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One more thing to consider - if your husband's benefit increases due to delayed retirement credits (if he claimed before his full retirement age) or cost-of-living adjustments over the years, then his eventual benefit might be considerably higher than $750. So while there might not be an immediate difference now, the survivor benefit could be more valuable in the future. For example, with annual COLA adjustments averaging around 2-3%, his $750 benefit could be closer to $900 in 10 years. That would mean an extra $150/month for you as a survivor compared to your own benefit.
That's a really good point about his benefit potentially growing over time. I hadn't factored in how the COLAs would compound over several years. Thank you for that perspective!
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One more thing worth noting: if you do end up having benefits withheld due to the earnings test, you'll get that money back in the form of a higher monthly benefit once you reach your Full Retirement Age. SSA recalculates your benefit amount at FRA to give you credit for the months when benefits were withheld. However, waiting until January 2026 is still the better option in your case because you'd avoid the immediate withholding from your high 2025 earnings.
Wait really? I never knew they give the money back later! Thought it was just gone forever
Thank you all so much for the advice! I'm definitely going to file in December but select January 2026 as my start month. Really appreciate everyone taking time to explain this complicated system to me. I'm actually relieved - I was ready to start benefits in December thinking one extra month would be better, but now I see waiting is smarter because of how the earnings test works. You all saved me from making a costly mistake!
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One important thing to mention - if you do get through to SSA and they confirm you're under the earnings limit, ask them to document in their system that they've verified your work status. This prevents the system from automatically flagging you again. Also request an "earnings estimate acknowledgment receipt" which will serve as proof you've reported your expected earnings for the year.
This is extremely helpful advice - thank you! I'll definitely ask for both of these things if I can get through to someone.
So did you ever get through to them? I'm still waiting and my payment date is next week!!!
I tried that Claimyr service someone mentioned above and actually got through yesterday! The agent said it was a system error because of some old earnings data from 2023. They fixed the flag and said my payment should come on schedule. Such a relief!
Omg thank you for updating! I'm going to try that service right now.
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glad u got an answer! ssa is always so confusing with this stuff. make sure u keep both 1099s together for ur tax person.
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I just went through this whole mess with my ex husband. Had to fight SSA for months to get what I was entitled too!!!!! If your ex wife was married to you for 18 years she ABSOLUTELY can claim on your record as long as she's 62 or older AND not remarried. But like others said it DOESN'T effect your payment so dont worry about that part!!!!!! The real question is WHY is she telling you about it? SSA doesn't need your approval or even tell you when someone files on your record. Kinda suspicious tbh...
Thats what I was saying!!! Super fishy. She shouldn't need to even talk to him about this.
One additional piece of info that might help - if your ex-wife remarried at any point after your divorce, she wouldn't be eligible for benefits on your record UNLESS that marriage also ended (by death, divorce, or annulment). This is something people often misunderstand about ex-spouse benefits. And if she's currently married to someone else, she definitely can't claim on your record.
Thanks for mentioning this. As far as I know, she hasn't remarried since our divorce. I'll definitely bring this up if she contacts me about this again.
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SSA is DELIBERATELY making this confusing!!! I bet half the people reading this are leaving money on the table because the system is TOO COMPLICATED by design!!! My mother-in-law missed out on THOUSANDS because no one told her she could switch benefits!!
While the system is certainly complex, SSA does provide decision tools and calculators on their website to help with these choices. That said, you make a valid point that many people don't receive optimal benefits because they don't understand all their options. This is why it's crucial to speak with a Technical Expert at SSA who specializes in retirement and survivors benefits, rather than relying solely on the information provided by the first representative you reach.
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Thanks everyone for the helpful insights! I had no idea the rules were different for self-employed people. I've decided to limit myself to 40 hours per month maximum and will keep very detailed records of both my hours and income. I'm going to create a spreadsheet to track everything daily so I can stay under both limits. I'm also going to try contacting SSA directly to get their official guidance on my specific situation. I really appreciate all the advice!
Good plan! One more tip: keep track of business expenses separately too. Net earnings (after business expenses) are what count toward the earnings limit, not gross income. So save receipts for supplies, booth rental, professional products, etc. This can help you stay under the limit while actually earning more in gross income.
My sister went through this with her Etsy shop. The monthly breakdown is super important because if you exceed the limit in ANY month during that first year, they can withhold benefits for that specific month. After your first year on benefits, they switch to the annual limit instead of monthly which gives you more flexibility throughout the year.
That's really helpful to know! So after the first year, they'll just look at my total annual earnings instead of month-by-month? That would make planning much easier since my income varies so much throughout the year.
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One more thing - print out a copy of the actual legislation repealing WEP/GPO and take it with you when you go to the SSA office. I've learned from dealing with them for years that many employees don't stay updated on policy changes. Having the actual law in your hand can save you from being given incorrect information. And if the first person you talk to seems confused, politely ask to speak with a technical expert or supervisor who specializes in WEP/GPO issues.
That's excellent advice, thank you! I'll definitely print out the legislation. Better to be overprepared than struggle to explain something they might not be familiar with yet.
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To answer your follow-up question - yes, you need to contact SSA directly to get an estimate of what your ex-spouse benefit would be. They don't show this on your online account. When you make your decision, remember: 1) Your own benefit grows by approximately 8% per year between FRA and 70 (called delayed retirement credits) 2) Ex-spousal benefits do NOT grow after your FRA - there's no advantage to waiting past your FRA for those 3) If you claim any benefits before your FRA, they'll be permanently reduced If your own benefit at 70 would be significantly higher than the ex-spousal benefit, and you can afford to wait, that might be your best financial move long-term.
Thanks for the additional details. This makes the decision clearer. I'll definitely need to contact SSA to get the ex-spouse benefit estimate so I can make a proper comparison. Really appreciate everyone's help with this complicated decision!
ALSO don't forget about the earnings limits if you're still working!! My sister got SHOCKED with a huge overpayment notice because she claimed at 62 but was still working part-time. They took back almost $5000 because she earned too much! The limit is super low if you claim before FRA.
This is an excellent point about the earnings test. For 2025, if you're under FRA and collect benefits, SSA will deduct $1 for every $2 you earn above $22,560 (approximately). Once you reach FRA, there's no earnings limit. This is something to carefully consider if you're planning to continue working.
Hannah White
What happens when they convert her from disability to retirement? Will the payment amount change? My wife is worried about that part.
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Mateo Silva
•Generally, the payment amount stays exactly the same when SSDI converts to retirement benefits at FRA. It's basically just an administrative change in how SSA categorizes the benefit. The only difference is that after conversion, the work restrictions go away. However, if she's been earning enough to increase her Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) since she started receiving disability, there's a possibility of a slight increase. But that's not common and would typically be a small amount.
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Samantha Johnson
Update: I finally got through to SSA! The representative confirmed that my wife can take the extra shift since she'll still be under the SGA limit. They also checked and said she hasn't used any of her Trial Work Period months yet, which is good to know for the future. Thanks everyone for your help!
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Michael Green
•That's great news! Remember to keep track of her earnings each month just to be safe. We set up a simple spreadsheet for my husband's work hours that was super helpful when we had to verify things with SSA later.
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