Great news! That's exactly how the system is supposed to work. You should receive an official award letter in the mail within 7-10 days that will confirm your exact benefit amount and payment date. I always recommend keeping that letter in your permanent records since it has your specific benefit information that can be useful for future reference.

Congratulations on getting approved! This is such a relief to read. I'm in a similar situation - applied in October for a February 2025 start date and have been stuck in Step 2 for about 10 weeks now. Your timeline gives me hope that mine should move soon too. It's so frustrating how SSA keeps us in the dark with no communication, but at least the system seems to work even if it's nerve-wracking. Thanks for updating us with the good news!

Since you're asking about switching from your own benefit to a spousal benefit, I want to clarify how this will work in your situation. Because you claimed your own retirement benefit before your Full Retirement Age, and because current rules apply to your case (post-2015 law changes), you won't actually "switch" benefits in the way you might be thinking. Instead, if eligible for both retirement and spousal benefits, you receive the higher of: 1. Your own benefit (reduced because you claimed early) 2. Your spousal benefit (reduced if you claimed spousal before your FRA) In practice, this means you'll continue receiving your own $1,250, plus an additional amount (called the "excess spousal benefit") to bring your total up to the spousal benefit amount you're eligible for. Since you're past your FRA now, and your husband is receiving benefits, you should definitely contact SSA to apply for the spousal benefit. The potential increase of $175 monthly would be $2,100 annually - definitely worth pursuing!

I work as a benefits counselor and see this situation frequently. You're absolutely eligible for the spousal benefit increase! Since you're 72 (past your FRA) and your husband is receiving retirement benefits, you can apply for spousal benefits immediately. You'll receive your current $1,250 plus approximately $175 monthly to reach the spousal benefit amount. A few important tips: - Don't delay applying - you can only get up to 6 months of retroactive payments - When you call SSA, ask specifically for "excess spousal benefits" - Consider visiting your local SSA office if phone wait times are too long - Have your husband's Social Security number ready when you apply The application process is straightforward once you reach someone. You're looking at an extra $2,100+ annually, so it's definitely worth pursuing. Good luck getting through to them!

YOU WILL RECIEE A NOTICE AND NOT SPEND THAT MUNEY YET!!! they made $23,000 mistake on my cousins account in 2023 and they took it ALL BACK after 2 months!! SS doesnt make mistakes in YOUR favor, trust me!!!!

Update us when you get the letter! I'm curious whether this was related to any cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) that might have been applied retroactively, or if there was some kind of earnings record correction. The timing with your son's age-out from benefits makes me think this is legitimate.

Im so CONFUSED by all this!!! Doesnt taking a job that pays more than the limit mean your NOT RETIRED?? Why should anyone get SS if there still working and making good money? The whole system makes no sense!

Thank you everyone for all this detailed information! This has been incredibly helpful. Just to make sure I understand correctly - I can take this job opportunity and potentially have my survivors benefits completely suspended for the next 4 years until I reach FRA at 67, and then at FRA: 1. The earnings test disappears completely (no more limits) 2. I can switch to my own retirement benefit if it's higher 3. Those higher earning years might actually boost my own retirement calculation And there's absolutely no risk of permanent disqualification or "striking out" after too many years over the limit? One follow-up question - when I do switch to my own retirement benefit at FRA, will SSA automatically calculate which is higher (my survivors benefit vs my own), or do I need to specifically request the comparison? This job opportunity could be life-changing for me, and it sounds like the temporary loss of survivors benefits might actually work out better long-term. Thanks again to this amazing community!

One important thing to check: has your fiancé been on SSDI for at least 24 months? If so, he should qualify for Medicare regardless of Medicaid status. Medicare Part B + Part D + a Medicare Supplement plan, while not free like Medicaid, can provide good coverage. If he has low income (not counting your income before marriage), he might also qualify for Extra Help with Medicare prescription costs. For the most accurate information, I'd recommend: 1. Contacting your state's Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for free unbiased Medicare/Medicaid counseling 2. Speaking with a benefits planner at a local Center for Independent Living 3. Getting specifics from your state's Medicaid office about how marriage would affect his particular type of Medicaid coverage Every state handles their Medicaid programs differently, especially for disabled individuals, so general advice online won't be as helpful as state-specific guidance.

This is such a difficult situation that so many couples face! I work as a case manager for people with disabilities and see this issue frequently. A few additional resources that might help: 1. Look into your state's "1915(c) waiver" programs - these are Medicaid waivers specifically for people with disabilities that sometimes have different income rules than regular Medicaid 2. Check if your fiancé qualifies as a "Qualified Medicare Beneficiary" (QMB) or "Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary" (SLMB) - these programs can help pay Medicare premiums and cost-sharing even with slightly higher household income 3. Contact your state's 2-1-1 helpline (dial 2-1-1) - they often have updated information about local assistance programs and can connect you with benefits counselors 4. If your fiancé has specific chronic conditions, look into disease-specific foundations that offer medication assistance programs (like the American Kidney Fund, American Diabetes Association, etc.) The system really does penalize marriage, which is so unfair. But there are sometimes workarounds or lesser-known programs that can help bridge the gap. Don't give up hope - with the right information and advocacy, you might find a path forward that works for both of you!