dont forget that survivor benefits and retirement r different things! my sister thought they were the same and got confused when applying

One important detail that hasn't been mentioned yet: When you reach your Full Retirement Age (66 in your case), the earnings test no longer applies to survivor benefits. This means you can earn any amount without having your survivor benefit reduced. Before FRA, benefits are reduced if earnings exceed certain limits ($22,320 in 2025 with $1 reduction for every $2 over the limit). So while taxes will take a bite out of your benefits at your income level, at least you won't face the additional reduction from the earnings test once you reach 66 in February 2025.

Has anyone here dealt with what happens when one parent is retired and the other isn't yet? My husband is 64 and filing for his benefits next year, and we have a DAC son. I'm only 58. Can our son get DAC benefits on my husband's record now and then switch to mine later if my record would give him a higher payment? Or is he stuck with whichever parent files first?

Thank you all for the incredibly helpful information! I just wanted to update that I spoke with a technical expert at SSA yesterday (finally!) and got some specific numbers. My PIA (full retirement age amount) would be about $2,650, so my reduced age-62 benefit will be around $1,850 as I mentioned. The family maximum in my case will be about $4,550. So with my benefit at $1,850 and two DAC benefits that would normally be $1,325 each (50% of my PIA), we'd exceed the family maximum. This means my benefit stays at $1,850, and my children will split the remaining $2,700 from the family maximum, giving them each about $1,350 per month. I've started gathering all the documentation, including medical records from when they were teenagers showing disability onset before 22. Both of my children already receive SSI, so we'll need to be careful about that transition as many of you mentioned. I really appreciate all your help navigating this complicated process!

Does anyone know if you can collect survivors benefits if you remarry? I'm 58 and divorced after 22 years of marriage. My ex might not be in great health and I'm sorta seeing someone new...would getting remarried mess up my benefits if something happens to my ex?

The social security rules are so confusing!!! I'm 55 and haven't even started thinking about this stuff yet. Should I be worried?

This is a common issue that many beneficiaries face. The Social Security Administration has a verification process built into their account creation system to prevent duplicates. Here's the proper procedure: 1. Go to ssa.gov and click on "my Social Security" 2. Select "Create an Account" 3. Begin the process by providing your personal information 4. If you already have an account, the system will notify you and redirect you to account recovery options Alternatively, you can call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213, but be prepared for potentially long wait times. They can verify if you have an existing online account and help you regain access.

I went through this last year and it was a NIGHTMARE!!! The system kept saying I had an account but wouldn't let me reset my password because my phone number had changed. Then when I called they said I needed to go to the local office with ID. But when I went there they said I could have done it over the phone!!! The SSA is so disorganized it makes me CRAZY.

Wait im confused does social security look at the last 5 years or the last 35 years?? My cousin told me its just the last 5 years that count for your payment amount

NO ONE IS MENTIONING THE EARNINGS TEST!!! If you claim at 62 and decide to go back to work before your Full Retirement Age, SSA will TAKE BACK $1 of benefits for every $2 you earn above the annual limit (about $22,320 in 2025). So don't assume you can just go back to work part-time without consequences if your savings run short!

Thank you all so much for your helpful replies! I think I understand now - mom is getting dad's Primary Insurance Amount but not the extra he got for delaying past FRA. Still seems unfair but at least I know SSA didn't make a mistake. I'll explain this to mom so she can adjust her budget accordingly. Really appreciate everyone's insights!

As others have explained, your mother's benefit is correct. Here's a more detailed breakdown of why the benefit is calculated this way: * Your father's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA): $2,320 (estimated based on your post) * Your father's actual benefit with delayed credits: $2,900 * Your mother's own retirement benefit: $1,700 Since your mother was already at FRA when your father passed away, she's entitled to 100% of his PIA as a survivor benefit. SSA then compares her own benefit ($1,700) to the survivor benefit ($2,320) and pays her the higher amount. Unfortunately, most people misunderstand this calculation. I hope this clarifies why she's receiving $2,320 instead of $2,900.

ugh my sister in law is going thru this right now. she filed online and somehow they messed up her start date and now shes fighting with them to fix it. make sure you print out EVERYTHING and save confirmation numbers!!!!

One last thing to add - when you file, you'll receive a letter confirming your benefit start month and estimated payment amount. Double-check that letter when it arrives to make sure the month is correct. If there's any error, contact SSA immediately to have it corrected. Much easier to fix it early than to try to get retroactive adjustments later.

Just want to warn you that even after your husbands SSDI converts to retirement, he MIGHT still be subject to the earnings test if he decides to work!!! SSA doesn't explain this well at all and my brother got hit with an overpayment because of it! If he's under FRA and earns over $22,320 (2025 limit i think?) they'll take back $1 for every $2 he earns over the limit!!! Just FYI!!!

Since several people have mentioned the SSDI to retirement conversion, I want to make sure one important point is clear: When SSDI converts to retirement at FRA, there is no change in benefit amount. Some people worry there will be a reduction, but the SSDI benefit amount simply continues as your retirement benefit amount. As for maximizing your benefits as a couple, you might want to consider whether it makes sense for you to wait until your FRA to file if your own benefit would be significantly higher than your spousal benefit. It's a complex calculation that depends on your respective benefit amounts, how long you expect to live, and your current financial needs.

Has anyone considered that the SSA employee might have been referring to the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or Government Pension Offset (GPO)? Those rules did have some modifications around 2015. Do you have any pension from non-covered employment like state government work?

After reading through this thread, I believe there's been no significant change to the family maximum rules since 2015-2016 as the SSA representative claimed. What may have changed is their internal processing system or how they explain the calculations. Here's what I suggest: Call SSA again and specifically request to speak with a Technical Expert who specializes in family maximum calculations. Regular claims representatives sometimes don't have the specialized knowledge for complex situations like yours. When you call, immediately ask for a Technical Expert and explain that you need clarification on how the family maximum is being applied between your disabled adult child and your divorced spouse benefits. Also, get a copy of your Social Security Statement through your my Social Security account if you haven't already. This will show your own exact benefit amounts based on your work record.

Just wanted to share - I also had an overpayment but for a different reason (they kept paying my ex-spouse benefits after our divorce was finalized). When they finally caught it, they initially wanted to take my entire check for 3 months! I almost had a heart attack. But I called and requested a payment plan, and they were actually pretty reasonable. They ended up taking 15% of my check for 10 months instead. So definitely call them to negotiate if their initial proposal doesn't work for you.

Thank you everyone for your helpful responses! I can't believe I misunderstood such a basic rule. I'm actually PAST my FRA (reached it in November 2024), so the earnings limit doesn't even apply to me anymore. This whole time I've been worrying and trying to budget for a reduction that wasn't going to happen! I'm still going to try reaching SSA just to confirm everything is correct in their system. Thanks again for all the information and advice!