As someone who just went through this exact decision process last year (born in 1959, so my FRA was 66 and 10 months), I can confirm what others have said - once you reach your FRA of 67, you can absolutely work full-time and earn $85k with zero penalty to your Social Security benefits! I was in a similar boat - still working and earning good money but wanted to start collecting. The key thing that helped me decide was running the numbers on the "opportunity cost" of waiting. Yes, you get 8% more per year if you wait until 70, but that's 8% of your base benefit amount. For me, three years of collecting benefits at FRA actually came out ahead in total dollars received until I'd be about 82-83 years old. One practical tip: when you do file, you can choose to have federal taxes withheld from your Social Security payments (10%, 12%, 22%, or 24%). Given your income level, you'll definitely want some withholding since up to 85% of your benefits will be taxable. I chose 22% withholding and it's worked out well for avoiding a big tax surprise. Also, don't forget that your Social Security benefit will continue to get annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) regardless of when you start collecting. Last year's 3.2% COLA and this year's 2.5% really add up over time! The peace of mind of having that monthly payment coming in while still working has been worth it for me, even knowing I'm not getting the absolute maximum possible benefit.

Welcome to the community! As someone who's been researching this topic extensively, I wanted to add a few practical considerations that might help with your decision. Since you're born in 1960, your FRA is definitely 67, and yes - once you reach 67, you can earn unlimited income without any reduction to your Social Security benefits. The earnings test completely disappears at FRA. Here's something to think about that I don't see mentioned much: if you're planning to work past 67 anyway, consider whether your current earnings might actually increase your Social Security benefit calculation. Social Security uses your highest 35 years of earnings (adjusted for inflation). If you're earning $85k now and that's higher than some of your earlier career years, continuing to work could actually boost your benefit amount since they'll replace lower-earning years in the calculation. Also, one strategy some people use is to file and suspend - you can actually file for benefits at FRA to establish your claim, then immediately suspend payments to earn those delayed retirement credits until 70. This can be useful if you want to preserve certain spousal benefit options while still maximizing your own benefit. Though honestly, if you don't need the money right away, just waiting to file at 70 is simpler. The tax impact others mentioned is real - with your income level plus Social Security, you'll definitely hit that 85% taxable threshold. But that's not necessarily a reason not to claim if you can use the extra cash flow for investments or other financial goals. Have you looked at your actual benefit estimate on ssa.gov? That can help you run the real numbers for your specific situation.

I'm a social worker who has helped many families navigate the SSI to DAC transition, and I want to echo what everyone has said - your daughter should absolutely receive 50% of your husband's PIA ($1700/month), not his reduced benefit amount. The representative who told you otherwise was completely incorrect. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also ask about "protective filing" when you contact SSA. If there are any delays in getting the formal application submitted, a protective filing establishes your intent to apply and can preserve the retroactive payment date. This is especially important given that you've already been discussing this with SSA representatives. Also, when you do get the correct benefit amount, don't forget that this will likely make your daughter ineligible for SSI going forward (since the DAC benefit will be higher than the SSI payment limit), but as others have mentioned, the Medicaid protections should keep her healthcare coverage intact. I've seen too many families get shortchanged by SSA representatives who don't understand DAC rules. Stay persistent, document everything, and don't accept incorrect information. Your daughter deserves every penny she's entitled to under the law!

I'm a disability advocate who works with families navigating SSA benefits, and I wanted to jump in to reinforce what everyone has correctly told you - your daughter is absolutely entitled to 50% of your husband's Primary Insurance Amount (his full retirement age benefit of $3400), which equals $1700/month, NOT 50% of his reduced early retirement amount. What concerns me most about your situation is that the SSA representative admitted they "weren't sure" about such a fundamental rule. This suggests they may not be properly trained on DAC benefits, which unfortunately happens too often. When you file the application (and please do this immediately to preserve retroactive benefits), specifically request to speak with a "DAC specialist" or "Technical Expert" who handles adult disabled child cases regularly. I also want to emphasize timing: file that DAC application THIS WEEK if possible. You can receive up to 12 months of retroactive benefits from your application date, but every month you delay is money lost forever. Even if you don't have every single piece of documentation ready, get the application filed and submit additional records as requested. For the Medicaid situation, contact your state Medicaid office immediately and use these exact words: "Section 1634(c) Medicaid continuation for DAC transition." This federal protection exists specifically for situations like yours where someone loses SSI due to receiving higher DAC benefits. Don't rely on SSA to handle this - they often don't coordinate well with state Medicaid programs. That $450/month difference adds up to $5,400 per year - money that rightfully belongs to your daughter for her care and future security. Don't let one misinformed representative cost your family thousands of dollars!

