I'm also dealing with a chronic condition that's affecting my ability to work, so I really appreciate everyone's insights here. One thing I wanted to add based on my research is that the Social Security Administration has something called the "Blue Book" which lists specific medical conditions and the criteria they use to evaluate disability claims. Rheumatoid arthritis is covered under Section 14.09 - Inflammatory Arthritis. Having your condition match the specific criteria in the Blue Book can really strengthen your case. Your rheumatologist should be familiar with these requirements and can help document your symptoms in a way that aligns with what SSA is looking for. Also, since you mentioned you're a nurse, SSA will consider whether you can do any other type of work given your age, education, and experience. At 58, you're closer to the age where they give more consideration to the difficulty of learning new job skills, which can work in your favor during the evaluation process. Hope this helps add another piece to the puzzle!

I've been following this conversation and wanted to share some additional insights that might help with your SSDI application process. As someone who works in disability advocacy, I see a lot of misconceptions about SSDI benefits. You're absolutely right to be relieved about the age issue - SSDI is NOT reduced for age like early retirement benefits are. Your SSDI benefit will be calculated based on your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is what you'd receive at full retirement age regardless of when you actually apply for SSDI. A few practical tips for your application: 1. Request copies of ALL your medical records before applying - don't rely on SSA to get them 2. Ask your rheumatologist to complete a Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) form that specifically details your physical limitations 3. Document how your RA affects your ability to perform "activities of daily living" - this is crucial for the evaluation Regarding the spousal benefits question from earlier - you're correct that you'd apply for those when your SSDI converts to retirement benefits at age 67. At that point, if 50% of your husband's PIA exceeds your own benefit amount, you'll receive the difference as a spousal benefit supplement. The process is frustrating and lengthy, but with good medical documentation and persistence, many people with legitimate disabilities do get approved. Best of luck with your application!

I'm glad this thread helped clarify the payment schedule confusion! As someone new to Social Security myself, I was initially worried when my payment date didn't match what I thought it would be based on my birth date. It's really helpful to see all the different scenarios explained here - the pre-1997 rule, spousal benefits, SSI combinations, etc. One thing I learned from my local SSA office is that they also have a "Payment Information" section on the main SSA website that breaks down all these different payment schedules with examples. It might be worth bookmarking for future reference. Also, for anyone else reading this who might be in a similar situation, don't hesitate to call your bank too - they can often explain exactly when Social Security deposits typically show up in your account and whether they release funds immediately or hold them for a business day.

As someone who just recently started navigating the Social Security system myself, this whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had always assumed everyone got their payments on the same day based on birth date, so learning about all these different categories and payment schedules is really helpful. The fact that there are separate rules for pre-1997 beneficiaries, spousal benefits, SSI combinations, and regular retirement benefits shows just how complex the system really is. I'm definitely going to save this thread as a reference and check out that SSA payment calendar that was mentioned. It's so reassuring to see a community where people are willing to share their experiences and help newcomers understand these confusing processes. Thanks to everyone who took the time to explain the different scenarios - it makes the whole system feel much less intimidating!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share some additional considerations based on what I've researched for similar situations. One aspect that hasn't been fully addressed is how the Social Security Fairness Act might actually work in your favor beyond just eliminating WEP. Since your husband has 30+ years of substantial earnings outside the fire department, his Primary Insurance Amount could be significantly higher than what he might have calculated under the old rules. This higher PIA would increase both his benefit and the family maximum threshold, potentially making the numbers work better for your family even if he claims early. However, I'd also suggest looking into something called "do-over" strategies. If your husband files at 62 and you later realize the family would benefit more from him having waited, he has a 12-month window to withdraw his application (paying back what was received) and refile later. It's not ideal, but it provides some flexibility if circumstances change or if you get better information about your daughter's benefit calculations. Another practical tip: when you do speak with SSA, ask specifically about "auxiliary benefits" and the "family maximum benefit" for your situation. Using these exact terms seems to help get you connected with representatives who are more familiar with complex family benefit scenarios rather than basic retirement questions. The fact that your daughter will be eligible for 11 years makes this decision really impactful financially - definitely worth getting professional help to optimize!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to add some perspective on the timing considerations that haven't been fully explored yet. Given that your daughter will be eligible for benefits until she turns 18 (so for 11 years), you might want to consider a hybrid approach: have your husband continue working and delay Social Security until at least his full retirement age, while living off his firefighter pension in the meantime. This could maximize the total lifetime benefits for your family. Here's why this might make sense: If your husband's PIA under the new Fairness Act rules is around $1,833/month (to get $1,375 at age 62), waiting until full retirement age would mean he gets the full $1,833, your daughter gets up to 50% of that ($916), and the family maximum would be calculated on the higher amount. Over 11 years, this difference could be substantial. Also, something to keep in mind - your daughter's benefits will automatically stop when she turns 18 (unless she's still in high school), but your husband's benefits continue for life. So the decision isn't just about the next 11 years, but also about his lifetime benefit amount. I'd definitely recommend getting that detailed SSA projection others mentioned, but also consider consulting with a financial planner who can model out different scenarios including your pension, Social Security timing, and your daughter's education costs. The complexity of government pensions plus the new Fairness Act rules really warrants professional analysis.

