MAKE SURE you wrote down your confirmation number when you applied!! If you didn't, go back and find it NOW. I lost mine and it made everything so much harder when I needed to follow up. Also, their definition of

I did save my confirmation number, thankfully! Good advice though - I'll make sure I have it handy if I need to call.

While everyone is talking about IRMAA, don't forget that if you're getting any needs-based benefits alongside your Social Security (like help with your Medicare costs through a Medicare Savings Program), an inheritance could definitely affect those! Had that happen to my cousin.

One more thing! If u DO get hit with IRMAA and ur income goes back down later, you can fill out form SSA-44 for a "life-changing event" to get your Medicare premium reduced again. My neighbor did this after she spent down most of her inheritance money and her income dropped.

Don't forget about taxes!!! If you both have other income or retirement account withdrawals, getting SS early might push you into higher tax brackets. Up to 85% of SS can be taxable depending on your combined income. Something else to consider...

I think everyone's overthinking this. You said half his benefit at 62 equals your full benefit at 67, right? So just take yours at 67, enjoy some travel, and when he hits 62 he can decide whether to claim or wait based on your situation then. You don't have to figure out everything now. Life changes, health changes, financial needs change. Just take it one step at a time.

Since several people have mentioned continuing disability reviews (CDRs), let me explain how those work for children: 1. For conditions that may improve, SSA typically conducts reviews every 3 years 2. For conditions unlikely to improve, reviews happen less frequently (every 5-7 years) 3. At age 18, there's a mandatory redetermination under adult criteria The age 18 redetermination is particularly important. The criteria for adults are more stringent, focusing on ability to work rather than age-appropriate functioning. Many children who qualified under childhood standards lose benefits at this review. It's best to prepare for this well in advance. When your daughter nears 18, if her condition is still present, consider: - Vocational rehabilitation services - Transition planning through her school - Whether she might qualify for the Ticket to Work program - How to document ongoing limitations in a way that meets adult standards Approximately 60% of childhood SSI recipients lose benefits at the age 18 redetermination. Having thorough, updated medical documentation is crucial for maintaining eligibility.

don't let the negative comments scare you! yes its hard but many kids get approved. my son got approved first time with no lawyer. just have ALL paperwork ready and the specialist diagnosis. make copies of EVERYTHING cuz they lose stuff. and keep calling if u don't hear anything after a few weeks!!

My friend says u can work as many hours as u want as long as u don't go over the money limit. is that right?

Thanks everyone for your helpful responses! Based on what I'm learning here, I'll plan to: 1. Keep my monthly hours under 40 to be safe 2. Start a detailed daily log of both hours and earnings 3. Look up that SSA Publication No. 05-10069 4. Talk to my CPA about reporting requirements I think I'll aim for about 30 hours/month and adjust my rates to make the most of that time. It seems like there's some wiggle room between 15-45 hours but I'd rather be conservative. Really appreciate all the insights!

DONT LISTEN TO PPL SAYING ITS OK TO WORK!!! The system is DESIGNED to catch you in a gotcha moment. my friend was on ssdi and ssi worked ONE DAY at amazon warehouse and they terminated everything and said she wasnt disabled anymore!!! took her 2 years fighting to get benefits back.

Thank you all for the advice! I've decided I'm going to: 1. Contact a WIPA counselor first before making any decisions 2. Keep detailed records of everything if I do start working 3. Stay well under the SSDI TWP threshold at first (maybe $800/month max) 4. Report any income immediately both online and by calling 5. Save 30% of anything I earn in case there are any issues later I'm still nervous but feel much better informed now. Will update how it goes when I meet with the WIPA person.

my mom did exactly what ur talking about! she took her own benefit at 62 (it was like $1450/month) and then when she hit full retirement age she switched to my dads survivor benefit which was around $2200. worked out great for her. the social security people actually suggested it when she went in to apply after dad died.

One thing nobody's mentioned - you should create your my Social Security account online if you haven't already. You can see estimates of both your own benefit and your survivor benefit there. Makes it much easier to compare numbers and figure out the best strategy. Plus you can actually apply online which avoids the nightmare phone system.

To answer the question about the "disability freeze" - it's a provision that excludes periods of disability from the calculation of your benefits, so those years of little or no earnings don't drag down your average. However, it typically applies to people who qualify for disability benefits, not necessarily to those who are incarcerated. I may have been incorrect in suggesting it would apply in this situation.

Just FYI - make sure he brings TWO forms of ID when he goes to apply after he gets out. My relative forgot his second ID and they made him come back which was a whole other ordeal with transportation and taking more time off work.

Just to add a bit more clarification - everyone's situation is unique when it comes to Social Security benefits. Even with the information you've provided, there could be nuances to your specific case. For the most accurate information, you should contact SSA directly. Ask them to calculate whether you're eligible for any additional spousal benefits based on your husband's record. Be sure to ask about how things might change when you reach your Full Retirement Age as well. You can either schedule an appointment at your local office, call the national number (though wait times can be very long), or in some cases, you can use the online my Social Security account to get information about potential benefits.

One thing nobody mentioned yet - if you do call SSA, make sure you have all your paperwork ready. They'll want your SS numbers, maybe birth certificates, marriage certificate, benefit verification letters, the works. I spent 90 minutes on hold only to be told I needed more documentation and had to call back! Complete nightmare.

Back to the original question - one thing no one mentioned is that if your husband filed for spousal benefits before 70, he wouldn't even get the full spousal amount because he'd be filing early for his spousal benefit. So not only would he permanently reduce his own benefit, but the spousal benefit for those 5 months would be reduced too. Double penalty!

Thanks everyone for your helpful responses! I think we have our answer - my husband should just wait until he turns 70 in September 2025 to file for his benefits and not try to get spousal benefits during those 5 months. It's disappointing that we can't take advantage of this small window, but I understand it's more important to maximize his lifetime benefit. I appreciate all the information!