Just wanted to add another perspective for anyone reading this thread! I'm a former SSA employee (retired in 2020 after 28 years) and I can confirm that divorced spouse benefits are one of the most underutilized benefits in the system. The rules can be confusing, but here are the key points: 1) You must have been married at least 10 years, 2) You must be currently unmarried, 3) Your ex-spouse must be entitled to retirement or disability benefits, and 4) You must be at least 62. The benefit is calculated as up to 50% of your ex's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), but if you filed early for your own benefits, both will be reduced. SSA will automatically pay you the higher amount. One tip: if you don't have your ex's SSN, having their full name and date of birth is usually sufficient for SSA to locate their record. Also, this benefit is completely independent - your ex will never know you applied, and it won't affect their payment in any way. Good luck to everyone pursuing this!

This thread has been incredibly enlightening! I'm 63 and divorced after 14 years of marriage. I started collecting my own Social Security at 62 due to health issues, and I'm currently receiving about $1,350 monthly. My ex-husband is 65 and just started collecting his benefits this year. Reading through everyone's experiences here, especially Samantha's success story and the detailed advice from Yara (the former SSA employee), I realize I should definitely look into divorced spouse benefits. I had no idea this was even possible! The fact that it's completely confidential and won't affect his payments makes me feel much better about pursuing this. I'm going to gather my divorce papers and call SSA next week. It's amazing how supportive this community is - thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences. It gives me hope that I might be able to improve my financial situation too!

I'm in a similar situation - planning to retire abroad in the next few years and have been researching this extensively! One thing I'd add is to make sure you understand the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) rules if you have any foreign pensions or government benefits. Portugal has a totalization agreement with the US which can help with benefit calculations, but it's worth understanding how your Portuguese residence might affect your overall retirement income picture. Also, consider opening a Portuguese bank account before you move if possible - some expat forums mention that it's easier to do while you're still a tourist rather than after you become a resident. The bureaucracy can be quite different there! Has anyone dealt with getting their Social Security benefit verification letters translated and apostilled for Portuguese residency requirements?

I've been living in Portugal for 2 years now and receiving my Social Security without any major issues! A few things that might help with your planning: 1. **Banking**: I kept my US account with Bank of America since they have good international partnerships. Wise (formerly TransferWise) has been excellent for currency transfers with much better rates than traditional wire transfers. 2. **Portugal specifics**: You'll want to get your NIF (tax number) as soon as possible after arriving - you'll need it for almost everything. The SEF (immigration service) appointments can take months to get, so book early. 3. **Annual questionnaire**: It's really not a big deal - just confirms you're alive and still eligible. Takes 5 minutes online. 4. **Healthcare**: Portugal has excellent public healthcare that you can access as a resident. Many expats get private insurance as a supplement, but the public system is quite good. The Facebook groups "Americans & FriendsPT" and "Portugal Expats" have been incredibly helpful resources with people sharing real experiences. Portugal is very expat-friendly and the bureaucracy, while slow, is manageable. Feel free to reach out if you have specific questions about the move!

my cousin works for ssa and she says they have a special calculator for this exact situation but not everyone there knows how to use it. ask for the "mnth" calculation thats what its called i think

I went through a very similar situation when my husband passed away 5 years ago. The lack of clear information from SSA is unfortunately very common, but don't give up! Here's what finally worked for me: I made an in-person appointment at my local SSA office and brought a written list of specific questions. I asked them to print out my complete earnings record and my husband's earnings record, then requested they calculate both scenarios side by side. One thing that might help - when you call or visit, ask specifically for a "restricted application analysis" or "comparative benefit analysis." Sometimes using their technical terms gets you transferred to someone who actually knows how to run these calculations. Also, your SSA.gov account should show your estimated retirement benefits at different ages, but unfortunately it won't show survivor benefit estimates. You'll need to get those numbers directly from them. The good news is that once you have the actual numbers, the decision becomes much clearer. In my case, taking my reduced retirement first and switching to survivor benefits at my FRA was the right choice, but everyone's situation is different based on their respective work histories.