I went through this exact same process last year when I turned 66 and 8 months! Your timing sounds perfect - applying in April for May benefits gives SSA plenty of processing time. Since your birthday is on the 17th, you're absolutely right that you'll get paid on the third Wednesday of May. One thing that really helped me was setting up text alerts with my bank so I'd get notified the moment any deposit hit my account. Made that first payment feel more real when I got the alert! Also, don't be surprised if you get a phone call from SSA in the next week or two asking to verify some basic information from your application. It's totally routine - they called me about 5 days after I applied just to confirm my mailing address and direct deposit info. The whole call took maybe 3 minutes. You mentioned being nervous even though you waited until FRA - I felt the exact same way! But honestly, claiming at full retirement age is the sweet spot. You get your full benefit without any early filing reductions, and you don't have to gamble on delayed retirement credits. You made a smart choice. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but it sounds like you've got everything lined up perfectly. That third Wednesday in May is going to feel pretty great!

I'm going through this exact same process right now! I just turned 66 and 8 months last week and submitted my application online on Monday. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring - especially hearing from people who've successfully navigated this timeline recently. One thing I wanted to add that I learned during my research: if you're still working (even part-time), make sure SSA has your most recent earnings information. I called them before applying because my 2024 W-2 showed higher earnings than what was reflected in my Social Security statement, and they were able to update my record which actually increased my projected benefit amount by about $30/month. Also, I set up account alerts on my MySocialSecurity account so I'll get email notifications for any status changes. Might be worth doing if you haven't already! The anxiety about this whole process is so real, even when you've done everything by the book. But reading everyone's positive experiences here gives me hope that our May payments will arrive right on schedule. Here's to joining the ranks of Social Security recipients! 🎉

One additional consideration for your estate planning - you might want to discuss with your financial advisor how survivor benefits could affect any other retirement income you have. For example, if you have a pension or 401k withdrawals, receiving the higher survivor benefit might push you into a higher tax bracket or affect Medicare premiums through IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount). It's also worth noting that if you remarry after age 60, you can still receive survivor benefits from your first husband's record. The rules are complex, but knowing these details can help you make more informed decisions about your overall retirement strategy. Your 32-year marriage definitely qualifies you for full survivor benefits when the time comes.

I'm glad I found this thread! My wife and I are in a similar situation - she's 62 and considering when to file for her benefits, while I'm 65 and already receiving $2,100 monthly. Reading through all these responses has been really educational, especially the points about delayed retirement credits and tax implications. One thing I'm still confused about though - if my wife files for her reduced benefit at 62, and then I pass away later, would she be able to get survivor benefits based on my full benefit amount, or would there be some kind of penalty because she filed early for her own retirement? The distinction between retirement benefit reductions and survivor benefit reductions that Omar mentioned seems really important but I want to make sure I understand it correctly.