As someone new to this community, I wanted to share a resource that might be helpful for situations like this. I recently discovered that many state disability advocacy organizations have benefits specialists who can help navigate these complex interactions between different programs. In Ohio specifically, there's also the Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) that provides benefits counseling services. They often have staff who specialize in exactly these kinds of DAC/Medicaid crossover situations and can sometimes even attend meetings with caseworkers to help advocate. I'm just learning about all these programs myself, but it seems like having multiple layers of support and advocacy can really make a difference when dealing with such complicated benefit rules. The phone numbers and form references everyone has shared here are invaluable, but sometimes having a local expert who can walk through the process with you face-to-face can be equally helpful. Thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences - as a newcomer trying to understand how these systems work, this thread has been incredibly educational. It's clear this community really supports each other through these challenging situations!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm amazed by how comprehensive and helpful this discussion has been! I don't have direct experience with DAC/Medicaid interactions, but I wanted to thank everyone who shared their knowledge and real-world experiences. What strikes me most is how many specific resources and contact numbers have been provided - from the Ohio Medicaid DAC specialist unit (1-800-324-8680 ext. 47291) to the JFS 07200 form for Medicaid Protection Requests. Having these concrete action steps makes what seemed like an overwhelming situation much more manageable. For other newcomers who might find this thread later, it's clear that the key takeaways are: 1) Be proactive and file protection requests BEFORE benefit changes take effect, 2) Don't get discouraged if the first caseworker doesn't understand DAC protections - escalate to specialists, 3) Document everything in writing, and 4) There are multiple advocacy organizations available to help navigate these complex situations. Thank you to everyone, especially the caseworker who provided the detailed procedures and the many community members who shared their family experiences. This is exactly the kind of supportive, informative discussion that makes online communities valuable for people facing challenging benefit situations.

As someone new to this community, I wanted to add my perspective after reading through this incredibly informative discussion. I'm currently helping my father navigate a similar situation with state disability and Social Security retirement benefits in another state, and this thread has been tremendously helpful. What I find most reassuring is the consistent message from multiple people with direct experience: state disability payments like CASDI are not considered earned income for Social Security purposes, so you can collect both benefits simultaneously without affecting your earnings limit. The distinction between "earned income" (wages from work) and disability payments (insurance benefits) seems to be the key point here. I also wanted to highlight some of the excellent practical advice that's been shared: calling SSA right at 8 AM for shorter wait times, being transparent about your disability status on applications, keeping detailed records of all payments and correspondence, and considering in-person visits to local SSA offices when online verification doesn't work. @Liam Murphy - your situation sounds very manageable based on all the expert input here. The timing actually works in your favor since you'll reach full retirement age just one month after returning to work, which eliminates most earnings limit concerns. Best wishes for your recovery and smooth transition to retirement benefits!

As a newcomer to this community, I've been following this discussion with great interest since I'm helping my elderly neighbor understand her Social Security options. The wealth of knowledge shared here has been incredibly valuable! What strikes me most is how consistently everyone with actual experience has confirmed that CASDI and Social Security retirement benefits can be collected simultaneously without issues. The key insight about CASDI being considered unearned income rather than earned income for Social Security purposes really clears up the confusion. I particularly appreciate all the practical tips shared - from the best times to call SSA (8 AM seems to be the consensus winner!) to the importance of keeping detailed records and being upfront about your situation when applying. The suggestion about visiting a local SSA office for account setup when online verification fails is brilliant. @Liam Murphy - based on everything shared here, it sounds like you're in an excellent position to move forward with confidence. Your timeline actually works out perfectly with reaching full retirement age so close to when you'll return to work. Wishing you the best with your recovery and retirement transition! This thread is a perfect example of why community knowledge-sharing is so valuable for navigating these complex benefit systems.

Maya, welcome to the community! To answer your question about dual high earners - if your own benefit is already close to 50% of your husband's FRA amount, you probably won't get much additional spousal benefit. The formula is the same as what Pedro laid out earlier: you get the higher of either your own benefit OR 50% of his FRA benefit, not both added together. For example, if your husband's FRA benefit is $3,000 and yours is $1,400, you'd only get a small spousal supplement since 50% of his ($1,500) minus your benefit ($1,400) = just $100 extra (before any early filing reductions). As for SSA agent knowledge - I've found it really varies by individual agent. I've had some who were incredibly knowledgeable about complex scenarios and others who seemed to only know the basic rules. My advice is to always ask them to walk through the calculation step by step and don't hesitate to call back if something doesn't sound right. Getting a second opinion never hurts with something this important to your financial future! The good news is that with dual careers, you're probably in a stronger position overall even without significant spousal benefits.

