timing, the actual application process for DAC benefits took about 4-5 months from start to finish in our case. However, we were fortunate that SSA approved the retroactive benefits back to the protective filing date, so she didn't lose any money during the processing time. The key was filing the application within the first few months after my husband became eligible. One practical tip: when we made the transition, our daughter's monthly benefit amount actually increased by about $200, but we lost some state benefits that were tied to her SSI status. Make sure to check with all the agencies that currently provide services to your son (vocational rehabilitation, transportation assistance, etc.) to see how the change might affect those programs. Also, I can confirm what others mentioned about concurrent benefits - for the first year after transitioning, our daughter received a small supplemental SSI payment because her initial SSDI amount was below the SSI threshold. SSA handled the calculations automatically, which was a relief because the math looked impossibly complex when I tried to figure it out myself! This community has been such a valuable resource for navigating these decisions. Good luck with your planning!