I was able to get through to SSA finally! The agent confirmed I'll only get 6 months of retroactive benefits, so I've definitely lost some money by waiting. But at least I'm getting it sorted now. The agent mentioned my benefit amount is a bit higher than it would have been at exactly 70 due to my extra work years, just like someone mentioned here. Still mad at myself for not knowing about this sooner though!

Great to hear you got through and are getting it sorted out! Don't beat yourself up too much - this is unfortunately a very common mistake because SSA doesn't do a good job of informing people about the rules around age 70. At least you caught it relatively quickly compared to some horror stories I've heard. The silver lining about your higher benefit amount from the extra work years is nice too. Make sure to keep an eye on when your first payment arrives - sometimes there can be processing delays even after you've applied.

I'm so sorry you're going through this difficult situation. As someone who has navigated similar challenges with SSA, I can confirm what others have shared - unfortunately, your daughter's survivor benefit won't increase when your benefits stop at her age 16. Each beneficiary receives their own calculated amount, and when one person loses eligibility, that portion simply ends. However, I want to offer some hope: the fact that your daughter previously qualified for SSI disability is actually a positive indicator for the DAC application. It shows there's already been a determination that her conditions significantly impact her functioning. Make sure to reference that prior SSI approval in your DAC documentation - it can help establish a pattern of disability recognition in SSA's system. One practical tip that helped me: create a comprehensive "day in the life" document that shows exactly what your daughter needs help with from morning to night. Include things like medication reminders, meal preparation assistance, money management, social interaction difficulties, and safety supervision needs. This real-world picture often carries more weight than medical reports alone. Also, don't be discouraged by that letter from SSA. Their correspondence can be confusing, and sometimes what looks like bad news is just part of their standard process. Keep pushing for that DAC approval - those benefits could provide lifelong financial security for your daughter. You're being an incredible advocate for her future. The system is frustrating, but your persistence and forward planning show what an amazing parent you are. Keep fighting - she's worth it!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stressful situation - navigating SSA benefits while caring for a child with disabilities is incredibly overwhelming, and the uncertainty about future income is terrifying for any parent. Unfortunately, as others have confirmed, your daughter's survivor benefit amount won't increase when your benefits stop at her age 16. Each beneficiary receives their own calculated portion based on the deceased worker's earnings record, and when one person becomes ineligible, that portion simply disappears rather than being redistributed. However, I want to add something that might help with your planning: since your daughter will continue receiving her survivor benefits until age 18 (or 19 if still in high school), you actually have a 2-3 year window after your benefits stop to stabilize your situation before her benefits end too. That gives you time to establish steady employment income and hopefully get the DAC benefits approved before facing another transition. One resource you might not have considered is contacting your local Area Agency on Aging - many of them also handle disability services and can connect you with emergency assistance programs, respite care, or other support services that could help during this financial transition. They often know about local resources that aren't widely advertised. You're doing an incredible job advocating for your daughter and planning ahead. The DAC benefits are absolutely worth fighting for since they could provide lifelong financial security. Don't give up - many families have to go through multiple appeals before getting approved, but the persistence pays off. Your daughter is so fortunate to have such a dedicated advocate fighting for her future.

I'm going through something very similar with my mom's situation right now. She's been widowed for about 6 months, and when we were preparing for the survivor benefits application, we noticed the same kind of discrepancy on dad's old SSA statement - it showed about $400 less than what he was actually receiving. When mom applied, the SSA representative explained that those survivor benefit projections on the statements are often based on older data and don't always reflect the most current benefit amounts, especially if there have been recent cost-of-living adjustments or if delayed retirement credits were earned. The good news is that mom ended up receiving dad's full monthly amount, just like what others have shared here. The representative told us that surviving spouses at FRA are entitled to 100% of what the deceased spouse was actually receiving at the time of death, not what some outdated projection shows. I'd definitely recommend calling SSA or visiting a local office to get a current, accurate projection. Don't let that statement number worry you too much - from what I've learned, the actual survivor benefit process uses the real payment amounts, not those potentially outdated projections.

This is such a common concern and you're absolutely right to question that discrepancy! From what I've learned through my own research and talking with SSA representatives, those survivor benefit amounts on the statements are often calculated using older formulas or data that don't reflect current reality. Since your husband waited until 70 to claim his benefits, he earned delayed retirement credits that increased his monthly payment by 32% over his full retirement age amount. These credits should carry over to your survivor benefit, meaning you should receive his full $3,600 monthly amount, not the $3,000 shown on the statement. The statement projections seem to be particularly unreliable when it comes to benefits that include delayed retirement credits or recent cost-of-living adjustments. I'd suggest calling SSA and asking specifically about survivor benefits when delayed retirement credits are involved - they should be able to give you a more accurate projection based on his current benefit amount. You're in a good position having been married for 47 years and being past FRA yourself. Don't let that statement number worry you too much!