One more thing to consider: Since you're past your FRA, you should know that there's no advantage to waiting longer to claim ex-spousal benefits. Unlike your own retirement benefit, ex-spousal benefits don't grow with delayed retirement credits past your FRA. So if the ex-spousal benefit is going to be higher than your own benefit, you might as well claim now. But if your own benefit is higher, and especially if it's close, you might consider waiting until 70 to maximize your own benefit with delayed retirement credits (which grow about 8% per year until 70).

I just wanted to add something that might help with your decision timing. Since you mentioned you retired last year and are now 66 and 4 months, you should also consider your overall financial situation. If you need the income now, there's no penalty for earning money while collecting Social Security since you're past your FRA. Also, regarding getting information without opening a claim - you can actually request a Social Security Statement online at ssa.gov/myaccount which will show your own estimated benefits. While it won't show your ex-spouse benefit amount, it will at least give you your own benefit estimate to compare against. One last tip: if you do end up needing to wait 3 months for an appointment, you might want to go ahead and schedule it now anyway. You can always cancel if you figure things out sooner, but at least you'll have that backup option. Good luck with everything!

Andre, this is such wonderful news! I'm so happy you were able to get through to SSA and confirm your eligibility. This entire thread has been incredibly valuable - I had no idea about disabled widow benefits being available as early as age 50. It's really frustrating that you had to struggle for three years when you were eligible all along, but I'm glad you found the support and information you needed here. The community knowledge shared by everyone, especially about the specific terminology to use and services like Claimyr, seems to have made all the difference. Best of luck with your appointment next week! Make sure to bring copies of everything and don't hesitate to ask questions if anything seems unclear. Your persistence and willingness to advocate for yourself is inspiring, and I'm sure your experience will help other widows and widowers who might be in similar situations. Please keep us updated on how the application process goes!

Andre, what fantastic news! I'm so thrilled that you were able to get through to SSA and confirm your eligibility for disabled widow benefits. This thread has been absolutely incredible to follow - seeing how this community came together to help you discover benefits you've been entitled to for years is exactly why these spaces are so valuable. It's honestly heartbreaking that you've struggled financially for three years when you should have been receiving these benefits since age 50. The fact that multiple SSA representatives didn't know about or mention disabled widow benefits really highlights how important it is to be persistent and ask specific questions. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that your appointment next week goes smoothly and that you get approved quickly. Make sure to bring all the documentation everyone mentioned - your husband's death certificate, marriage certificate, disability approval letter, and both Social Security numbers. Don't hesitate to reference this specific benefit type if they seem confused. Your story is going to help so many other people who might be in similar situations but don't know these benefits exist. Thank you for sharing your journey with us, and please update us after your appointment. We're all rooting for you!

I'm new to this community but have been dealing with similar Medicare/SSDI timing issues, so I wanted to jump in and share what I've learned from my research and talking to Medicare counselors. One resource that hasn't been mentioned yet is your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) - they provide free, unbiased Medicare counseling and can help you understand exactly how your SSDI status will affect your Medicare options when you turn 65. They're often more knowledgeable about these complex timing situations than general SSA reps. Also, since you mentioned your spouse might retire soon, SHIP counselors can help you model different scenarios for how that timing might impact your Medicare decisions. You can find your local SHIP program through the Medicare.gov website. Another thing to consider - if your spouse does retire before you turn 65, you might want to look into whether continuing your current coverage through COBRA would still qualify as creditable coverage, or if you'd be better off enrolling in Medicare earlier than 65 (if you become eligible through the SSDI route). The penalty calculations can get complex when you have overlapping eligibility periods. Congratulations on your SSDI approval, and I hope you can get some clear answers soon!

Welcome to the community and congratulations on your SSDI approval! I went through a very similar situation when I was approved for SSDI at 63. The timing confusion you're experiencing is completely normal - the intersection of SSDI and Medicare eligibility creates some really complex scenarios that even SSA reps sometimes struggle with. Based on what you've shared, it sounds like you'll end up getting Medicare through the standard age route at 65 rather than through the SSDI disability route, which actually simplifies things somewhat. The most important thing I learned from my experience is to get everything in writing from your current insurance company - not just whether your coverage is "creditable" but also their specific policies about Medicare coordination. Some insurers have rules that kick in once you become eligible for Medicare through any route, even if you don't actually enroll. I'd also recommend starting to research Medicare Supplement plans now while you have time to compare options without pressure. The learning curve is steep, but having 8-9 months to research will serve you well. Feel free to ask if you have specific questions - this community has been incredibly helpful for navigating these complex government benefit systems!

I went through this exact same process last year! Applied online in August for September benefits, and like you, heard absolutely nothing for weeks. The silence was nerve-wracking, but my first payment showed up right on schedule in October on the third Wednesday (my birthday is the 15th). The online portal never updated either - it just said "pending" until suddenly one day it switched to showing my payment history. Since your situation sounds straightforward and you already set up direct deposit, I'd expect your November payment to arrive without any drama. The SSA's communication is terrible, but their payment system is actually pretty reliable once everything is processed. Try not to stress too much - no news really is good news with them!

Just wanted to add that if you're really anxious about the status, you can also try visiting your local SSA office if there's one nearby. I know calling is a nightmare with the wait times, but sometimes the in-person folks can give you a quick status update without the phone hassle. I did this for my mom's application and they were able to confirm everything was processing normally even though the online portal hadn't updated. Just bring a photo ID and your confirmation number from when you applied. Worth considering if you need peace of mind before that November payment date!

Just wanted to add - make sure your wife creates her my Social Security account online if she hasn't already. You can track the application status there and it's much easier than trying to call. Also, when she does apply, she can upload documents directly through the portal rather than mailing them, which speeds up processing. The consensus here is right - apply in September for December benefits to get that January payment, and she'll avoid any reduction since she'll be past FRA.

Welcome to the community! Just wanted to add one more tip that helped me when I applied - make sure to have all your documents ready before starting the online application. You'll need things like your W-2s from the past year, birth certificate, and banking info for direct deposit. The application will time out if you take too long gathering documents, and you'd have to start over. Also, print or save a copy of the completed application for your records. The September timing everyone mentioned is spot on - that's exactly what I did and everything went smoothly. Good luck to your wife!