As someone who recently went through a similar situation with my ex-spouse's survivor benefits, I wanted to share a few practical tips that might help you navigate this process: 1. Document everything - Keep records of your marriage dates, divorce decree, and any correspondence with SSA. You'll need proof of the 10+ year marriage when you apply. 2. Consider getting a Social Security statement estimate for yourself now so you can compare your projected benefits at different claiming ages. This will help you evaluate the switching strategies others mentioned. 3. When you do speak with SSA, ask specifically about "deemed filing" rules if you're considering claiming before your FRA. Sometimes claiming one benefit automatically triggers an application for another, which could affect your strategy. 4. If your ex-husband has other ex-spouses from marriages of 10+ years, don't worry - survivor benefits aren't reduced when multiple people claim on the same record (unlike some other benefit types). The earnings test point that Amina raised is crucial if you're still working. At $65K salary, you'd definitely want to factor that into your timing decision. Good luck with your SSA appointment - having all these questions prepared will make it much more productive!

Just wanted to add one more consideration that might be relevant to your situation - if your ex-husband is currently receiving Medicare and has health issues, you might want to think about the potential timing of when survivor benefits could become available. While this obviously isn't something you'd want to happen, having a realistic financial plan that includes survivor benefit timing could help with your overall retirement planning. Also, since you mentioned you're 64 and still working, you might want to look into whether your continued earnings could increase your own Social Security benefit calculation. If you're earning more now than in some of your earlier working years, these higher earnings could replace lower-earning years in your benefit calculation, potentially increasing your own retirement benefit amount. This could affect the comparison between your own benefits and potential survivor benefits down the line. The SSA uses your highest 35 years of earnings, so if you're currently out-earning some of those earlier years, continuing to work could boost your own benefit even beyond age 67.

I just found this thread while searching for solutions to the exact same problem! I've been trying to reach SSA for over two weeks about my disability benefits review and keep getting that same disconnect after pressing 8. Reading through all these strategies has given me so much hope - this community is incredible! I'm planning to try the local office direct number approach tomorrow morning around 10:30 AM using my landline (never would have thought about the cell phone vs landline issue). I've already looked up my local office through the ICON locator that was shared and have all my questions written out and organized. What really strikes me is how we've all had to become amateur experts at gaming a broken system just to access services we're entitled to. It's frustrating that it takes this much strategy and persistence, but I'm so grateful for everyone who took the time to share what worked for them. This thread is like a comprehensive survival guide for navigating SSA! I'll definitely report back with my results - fingers crossed the combination of strategies from this thread finally gets me through to someone who can help with my review questions.