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who went through this process recently. One thing that really helped us was getting everything in writing from SSA about the living arrangement rules BEFORE my daughter moved in. We scheduled an in-person appointment at our local SSA office and brought a list of specific questions about ISM calculations, rental agreements, and reporting requirements. The caseworker was able to walk us through exactly how different scenarios would affect her benefits, and we got a written summary of what was discussed. This prevented any surprises later and gave us documentation if there were ever any disputes about what we were told. Also, regarding the tax situation - we consulted with a tax professional who specializes in disability benefits. It was worth the cost because the rules around SSI, dependency claims, and Head of Household status can be really complex when combined. They helped us understand exactly what documentation we'd need to keep for both SSA and IRS purposes. The whole process feels overwhelming at first, but having everything properly documented from the start makes it much smoother. Good luck with your daughter's transition to SSI!

As someone who's been helping families navigate SSI for over 10 years, I want to emphasize a few critical points that haven't been fully covered yet: 1. **Timing is everything** - You need to report the living arrangement change to SSA within 10 days of when your daughter moves in, or you risk overpayment issues like others mentioned. 2. **The "presumed maximum value" rule** - If SSA can't determine the exact value of the room and board you're providing, they'll automatically apply the full 1/3 reduction ($314 in 2025). This is why documentation is so crucial. 3. **Consider the "household goods and personal effects" exception** - Items like furniture, clothing, and personal care items that you provide don't count as ISM, so don't worry about documenting every small expense. 4. **State supplement programs** - Many states provide additional payments on top of federal SSI. These can have different rules about living arrangements, so check with your state agency too. The rental agreement approach others mentioned works, but make sure it covers ALL household expenses proportionally (utilities, internet, property taxes, maintenance) - not just rent. SSA looks at the total picture of what constitutes "fair share." Also, keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit to SSA. Their record-keeping isn't always perfect, and having your own documentation has saved many families from lengthy appeals processes.

I'm going through a very similar situation with my disabled son right now, so this thread has been incredibly valuable! Just wanted to add one more piece of information that might help - when you do file the DAC application, make sure to bring a complete list of all your daughter's medical providers from birth to present. SSA will need to request records from each one to establish the disability timeline. Also, if your daughter has ever been evaluated by a state developmental disabilities agency or received services through early intervention programs, those records can be particularly helpful since they often contain comprehensive developmental assessments. Sometimes these agencies keep better long-term records than individual doctors' offices. One last tip - if you have trouble getting through to SSA by phone (which seems to be a common problem), you can also schedule an appointment at your local SSA field office. Sometimes it's easier to get accurate information when you're sitting face-to-face with someone, and you can bring all your documentation with you. Good luck with everything!

I'm a disability attorney and want to emphasize something crucial that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure to file for the DAC benefits even if you think your daughter might not be approved initially. The SSA has a tendency to deny DAC claims on the first application, especially when there's any question about the disability onset date or severity. If you do get an initial denial, don't panic - this is unfortunately normal. You have 60 days to file a Request for Reconsideration, and the approval rates are often much higher at the reconsideration level for DAC cases when you have proper documentation. Also, I want to stress that the benefit amount calculation everyone has explained is correct, but there's one more important detail: if your husband's record has other beneficiaries (like if you later claim spousal benefits), the Family Maximum Benefit could potentially reduce individual payments. However, for most families with one DAC beneficiary, this isn't an issue. Finally, don't let anyone at SSA tell you that your daughter "makes too much money" from her current SSI to qualify for DAC. SSI and SSDI operate under completely different income rules, and DAC benefits often result in higher monthly payments than SSI anyway. The key is that she was disabled before age 22 and remains disabled - the current SSI amount is irrelevant to DAC eligibility. Document everything, be persistent, and don't hesitate to get legal help if SSA continues to give you incorrect information. Your daughter is entitled to these benefits!