Another thing to keep in mind - if you received a large backpay amount, you might want to consider making quarterly estimated tax payments for next year to avoid another surprise tax bill. Since SSDI doesn't automatically withhold taxes like regular employment, many people get caught off guard. You can set up voluntary withholding from your monthly SSDI payments by filling out Form W-4V, or make quarterly payments directly to the IRS. I learned this the hard way after my first year of benefits!

Looking at all the helpful advice here, I wanted to add something that might help with the immediate concern about owing a large tax bill. If you do end up owing more than you can pay when you file, the IRS has several payment options available. You can set up an installment agreement online through their website, and if you owe less than $50,000, you can often get approved automatically for a payment plan. Also, don't panic if the tax calculation seems overwhelming - many tax software programs like TurboTax and H&R Block have specific sections for Social Security benefits and can walk you through the lump-sum election calculation. That said, given the amount of your backpay ($31,500), it's probably still worth investing in a tax professional who specializes in Social Security taxation, especially for this first year. They can make sure you're taking advantage of all available strategies to minimize your tax burden.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share some insights that might help with your situation. As someone who has been researching DAC benefits for my own family planning, I've learned a few things that could be relevant. First, regarding your timing strategy - filing at 62 to get your son started on DAC benefits while planning for him to switch to your husband's higher benefit later is actually quite common and makes a lot of financial sense. The key thing to remember is that your son will need to go through the disability determination process regardless of which parent's record he ultimately receives benefits on, so getting that established early is crucial. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is considering whether your son might benefit from applying for a work incentive program through SSA, like Ticket to Work, once he's receiving DAC benefits. Even if he can't work at substantial gainful activity levels now, these programs can provide support services and allow him to try working while protecting his benefits. It might not be relevant immediately, but could be worth exploring down the road. Also, make sure to ask SSA about auxiliary benefits when you apply. Sometimes there are additional programs or support services available to DAC recipients that aren't automatically offered but can provide valuable resources for ongoing care and support. Your plan to start the process early and be proactive about documentation sounds very well thought out. The community here has given you excellent advice about medical documentation and timing - it sounds like you're on the right track!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share something that might help with your DAC planning that I recently learned about. When you're gathering medical documentation for your son's DAC application, consider requesting a "Medical Source Statement" or "Residual Functional Capacity" evaluation from his treating physicians. These are specific forms that SSA uses to evaluate disability claims, and having them completed by doctors who know your son well can be much more effective than just submitting general medical records. Also, I noticed you mentioned your son participated in vocational programs through school but couldn't function in workplace environments. Make sure to get documentation from those programs about his specific challenges and limitations. Sometimes vocational rehabilitation records carry significant weight because they directly address work capacity issues that SSA evaluates. One other consideration for your timeline - since you mentioned your husband is adamant about not retiring before his FRA, you might want to discuss with him how your family's overall financial picture could actually improve if he filed slightly earlier to maximize your son's DAC benefits. When you factor in the years of additional benefits your son would receive, plus potential Medicare eligibility sooner, it could offset the reduction in your husband's benefit amount. Your strategy of filing at 62 to get benefits started while planning for the switch later really does seem like the most practical approach. The community here has given you excellent guidance about documentation and timing!

I just want to say how grateful I am for this entire thread! As someone who's been putting off learning about Social Security because it seemed so intimidating, seeing all these explanations broken down in plain English has been incredibly helpful. I'm bookmarking this page and definitely going to create that acronym cheat sheet that @Ryder mentioned. It's amazing how much clearer everything becomes when people actually explain what these letters stand for instead of just throwing them around assuming everyone knows. One question I have - does anyone know what happens to your benefits if you move to a different state? I've heard there might be tax implications but I'm not sure if there are any other considerations with Social Security specifically. Thanks again to everyone who took the time to explain all these terms. This community is such a valuable resource!

This thread has been incredibly educational! As someone who's been dreading navigating the Social Security maze, seeing all these acronyms explained in simple terms is such a relief. I'm definitely going to print this out and keep it handy. One acronym I haven't seen mentioned yet is OASDI - Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance. This is what most people think of as "Social Security" and it's what you see deducted from your paycheck (along with Medicare taxes). It covers retirement benefits (Old Age), benefits for surviving spouses and children (Survivors), and disability benefits (Disability Insurance). Also, for anyone dealing with disability benefits, you might see CDR which stands for Continuing Disability Review - that's when SSA periodically reviews your case to make sure you still qualify for disability benefits. Thanks to everyone who contributed to making this such a comprehensive guide! It's posts like these that make navigating government benefits feel a little less overwhelming.

Thanks everyone for the helpful info! To summarize what I've learned: 1) Yes, I can withdraw within 12 months, 2) Need to use Form SSA-521, 3) Must repay ALL benefits including what others received on my record, 4) Only get one withdrawal in my lifetime, 5) No interest charged but must repay gross amount including any Medicare/tax withholdings. I'm going to think carefully about whether starting at 62 is right for me with this safety net, or if I should just wait longer from the beginning.

One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned - if you're still working when you claim at 62, be aware of the earnings test. In 2024, if you earn more than $22,320, they'll reduce your benefits by $1 for every $2 you earn above that limit. This continues until you reach FRA. So if your part-time business does take off, you might find your benefits reduced anyway due to the earnings limit, which could factor into your withdrawal decision. Just another consideration for your planning!

I'm going through something very similar right now! I'm 53, been receiving survivor benefits for 4 years, and my partner and I have been discussing marriage timing for the same reasons. What really helped me was calling SSA and asking them to mail me a benefit verification letter that shows exactly what I'm currently receiving monthly. Then I could do the math - if I'm getting $2,800/month in survivor benefits, that's $33,600 per year, which means waiting until 60 would preserve about $235,000 over 7 years. That made the decision much clearer! Also, I learned that even if you remarry after 60, you don't have to immediately switch to spousal benefits. You can continue receiving survivor benefits and then evaluate your options when you reach full retirement age to see which benefit would be highest. One practical tip - if you call SSA, ask them to walk you through a "what if" scenario. They can tell you exactly what would happen to your current benefits if you remarried on a specific date. Getting that official confirmation really helped ease my anxiety about making the wrong choice. The waiting isn't easy emotionally, but knowing we're securing our financial future together makes it feel worth it. Good luck with whatever you decide!

As someone who works with retirement planning, I want to emphasize one critical point that hasn't been fully addressed - you need to compare not just the immediate survivor benefits you'd lose, but also the long-term retirement benefits available from each spouse's record. Here's what many people don't realize: when you reach your Full Retirement Age, you can claim 100% of your deceased husband's benefit (not just the reduced survivor benefit you're getting now at 51). This could be substantially higher than what you're currently receiving. So your calculation should be: 1. Current survivor benefits lost from remarrying before 60 (roughly 9 years worth) 2. The difference between your deceased husband's full retirement benefit vs. your new husband's full retirement benefit 3. Factor in that your new husband is 11 years older - statistically, you're more likely to become his widow and need his survivor benefits I'd also recommend checking if your state has any additional widow benefits or property tax exemptions you might lose upon remarriage. Some states have programs specifically for widows that aren't tied to federal Social Security rules. The math gets complex, but given the potential six-figure impact, it's definitely worth spending some time with a fee-only financial advisor who specializes in Social Security optimization to run all the scenarios before making this decision.