I've been following this thread as a newcomer dealing with the exact same SSA phone system nightmare! After weeks of getting disconnected when pressing 8, I finally got through yesterday using several strategies from this amazing thread. What worked for me: I called my local office directly (found through the ICON locator) on a Tuesday at 10:15 AM from an old landline phone. After a 40-minute hold, I reached a very helpful representative who answered all my questions about early retirement options. A couple additional tips from my experience: - When the automated system asks for your SSN, speak slowly and clearly - I think poor voice recognition might contribute to some disconnects - I mentioned at the start of the call that I had specific questions about benefit calculations, which seemed to route me to someone more knowledgeable - The rep gave me a case number for my inquiry, which she said I could reference in future calls This community's collective wisdom is incredible - combining the local office approach with proper timing and phone type really made the difference. For anyone still struggling, don't give up! The strategies shared here absolutely work with persistence. Thank you to everyone who contributed their hard-earned tips to help the rest of us navigate this broken system!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Dominique. I just went through this process with my father when my mother passed away 6 months ago, and I know how emotionally exhausting it is to deal with all this paperwork while you're grieving. Reading through all the excellent advice here, it looks like you're incredibly well-prepared for your phone interview. One thing I'd add that really helped us - if you have any old tax returns where your parents filed jointly, bring those along. Sometimes they ask about your mom's earnings history, and joint returns can help verify information quickly. Also, don't be surprised if they ask your dad to estimate what your mom might have earned in her final year of work. We weren't prepared for that question and had to call back with better information. Since your dad is worried about bills, definitely ask about that $255 lump sum death benefit during the call - it's automatic but they don't always mention it unless you ask. And if your mom had any life insurance through her employer, make sure to mention that too, as sometimes there are coordination of benefits issues. The phone interview lasted about an hour for us, but the agent was incredibly patient and compassionate. She even called us back the next day to clarify something rather than making us wait weeks for a letter. Our first payment came 7 weeks after approval with full backdating to the application date. Your dad is so fortunate to have you advocating for him. This community has been amazing - the shared experiences here are invaluable for families going through this difficult process.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Dominique. I went through this same process when my spouse passed away last year, and I can tell from all the great advice you've received that this community really understands what you're going through. One thing I'd add that helped me tremendously - create a simple one-page "cheat sheet" with all the key information laid out clearly: both parents' full names, SSNs, birth dates, marriage date, date of death, and your dad's bank info. Having everything on one page made the phone interview so much smoother when I was emotional and trying to focus. Also, since your mom passed at 64 before claiming benefits, the calculation process might take a bit longer than usual, so don't be discouraged if it extends beyond the typical 6-8 week timeframe others have mentioned. One question I wish I had asked during my interview - if your dad has any chronic health conditions or medications, ask if there are any Medicare implications to switching from his potential retirement benefits to survivor benefits. The agent should be able to clarify this or connect you with someone who can. The waiting period is really difficult, especially when bills are a concern, but you're doing everything right. Your thorough preparation will make such a difference, and your dad is lucky to have you helping him navigate this process. This community has been invaluable for so many of us dealing with these situations.

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!

One thing that might help you feel more confident about this decision is to calculate your break-even point. Since you're planning to claim at 62 instead of waiting until your Full Retirement Age (probably 67), you'll get about 70% of your full benefit. But you'll receive those payments for 5 extra years. For many people, it takes until around age 78-80 to "break even" - meaning the total lifetime benefits become equal whether you claim at 62 or wait until FRA. If you live past that break-even age, waiting would have been better financially. If you don't, claiming early was the right choice. Given that you're planning to stop working at 57 anyway, you'll need income during those gap years before claiming. Make sure you've calculated whether your savings can realistically support 5 years of expenses plus healthcare costs (which can be significant if you're not eligible for Medicare yet). Sometimes people focus so much on the Social Security calculation that they underestimate the cost of bridging to 62.

As someone who works in disability advocacy, I want to emphasize how important this thread is! The confusion between SSDI and SSI is probably the #1 misconception I encounter with clients. Your brother is absolutely in the clear to accept his inheritance without any impact on his SSDI benefits or Medicare coverage. I've helped hundreds of SSDI recipients navigate similar situations, and the key thing to remember is that SSDI is an insurance program you've paid into through your work history - it's your earned benefit. The Social Security Administration doesn't care about your assets when you're on SSDI, only about whether you're attempting to return to work above the substantial gainful activity threshold. One practical tip: your brother might want to keep good records of where the inheritance came from (copy of the will, documentation from the estate) just for his own tax records, since inheritances can sometimes affect tax filings even though they don't affect SSDI benefits. But that's purely a tax consideration, not a Social Security one. It's wonderful that your family is looking out for each other during what must be a difficult time with both the loss of your uncle and managing your brother's MS progression. He can accept this gift from your uncle with complete peace of mind!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now, so this thread couldn't have come at a better time! My mom has been on SSDI for about 3 years due to severe fibromyalgia, and we just found out she's inheriting around $25,000 from her sister's estate. I was panicking thinking this might mess up her benefits, but reading everyone's experiences here is such a huge relief. The distinction between SSDI and SSI really needs to be explained better by Social Security - I can't believe how many people get confused by this (myself included!). It makes total sense now that SSDI is based on what you've paid in through working, not your current financial situation. One question for those who've been through this - did any of you notify your local Social Security office anyway, just as a courtesy? I know from what @Yuki Yamamoto said that it's not required, but I'm wondering if anyone chose to give them a heads up just to avoid any potential issues down the road.