This has been such an educational thread to follow! As someone who will be facing this decision in a couple of years, I've bookmarked this entire conversation for reference. The step-by-step breakdown that Pedro provided is exactly the kind of clear explanation that's so hard to find elsewhere. One thing I wanted to add that I learned from my financial advisor - it's worth considering not just the break-even analysis for claiming early vs. waiting, but also the impact on survivor benefits. If something happens to the higher-earning spouse, the surviving spouse gets the higher of the two benefits. So if you reduce your spousal benefit by claiming early, that reduction carries forward to survivor benefits too. I know that's not directly relevant to Kara's immediate situation since she's already decided to claim now, but it might help others who are still weighing their options. The math gets pretty complex when you factor in all these variables! @Kara - I hope your application process goes smoothly and you get that first payment quickly. Thanks for asking all the detailed questions that helped the rest of us learn!

I'm in a similar boat - 64 and trying to figure out the best strategy before I hit FRA. From what I've gathered reading through these responses, it sounds like the online application will process whatever you choose, but it won't actively advise you on the optimal strategy. @Zoe Papadakis - based on the numbers you shared ($1,640 own benefit vs your husband's $2,800), your spousal benefit would indeed be around $1,400, so your own benefit is clearly higher. The real question seems to be whether you should file now at FRA or delay until 70 for the 8% annual increases. One thing that hasn't been mentioned - if you're still working, make sure you understand how the earnings test works even at FRA. And if you have any ex-spouses you were married to for 10+ years, that could open up additional options an agent would know about. I'm leaning toward trying to get through to an agent myself after reading all this. The peace of mind seems worth the effort, especially when we're talking about decisions that affect the rest of our lives.

I went through this exact situation last year and ended up doing both - I applied online initially but then called the SSA customer service line repeatedly until I got through (took about 2 weeks of trying). The agent was able to review my online application before it was processed and caught an issue I hadn't considered. In your case, with your own benefit at $1,640 vs. the spousal benefit around $1,400 (50% of your husband's PIA), your own benefit is definitely higher. However, the agent helped me understand the timing implications better. Since you're at FRA now, you could start collecting immediately, or you could delay and earn delayed retirement credits of 8% per year until age 70. The online system will let you choose either option, but it won't run scenarios for you like "if you wait until 70, you'd get $2,050/month, but you'd miss out on 4 years of payments totaling about $78,720." An agent can help you think through your health, other income sources, and family longevity to make that decision. My advice: try the online application to see all the questions they ask, but don't submit it yet. That way you'll be better prepared when you do get through to an agent. The application stays in draft form for 30 days, so you have time to get professional guidance before finalizing.

can someone please explain to me how you accomplished this with the earnings test? I have called Social Security at least 10x and get a different answer every time. My husband passed and I am receiving difficulty of care payments from a home and community based service through a Medicaid waiver myself for the care I provide for my adult disabled daughter at home. The program does not take taxes from me, but yet half of the reps say it disqualifies me from the in care benefits because it is considered earned income. HOW can it be earned income when I am not able to pay FICA on the monies, not able to earn my own work credits, not able to invest in a 401k, and not able to add to my own Medicare. I would be completely reliant on my deceased husband's record. This makes no sense. I do earn way above the yearly amount to determine my in care benefits, BUT I essentially have no way to prepare myself for my own retirement due to needing to fill out 2014-7 irs form because the program does not take taxes due to me providing care for her in my home. How did anyone get this letter of determination? I fear losing the benefits and being punished for taking care of my medically fragile adult daughter.

I'm so sorry for your loss and the frustrating experience you're having with SSA giving you different answers! What you're describing makes perfect sense - if you're filing Form 2014-7 and the payments aren't subject to FICA taxes, they should NOT count toward the earnings test for survivor benefits. The confusion you're encountering is unfortunately common because many SSA representatives aren't familiar with how Medicaid waiver payments work. Here's what several people in this thread found helpful: 1) Request a FORMAL EARNINGS DETERMINATION in writing through your my Social Security account (not just phone calls) - this forces them to research and document their answer properly. 2) When you submit the request, specifically reference POMS DI 10505.010 which covers earnings test exclusions for Medicaid waiver payments. 3) Include copies of your Form 2014-7 and documentation from your Medicaid waiver program showing these are Difficulty of Care payments under IRC Section 131. The fact that you can't pay FICA, earn work credits, or contribute to retirement accounts proves these aren't "earned income" in the traditional sense. Don't let them intimidate you - you're absolutely right that this makes no sense if they're treating non-taxable caregiving payments as earned income while denying you the ability to build toward your own retirement. Push for that formal written determination and don't accept inconsistent phone answers!