My condolences on your loss. Dont forget that if youre helping financially with the grandkids, make sure to document everything in case you can claim them as dependents on your taxes. Might want to talk to a tax person about that situation.

I'm so sorry for the loss of your son. As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to add that when your ex-daughter-in-law calls SSA, she should be prepared for potentially long hold times and have all the documents ready before making the call. From what I've read, it helps to call first thing in the morning (8am local time) when they open, as the lines tend to be less busy then. Also, I wanted to mention that the children's benefits will automatically stop when they turn 18, unless they're still in high school (then it continues until 19 or graduation, whichever comes first). If either child has a disability that began before age 22, they may be eligible for continued benefits as adults, but that would need to be evaluated separately. One more thing - the benefits are paid monthly, usually on the same day each month based on your son's birth date. The first payment might take 1-2 months to arrive after approval, but subsequent payments should be regular. Wishing you and your family strength during this difficult time.

Just wanted to add one more tip from my experience - when you do apply, make sure to ask them to calculate BOTH your own benefit amount AND the ex-spouse benefit amount in writing. I applied last year and they initially only told me about my own benefit (which was lower). It wasn't until I specifically asked about ex-spouse benefits that they realized I qualified for a higher amount. Also, if you have any periods where you didn't work or had very low earnings, those zero years really hurt your own benefit calculation, so the ex-spouse benefit might be significantly better for you. Don't let them rush you through the application - make sure they're checking everything!

I'm in a very similar situation - my ex-husband has been on SSDI for about 3 years and I'm approaching 62 next year. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! One thing I wanted to add based on my research is that you should also consider whether waiting until your full retirement age (probably 66 or 67) would be worth it financially. I know everyone's situation is different, but I've been running some calculations and for me, waiting those extra 4-5 years to get the full 50% instead of the reduced amount at 62 might actually be better in the long run, especially if I can keep working part-time. The break-even point seems to be around age 78-80 depending on the benefit amounts. Of course, that assumes you can afford to wait and don't need the income right away. I'm still torn about what to do myself! Has anyone else wrestled with the decision of taking reduced benefits early versus waiting for the full amount?

To summarize the accurate information shared above: 1. Your children would qualify for auxiliary benefits based on your SSDI record once you're approved. These benefits are typically 50% of your Primary Insurance Amount per child, but subject to a family maximum limit. 2. Your husband would only qualify for spousal benefits if caring for a child under 16 or if he's retirement age. 3. Medicare will only cover you as the disabled individual after the 24-month waiting period following SSDI approval. It doesn't extend to family members. 4. For healthcare coverage for your children, look into: - Your state's CHIP/Children's Medicaid program (income limits are more generous for children) - Marketplace plans with premium tax credits based on your modified adjusted gross income - Continuation of any current coverage you have 5. For your husband, options include: - Self-employed health insurance (which is tax-deductible) - Marketplace plans with possible subsidies - Exploring if he qualifies for any professional association group plans The most important thing now is focusing on your SSDI application. Make sure you have comprehensive medical documentation of your MS progression, limitations, and treatment history. Consider having an attorney review your application before submission, especially if the third-party company isn't SSDI-specialized.

I'm going through something very similar with my husband's recent disability diagnosis. One thing I learned that might help - when you do get approved for SSDI, make sure to apply for your children's auxiliary benefits right away. Don't assume it's automatic. We had to specifically request it and provide birth certificates and other documentation for each child. Also, regarding healthcare for your husband - since he's self-employed, he might be able to deduct health insurance premiums as a business expense, which could make marketplace plans more affordable. We ended up finding a decent plan that way, though it's still not cheap. The waiting is the hardest part. Hang in there, and don't give up if you get denied initially. Most people do, but appeals often succeed with proper documentation. Your daily symptom journal is smart - that kind of detailed record really helps show the progression and impact of your condition.

One last thing to be aware of - if you go over the earnings limit, it's not a cliff where you lose all benefits. For every $2 you earn above the 2025 limit of $22,320, SSA will withhold $1 from your benefits. So even if you accidentally exceed the limit somewhat, you won't lose everything. Also, in the year you reach Full Retirement Age (FRA), the limit is much higher and the penalty is lower (only $1 withheld for every $3 over the limit). And once you hit your FRA, there's no earnings limit at all.

This is such a helpful discussion! I'm not a travel nurse but I'm in a similar situation where I have both taxable wages and some non-taxable reimbursements from my employer. Reading through all these responses, it sounds like the key is making sure your stipends are legitimate under IRS rules and that only your W-2 Box 5 wages count toward the earnings test. @CosmicCrusader - it might be worth getting that confirmation in writing from SSA like you mentioned. That way if there are any questions later, you have documentation of what you were told. Good luck with your decision!

Thanks everyone for the helpful replies. Just to summarize what I've learned for anyone else in my situation: 1. TSP withdrawals will NOT count against SSDI's SGA limit (currently ~$1,550/month for 2025) 2. This is because TSP withdrawals are considered unearned/passive income 3. If I were on SSI instead of SSDI, it WOULD count (thankfully I'm not) 4. I'll still pay income tax + 10% early withdrawal penalty 5. A TSP loan might be better than a withdrawal in my situation 6. The withdrawal might affect Medicare premiums later via IRMAA This community is amazing - you've saved me so much stress!

Hey Camila - just wanted to add one more thing about TSP loans that might help with your decision. Since you're no longer a federal employee, you CAN still take a TSP loan if you haven't already taken one out. The loan limit is typically 50% of your vested balance or $50,000, whichever is less. The big advantage is you're essentially paying interest back to yourself (currently around 4.125% I think), and there's no tax hit or early withdrawal penalty. You just need to make sure you can handle the monthly payments - they're usually spread over 1-5 years. However, if you default on the loan, it becomes a taxable distribution with penalties. Given that you're on SSDI with limited income, make sure the payment amount works with your budget before going this route. But it could save you thousands compared to a straight withdrawal!