Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I'm going to create my SSA account today and start documenting everything. I think I'll also look into that Claimyr service someone mentioned to get specific answers about my situation. It sounds like I need to plan for: 1) Working while staying under the earnings limit or accepting the reduction 2) Preparing financially for the gap years 3) Figuring out which claiming strategy will be best when I reach 60-67 I really appreciate all your help during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Natalie. Reading through all these responses, I wanted to add one more consideration that hasn't been mentioned yet - please make sure you're also thinking about your own Social Security work credits. Since you've been staying home, you'll want to understand how returning to work will affect your own retirement benefit calculations. You need 40 quarters (10 years) of work to qualify for your own retirement benefits. If you don't have enough credits yet, working now could help you qualify for your own benefits, which might be important for your claiming strategy later. Also, regarding the gap period everyone mentioned - some states have additional survivor benefit programs that might help bridge that time. It's worth checking with your state's social services department to see what might be available. The documentation advice is spot on - I'd suggest keeping a dedicated folder (physical or digital) with all your SSA correspondence, benefit statements, and notes from phone calls. Date everything!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm 64 and took early retirement last year, but recently developed chronic kidney disease that's progressing rapidly. My nephrologist says I'll likely need dialysis within the next 6 months, which would make working impossible. Reading about the disability freeze and potential benefit increase gives me hope that I might have options. Has anyone here dealt specifically with kidney disease for SSDI approval? I'm wondering if conditions that worsen over time (rather than sudden onset) face different challenges in the approval process.

I've been following this discussion as someone who went through a similar process recently. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the importance of timing your application strategically. Since you're already 65 and receiving reduced retirement benefits, you have a limited window to apply for SSDI before reaching your full retirement age (which sounds like it's 66 and 6 months for you). What really helped in my case was filing the SSDI application as soon as possible after my diagnosis, even while I was still gathering medical records. SSA allows you to submit additional evidence after filing, but they can't backdate your application beyond when you actually filed. Given that you mentioned your health has "gotten much worse" since starting retirement benefits, you'll want to establish a clear timeline showing when your conditions became disabling. Also, don't be discouraged if you get conflicting information from different SSA representatives - this is unfortunately common with these crossover cases between retirement and disability. The policy is clear that you can apply, but not all front-line staff are familiar with these more complex situations. Stay persistent and document everything!

I'm really sorry for your loss, Nia. This is such a difficult situation to navigate while you're still grieving. One thing that might help with your decision-making is to get your actual survivor benefit estimate from SSA before you decide. You can create a my Social Security account online to see what your monthly survivor benefit would be at different ages. That way you can do the math more precisely rather than guessing. Also, don't forget that if you do decide to claim survivor benefits now, you can always reassess later. For example, if your work situation changes or you decide the earnings test is too much of a hassle, you could potentially suspend your survivor benefits and restart them later, or switch to your own retirement benefit if that becomes more advantageous. The most important thing is not to rush into a decision. Take time to understand all your options, maybe even consider meeting with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security planning. Your situation with the rental income actually gives you more flexibility than many people have.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Nia. This thread has covered the earnings limit really well, but I wanted to add one more consideration that might help with your planning. Since you mentioned you're 62 and about 5 years from FRA (so FRA at 67), you might want to look into whether your own retirement benefit at age 70 would be higher than your survivor benefit. If your own benefit would be significantly higher, you could potentially use a "claim and switch" strategy: 1. Claim reduced survivor benefits now (even with the earnings test reducing them) 2. Let your own retirement benefit grow with delayed retirement credits until age 70 3. Switch to your own higher benefit at 70 This only works if your own benefit at 70 would exceed the survivor benefit, but it's worth checking. Your own benefit grows by about 8% per year from FRA to age 70, so it can get quite substantial. Given your rental income providing some financial cushion, you have more options than many people. The online benefit estimator others mentioned will show both your survivor benefit and your own retirement benefit projections, which will help you see if this strategy makes sense for your situation.

Since several people have mentioned the earnings test, let me provide some clarity on that since it might affect your decision: 1. For 2025, the earnings limit is projected to be around $22,800 if you're under full retirement age for the full year (this is an estimate based on current trends). 2. If you earn over that amount, $1 in benefits will be withheld for every $2 you earn above the limit. 3. However, it's important to understand that this isn't a penalty - it's a deferral. After you reach FRA, your benefit will be recalculated to give you credit for months when benefits were withheld. 4. If you're planning to continue working full-time at a job with significant earnings, you might want to calculate whether it makes sense to claim at 60 or wait until your earnings decrease or you reach FRA. I strongly recommend discussing these specifics with an SSA representative who can look at your exact situation and provide personalized guidance.

I'm in a similar situation and wanted to share what I learned from my SSA appointment last month. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to compare different scenarios before my meeting. I calculated: 1. What I'd receive at 60 with the earnings test reduction 2. What I'd get if I waited until I could reduce my work hours 3. My break-even point for when the withheld benefits would be made up With your $65K salary, you're looking at about $42K over the earnings limit, which means roughly $21K in withheld benefits annually. Even though you get credit later, that's a significant cash flow impact. Another option to consider: some people reduce their work hours or negotiate part-time arrangements around age 60 to stay under the earnings limit while still collecting survivor benefits. It's not feasible for everyone, but worth exploring if your job allows flexibility. The SSA representative was very helpful in running through different scenarios with actual numbers from my husband's record. Don't feel like you have to figure it all out beforehand - they have tools that can show you exactly how different timing decisions would affect your benefits.

I'm a newcomer here but wanted to share something that might help. My neighbor went through a very similar situation last year - he was 67, already on retirement benefits, and developed serious health issues that made working impossible. While he couldn't get SSDI, he did successfully apply for several programs that made a huge difference in his monthly expenses. The biggest help for him was the Medicare Savings Program - it covered his Part B premium ($174/month) and reduced his out-of-pocket costs significantly. He also got approved for Extra Help with prescription costs, which cut his medication bills by about 80%. One thing he wished he'd known earlier was that many hospitals have financial assistance programs for patients who can't afford their bills. He was able to get some of his existing medical debt reduced or forgiven entirely by applying directly through the hospital's billing department. I know it's frustrating that SSDI isn't an option, but from what I've seen with my neighbor's experience, there really are meaningful resources available that can help ease the financial burden. Don't give up - you've worked hard for 40+ years and deserve support during this difficult time.

I'm new to this community but wanted to add something that might be helpful. As others have correctly stated, you can't receive SSDI once you're already getting retirement benefits at your full retirement age - they're essentially the same benefit pool. However, I wanted to mention something specific about rheumatoid arthritis and heart conditions that might be worth exploring: many pharmaceutical companies have patient assistance programs specifically for these conditions. For RA medications (which can be extremely expensive), companies like AbbVie, Pfizer, and Amgen often have programs that can provide medications at little to no cost for qualifying patients. Also, since you mentioned working at a hardware store, you might want to check if you qualify for any trade-specific assistance programs or if your former employer offers any post-employment medical benefits. One more suggestion - contact your state's Area Agency on Aging. They often have case managers who specialize in helping seniors navigate all these different programs and can walk you through applications step by step. Sometimes having an advocate who knows the system can make all the difference. I hope you find some relief soon. Dealing with serious health issues while worrying about finances is incredibly stressful, but there are people and programs designed to help.