This entire discussion has been absolutely fascinating! As a newcomer to this community, I had no idea that Social Security survivor benefits could work this way. The fact that multiple ex-spouses can each receive 100% of a deceased worker's benefits simultaneously is incredible - and honestly something I think more people should know about. I've been divorced for 6 years after a 14-year marriage, and reading this thread makes me realize I might have future benefit options I never even considered. It's both reassuring and a bit overwhelming to discover how complex the Social Security system really is. I really appreciate everyone sharing their real-world experiences and expertise here - this is exactly the kind of practical information that's so hard to find elsewhere. Thank you for such an educational thread!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely amazed by what I've learned in this thread! I had no idea that Social Security survivor benefits worked this way - the concept that multiple ex-spouses can each receive 100% of the deceased worker's benefit amount simultaneously is incredible. I always assumed benefits would be split or that only one person could claim on someone's record at a time. Reading all these real-world examples and expert explanations has been so eye-opening. It makes me realize how much I don't understand about the Social Security system I've been paying into for years. This is exactly the kind of practical, real-world information that should be more widely known but seems to be hidden in complex government regulations. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences - this has been incredibly educational!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Olivia. I went through this exact situation when my father passed away in June 2024. The SSA will definitely mail the 1099 to your father's last address since he received benefits during part of 2025, but since you sold his house, you'll want to be proactive. I'd recommend calling SSA right after February 1st at 1-800-772-1213 - have his SSN, death certificate, and your executor paperwork ready. The 7 AM calling tip everyone mentioned is absolutely crucial for avoiding those horrible wait times. When I called, they were actually very understanding and helpful about estate situations. One additional tip: if you end up going to a local SSA office instead, bring a copy of the death certificate along with the original - they often want to keep a copy for their records. Also, don't stress too much about timing - the IRS is generally reasonable about estate situations and understands that final returns can be complex. Getting this sorted in February will give you plenty of time before tax season gets hectic. This community has given you excellent advice, and you're definitely on the right track with your planning.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Olivia. I went through this same situation when my mother passed away in October 2023. The SSA will automatically send the 1099 to your father's last address since he received benefits during 2025, but since you sold the house, I'd definitely recommend calling them proactively after February 1st. When I called at 1-800-772-1213, I made sure to have her SSN, death certificate, and my executor paperwork ready. The 7 AM tip that others have mentioned is absolutely essential - I learned that the hard way after waiting on hold for over 3 hours on my first attempt! The SSA staff were surprisingly understanding and helpful once I got through. One thing that really helped me was asking them to mail the 1099 directly to my address and also to note in her file that she was deceased with me as the executor handling the estate. This saved time on any follow-up calls. Also, don't forget that you might need to file Form 1041 for the estate if there's any income after the date of death, so it's worth asking your tax preparer about that too. The whole process of settling an estate is emotionally draining, but this particular step is very manageable once you have a plan. You've gotten excellent advice from this community - you're definitely prepared to handle this!

As someone new to this community, I just wanted to thank everyone for such detailed and helpful responses! I'm currently going through a divorce after 16 years of marriage, and while I'm still a few years away from FRA, this thread has been incredibly educational about what to expect down the road. It's reassuring to see so many real experiences confirming that the process is manageable and that SSA has systems in place to handle these situations without needing the ex-spouse's SSN or involving them directly. @Nia Davis, it sounds like you're getting excellent guidance here - the advice about scheduling 3 months ahead and bringing certified documents seems to be the consistent theme. I'm definitely saving this thread for future reference. Thanks to everyone for creating such a supportive space to discuss these important financial planning topics!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for this incredibly informative discussion! I'm currently researching Social Security benefits as I approach my own retirement planning, and this thread has been so educational. @Nia Davis, it's clear you're getting excellent advice here - the consistent message about not needing his SSN and the straightforward process is really reassuring. What strikes me most is how supportive this community is in sharing real experiences rather than just theoretical knowledge. I particularly appreciate the practical tips like scheduling 3 months ahead and bringing certified documents. For those of us just learning about these options, seeing actual success stories makes the whole process feel much less daunting. Thank you all for creating such a helpful resource!

I'm in a very similar situation with irregular commission income! One thing that really helped me was creating a simple tracking spreadsheet from the start. I track every payment date, amount, and type (regular salary vs commission) as soon as I receive it. When I applied for benefits, I brought printouts showing my payment history for the past 6 months and estimates for the rest of the year. The SSA rep was really appreciative that I had everything organized and it made the interview go much smoother. Also, don't stress too much about the earnings test calculations - once you get your first annual report form from SSA, it walks you through everything step by step. The key is just keeping good records from day one so you're not scrambling later to remember when you got paid what amount. Your brother sounds like he's in good shape if he's only looking at 2 months over the limit for 2025!

As someone who recently went through this process with quarterly bonuses, I can confirm what others have said - SSA definitely goes by payment date, not when the income was earned. One additional tip: when your brother applies, he should ask the SSA representative to put a note in his file about his quarterly commission structure. This way, when he does his annual earnings report, there's already a record that his income pattern was discussed upfront. It can help avoid questions or delays during the review process. Also, since he's starting benefits mid-year in July, he'll want to be extra careful about those September and December commission months. Even though it's only 2 months over the limit, make sure he reports those expected amounts during his application interview so there are no surprises. Good luck to your brother!

I went through this exact same situation about two years ago! Filed for SSDI, waited over a year with no decision, then had to take early retirement at 62 because I was running out of savings. I was terrified about having to pay everything back too. When I finally got approved for disability (took 18 months total!), SSA handled everything automatically. They calculated my disability backpay, subtracted what I'd already received in retirement benefits, and sent me a check for the difference. No repayment required at all! The best part? My monthly benefit went from about $1,850 in reduced retirement to $2,640 in disability benefits. And just like others mentioned, when I hit my full retirement age, I'll get the full unreduced amount instead of the penalized early retirement amount. Don't let anyone scare you about repaying benefits - that's not how the system works. You made a smart choice taking early retirement while waiting. The financial stress of waiting with no income would have been so much worse. Hang in there, and hopefully your approval comes through soon!

I'm actually going through something very similar right now! I filed for SSDI in October 2023 for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, and I'm still waiting for a decision 16 months later. I ended up taking early retirement at 62 in January because I just couldn't make it financially anymore. Reading all these responses has been such a relief! I was also worried about having to pay back benefits, especially after the person at my local SSA office seemed confused about how it all works. It sounds like the offset system is pretty straightforward once you understand it. The part about getting Medicare 24 months after SSDI approval is huge for me too - my current health insurance premiums are brutal and don't cover much. And knowing that the early retirement penalty essentially gets erased if I'm approved for disability makes me feel so much better about the decision to file early. @Landon Morgan - have you tried checking your case status online through your my Social Security account? Sometimes that shows updates before you get anything in the mail. Also, if it helps at all, my disability attorney said that cases involving autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis often have better approval rates, especially with strong medical documentation. Hang in there!