I'm in a very similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm 70 and have been collecting my own reduced benefits since age 63 (I received about $1,180 monthly). My husband just turned 66 last month and started receiving his full retirement benefit of around $2,400. Based on what everyone is explaining here, it sounds like I should be eligible for spousal benefits that would bring me up to about $1,200 monthly ($600 more than my current amount). Reading through all these responses, I'm definitely going to try the early morning visit to the local office approach that @Gael Robinson suggested. The phone system has been impossible for me too. I'm also going to make sure to use the specific terminology about "excess spousal benefits" that several people mentioned. One question for those who have been through this process - do I need to bring any specific documents with me to the SSA office, or will they have everything they need in their system already? I want to make sure I don't waste the trip if I'm missing something important. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this community has been more helpful than anything I could find on the official SSA website!

I'm going through this exact situation right now! I'm 69 and have been collecting my own retirement benefits since I was 62 (getting about $1,100 monthly due to the early filing reduction). My husband just started receiving his full retirement benefit of $2,200 last month after being on SSDI for several years. After reading through all these helpful responses, I called SSA this morning and actually got through after being on hold for about 45 minutes! The representative confirmed that I'm eligible for excess spousal benefits and walked me through the application right over the phone. She explained that I'll continue getting my $1,100, plus an additional amount to bring my total up to $1,100 (50% of my husband's benefit). The whole phone application took about 15 minutes once I got connected. She said I should see the increased payment starting next month, plus I'll get 3 months of retroactive payments since my husband's benefits began 3 months ago. For anyone struggling to get through by phone, I called right at 8:00 AM when they opened and selected the option for "already receiving benefits" which seemed to have shorter wait times than the general inquiry line. Persistence really pays off - that extra $1,000+ per year will make a huge difference for us!

Congratulations on getting this resolved! This is exactly why the SSA community here is so valuable - your experience will help so many other parents who might face similar unexpected payments. The earnings record correction scenario you described is actually pretty common when there are updates to deceased worker records, but SSA's communication about it is often delayed or unclear. Really glad you're getting your son set up with financial planning too - that's excellent parenting right there!

What a rollercoaster this must have been for you! I'm new to this community but dealing with my own SSA questions, and your story really highlights how confusing their system can be. It's amazing that it turned out to be legitimate - I probably would have been losing sleep over $18K appearing in my account with no explanation! Your approach of not touching the money until you got official confirmation was absolutely the right call. I'm curious - did the letter also explain why it took so long for them to discover and correct the earnings record issue on your late husband's account? It seems like these corrections can happen years after the fact. Thanks for sharing your experience and the positive outcome - it gives me hope that my own SSA issues might actually work out too!

I'm in a very similar situation - 64 and on survivors benefits with a potential job offer that would put me over the earnings limit. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! One question I haven't seen addressed: if my benefits get completely suspended for exceeding the limit, will I still get the annual COLA (cost of living adjustment) increases applied to my benefit amount? Or do those only apply while you're actively receiving payments? I'm wondering if when my benefits eventually resume (either when I reduce hours or reach FRA), will my benefit amount reflect all the COLA increases that happened during the suspension period? Also wanted to add my thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's so valuable to hear real examples rather than trying to decipher the official SSA publications!

I'm really glad I found this thread! I'm 62 and was just offered a position that would put me significantly over the earnings limit while receiving survivors benefits. Reading everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring. The consensus seems clear - there's no time limit on exceeding the earnings test, and the temporary suspension of benefits might actually work in my favor long-term if these higher earning years boost my own retirement calculation. One additional thing I want to mention for anyone else in this situation: I called my local SSA office (after several attempts) and the representative emphasized the importance of reporting your estimated earnings BEFORE you start the new job, not after. She said this helps avoid overpayment complications down the road. Also, she mentioned that if your earnings vary significantly month to month (like commission-based work), you can provide quarterly updates to SSA rather than just an annual estimate. This can help smooth out the benefit calculations and avoid big surprises at year-end reconciliation. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - it's made what seemed like a scary decision feel much more manageable!

I'm so glad you asked this question because my husband and I went through the exact same situation two years ago! Reading through all these responses has been really validating - it's clear this is a widespread issue that affects so many couples. We were in your exact position - he's been on SSDI for a neurological condition for about 6 years, and I was making around $55K at the time. We postponed our wedding twice because of these fears, but finally decided we couldn't let the system control our lives anymore. Here's what actually happened: His SSDI stayed exactly the same (as everyone has confirmed), but he did lose Medicaid about 8 weeks after our marriage. However, we had prepared by starting pharmaceutical assistance applications 4 months before the wedding using his individual income status. This was HUGE because three of his medications got approved for full coverage for 12 months, saving us over $600/month. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is looking into your employer's Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Ours connected us with a benefits counselor at no cost who helped us navigate the transition and even found a local nonprofit that provides emergency prescription assistance during coverage gaps. Also, check if your state has a "Medicaid for Workers with Disabilities" program - ours allowed him to buy into Medicaid at a reduced rate based on his individual income rather than our household income. It's not free like regular Medicaid, but way more affordable than private insurance. The system is absolutely broken and unfair, but don't let it steal your happiness. With proper planning and the amazing resources people have shared in this thread, you can make it work. Feel free to message me if you want more details about our specific experience!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this impossible situation - the system really does force couples to choose between love and healthcare, which is heartbreaking. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly eye-opening about just how many people face this exact dilemma. From what I've learned through my work with disability advocacy groups, I want to add a couple of resources that might help: 1. **Look into "Medicaid waiver" programs specifically for people with disabilities** - These sometimes have different income calculation rules than regular Medicaid, and the waiting lists vary by state. 2. **Check if your state participates in the "Money Follows the Person" program** - This federal program sometimes provides transition support for people moving between different types of coverage. 3. **Consider reaching out to local disability rights organizations** - They often have benefits counselors who know the ins and outs of your specific state's programs and can walk you through scenarios before you make any decisions. The timing advice from the benefits counselor above is spot-on - starting applications NOW while your fiancé's individual income status is clear gives you the best chance of maintaining some coverage during the transition. It's infuriating that you have to become benefits experts just to get married, but please don't let this broken system steal your happiness. With all the resources and strategies people have shared here, it sounds like there are definitely paths forward - it just takes more planning than it should. Wishing you both the best as you navigate this!

Just want to emphasize something important that others have touched on - make absolutely sure you understand the timeline here. You said you started collecting in December 2024, which means your 12-month window to withdraw closes in December 2025. Don't wait until the last minute to make this decision! The SSA can take several weeks or even months to process Form SSA-521, so if you're serious about this, I'd recommend starting the process soon. Also, keep in mind that once you withdraw, you can't change your mind again - this is truly a one-time opportunity. Given that you're doing well financially with this new contract position, it sounds like you're in a good position to repay the benefits, but just make sure you've thought through all the scenarios before pulling the trigger.

One additional consideration that might help with your decision - since you're 64 now and mentioned you have a family history of longevity, you might also want to factor in potential COLA (Cost of Living Adjustments) when calculating your break-even point. Each year you delay claiming benefits, you're not just getting the delayed retirement credits, but your higher benefit amount will also compound with future COLAs. This can make the long-term financial advantage even more significant than the basic break-even calculation suggests. Also, if you do decide to withdraw, consider setting aside the repayment amount in a high-yield savings account or short-term investment while you're working through the decision process - that way you're earning something on the money rather than just letting it sit idle. The interest won't be much over a few months, but every little bit helps when you're dealing with this kind of financial decision!