One other tax consideration: Filing status for income taxes will change if they marry, which could result in either a marriage penalty or bonus depending on their income levels. If both have significant income besides Social Security, they might want to consult with a tax professional to see how marriage would affect their tax situation. Also, if estate planning is a concern, marriage provides certain legal advantages for inheritance purposes beyond just Social Security benefits. In many states, a spouse has automatic inheritance rights that a non-married partner doesn't have, even with a will in place. For the most personalized advice, they might want to consult with both a financial advisor who specializes in retirement planning and an elder law attorney who can advise on the broader implications for their specific situation.

As someone new to this community, I wanted to thank everyone for sharing such detailed and helpful information! This thread has been incredibly educational. One thing I'd add based on what I've learned from my own family's experience - it might be worth having your aunt and her partner sit down together and make a list of all their current benefits, assets, and potential liabilities before making the marriage decision. Things like Medicare supplemental insurance, any pensions, property ownership, etc. Sometimes marriage can affect things you don't initially think about. Also, since they're in Florida, they might want to check if there are any state-specific considerations for married couples regarding things like homestead exemptions or Medicaid asset protection that could factor into their decision. The timeline pressure mentioned by others is real though - at 75, waiting too long could be risky if the goal is to secure those survivor benefits. Wishing your aunt the best with this important decision!

my brother told me that the cola increases are only for people already getting benefits and that the ssa uses some wierd formula for everyone else but sounds like he was wrong!!!!

Just wanted to add my perspective as someone who's been through this process! I delayed claiming until 70 last year and can confirm that the COLA increases definitely applied to my benefits during the waiting period. What I found helpful was creating a spreadsheet where I tracked my estimated benefit with conservative COLA projections (I used 2.5% annually) versus more optimistic ones (3.5%). The actual increases ended up being somewhere in between, but having that range helped me feel more confident about my retirement budget. One tip: don't forget that Medicare Part B premiums are often deducted from your Social Security payments, and those premiums can increase annually too. It's a smaller factor but worth including in your planning calculations. Good luck with your decision to wait until 70 - the delayed retirement credits plus COLAs really do make a meaningful difference!

Congratulations on getting through and getting this sorted out! This is such a common issue and your experience will definitely help others who find themselves in the same situation. One thing I'd add - when you submit those forms (CMS-L564 and CMS-1763), consider sending them via certified mail so you have proof of delivery. I've heard stories of paperwork getting "lost" in the system. Also, if you haven't already, you might want to ask Medicare for a written confirmation that your husband's Part B coverage will be terminated and that he won't face penalties when he needs to enroll later. Having that documentation could save headaches down the road. Best of luck with the process!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm approaching 65 next year and was completely confused about how Medicare Part B works with employer coverage. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly educational. It sounds like the key things to remember are: 1) You CAN decline Part B if you have qualifying employer coverage (20+ employees), 2) You need specific forms (CMS-L564 and CMS-1763) to properly disenroll, and 3) Keep detailed records of everything. I'm bookmarking this discussion for when I need to navigate this myself. Thank you all for sharing your real-world experiences - it's so much more helpful than trying to decipher the official government websites!

I just wanted to jump in as someone who went through this exact confusion last year when I was 58! Those charts showing benefits at 58/59 had me thinking I could file early too, but like everyone else has clarified, those are only for disabled widows. The SSA really needs to make this clearer on their website - it's so frustrating when you're already dealing with the stress of losing your spouse and then you can't even understand the basic eligibility rules. For what it's worth, I ended up waiting until 62 to file (I'm taking my own retirement benefits first and will switch to survivor benefits later), but seeing all this discussion about the earnings test recalculation is making me wonder if I made the right choice. It's so helpful to have a community where we can share these experiences and learn from each other!

I'm so glad you started this thread! I went through the exact same confusion when I was researching benefits after my husband passed. Those charts really are misleading - I actually called SSA three times because I was convinced I was missing something about early filing. Each representative confirmed that non-disabled widows can't file until 60, but it took multiple calls to feel confident about it. One thing that helped me was asking for the specific publication numbers for widow benefits vs disabled widow benefits - they're actually in different sections of their materials, which explains why the age ranges get mixed up in search results. Have you considered scheduling an in-person appointment at your local SSA office? Sometimes having someone walk through your specific situation face-to-face can clear up the confusion better than trying to interpret the charts online.

I work as a disability advocate and wanted to add a few practical tips that might help with your daughter's case: 1. **Document functional limitations**: Keep a daily diary of how her condition affects specific activities - getting dressed, attending school, concentrating on homework, participating in social activities. SSA needs to see concrete examples of how the disability impacts her daily functioning. 2. **Get supportive statements**: Ask teachers, counselors, therapists, and even family friends to write statements describing the limitations they've observed. These third-party observations carry weight. 3. **Request consultative exam strategically**: If SSA schedules a consultative exam (which they often do), prepare your daughter for what to expect. These exams are brief and the doctors may not be familiar with her specific condition. Bring a summary of her symptoms and limitations. 4. **Income/asset planning**: Since you mentioned medical bills have been crushing, be aware that SSA will count your household income and assets. If you're close to the income limits, consider timing the application strategically or consulting with a benefits planner about asset protection. The 2-year delay in diagnosis actually works in your favor for establishing onset date, even though SSI doesn't provide retroactive benefits. It shows a clear timeline of when symptoms began affecting her functioning. Good luck with the process!

I'm so sorry you're going through this with your daughter. As a parent who navigated this process recently, I wanted to share a few things that might help: First, definitely apply for SSI as others mentioned - not SSDI. The process can feel overwhelming, but you're not alone in this. One thing I wish I'd known earlier: start documenting EVERYTHING now, even before you get the official diagnosis. Keep records of missed school days, activities she can't participate in, how her symptoms affect daily tasks like homework or chores. This creates a clear picture of functional limitations. Also, don't wait for the "perfect" moment to apply. Some parents think they need to wait until they have every single medical record organized, but you can start the application process and provide additional documentation as you get it. SSA will request records directly from doctors too. Regarding the 2+ years of symptoms - while you can't get retroactive SSI payments for that time, having that documented timeline actually strengthens your case by showing the progression and persistence of her condition. The financial stress is real, and I know the uncertainty about her future is scary. But getting SSI can provide not just monthly income support, but also Medicaid coverage which can help tremendously with ongoing medical costs. Take it one step at a time. Call SSA this week to start the process, and don't get discouraged if it takes time. You're advocating for your daughter's future, and that matters.