Congratulations on getting through and getting approved! That's a significant monthly benefit that will definitely help with raising your daughter. Just wanted to add a couple of things others haven't mentioned: 1) If your situation changes and you and your husband legally separate or divorce, you may still be eligible for divorced spouse benefits later when you turn 62 (as long as your marriage lasted at least 10 years, which yours has). 2) Keep good records of all the paperwork you submit to SSA. Sometimes documents get lost in their system and having copies can save you time if you need to resubmit anything. 3) The benefits should be retroactive to when you first became eligible (likely when your daughter started receiving benefits), so you might get a lump sum back payment. It's really encouraging to see someone navigate the SSA system successfully and get the help they're entitled to. Your story will definitely help other parents in similar situations!

This thread has been so helpful! I'm in a somewhat similar situation - my ex-husband is collecting disability benefits and our 12-year-old receives benefits on his record. I'm 45 and have primary custody. I had no idea I might be eligible for mother's benefits too. The information about it not mattering that we're divorced (as long as I'm caring for the child) is news to me. Gabriel, thank you for asking this question and sharing your successful outcome - it's given me hope that I can navigate this process too. The tip about Claimyr.com might be a lifesaver since I've also had terrible luck getting through to SSA by phone. Going to look into applying for these benefits this week!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Chloe. This is definitely something you need to address quickly, but don't panic - it's a very common issue that SSA deals with regularly. The payment system isn't connected in real-time to death notifications, so there's always this lag where payments continue briefly after someone passes. Here's what I learned when I went through this with my stepfather: Call SSA as early as possible in the morning (8 AM is ideal) and tell them you need to report an "overpayment due to death" - using those exact words will get you to the right department faster. Have his SSN, exact date of death, and the bank routing/account information ready. They'll likely send a form directly to the bank authorizing the return of the funds. Whatever you do, don't touch that money until you get the all-clear from SSA. The whole process usually takes 1-2 weeks once you make contact. You're doing everything right by being proactive about this. Many people just ignore it and then face bigger headaches later when SSA discovers it during their regular audits.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Chloe. I went through this exact situation when my uncle passed away in September. The key thing that helped me was calling SSA's automated phone system outside of peak hours - I had success calling around 7 PM on a weekday evening. The automated system can actually handle simple benefit inquiries and death notifications without needing to speak to a live person initially. When you do speak with someone, make sure to ask them to note in your father's file that you've reported the posthumous payment and are awaiting instructions for return. This creates a paper trail showing you were proactive about reporting it, which protects you if there are any delays in the return process. Also, ask the bank to place a hold or note on that specific deposit so it doesn't accidentally get mixed in with other account activity. Most banks are familiar with this situation and can flag SSA deposits separately until they receive return authorization. The whole thing took about 3 weeks for me, but having that documentation helped avoid any complications. You're handling this the right way by addressing it quickly.

I'm currently going through this exact same process - retiring at 65 before FRA while trying to navigate the earnings test! Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful. One thing I learned from my financial advisor that might be useful: if you're planning to have any consulting income or part-time work after you "retire," make sure to factor that into your earnings projections too. I almost forgot to include some freelance work I was planning to do, which would have put me over the limit unexpectedly. Also, regarding the gap month issue - something that worked for me was timing my final paycheck and any PTO payout strategically. My HR department was flexible about when they processed my final vacation payout, which helped me stay under the monthly limit for my first benefit month. The SSA-131 form mentioned earlier is definitely important - I had to revise mine twice because my initial earnings estimate was way off. Better to overestimate than underestimate if you're unsure! Good luck with your retirement planning - it sounds like you're being very thorough in thinking through all the details.

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who recently went through this process with my spouse. We faced a similar situation where we both were retiring before FRA with different earnings scenarios. One thing that really helped us was creating a simple spreadsheet to track different scenarios - starting benefits in different months and calculating the projected withholding amounts. This made it much easier to visualize the financial impact of each option. Also, regarding the application timing - we submitted our applications exactly 3 months early as recommended, but I'd suggest following up about 6 weeks before your desired start date to make sure everything is processing correctly. We had a small hiccup with some paperwork that could have delayed things if we hadn't checked in. For the vacation payout timing issue - definitely worth asking HR about flexibility. Many companies can be accommodating about when they process final payments, especially if you explain it's for Social Security coordination purposes. Even shifting it by a few days into the next month could make a difference in your calculations. The recalculation explanation after FRA is spot-on and really important to understand. It helped us feel much more comfortable about starting benefits even knowing some would be withheld initially.

Just want to add my voice to the chorus here - I went through this exact situation about 3 years ago when I was 59 and newly on SSDI. My ex-wife of 14 years contacted me out of the blue asking about "filing for benefits" and I panicked thinking my already tight budget would get even tighter. Everyone here is absolutely right - your SSDI payments will NOT be reduced at all if she files for ex-spouse benefits. It's completely separate money that comes from the general fund, not from your specific benefit amount. What really helped me was calling SSA directly (took forever to get through, but worth it) and having them explain this over the phone. The part about her contacting you first is definitely unusual though. When my ex actually did file months later, I never heard anything about it from SSA - no paperwork, no notifications, nothing. I only found out because she mentioned it in passing during a conversation about our daughter. The whole process happens completely independently of you. Given your recent diagnosis and adjustment to SSDI, you have enough on your plate without worrying about this. Focus on your health and know that your $2,410/month is secure regardless of what she decides to do.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share that I'm currently going through the SSDI application process myself, and this entire thread has been incredibly educational! It's really reassuring to see how supportive everyone is here with sharing their real experiences and knowledge about these complex benefit situations. From everything I've read in these responses, it's clear that your SSDI benefits are completely protected - ex-spouse benefits are paid separately and won't reduce your monthly payment at all. That must be such a huge relief given that you're already adjusting to living on a fixed income with your recent diagnosis. The red flags that several people have pointed out about her unusual approach (contacting you directly, asking about paperwork, mentioning financial struggles) really do seem concerning. Based on everyone's experiences here, SSA handles ex-spouse benefit applications completely independently with no involvement needed from the primary beneficiary. It sounds like you've received excellent advice from this community - focus on managing your health and maintaining your financial stability, and let SSA handle whatever she decides to do through their normal processes. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - threads like this are invaluable for people trying to understand how the disability system works!

Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I think I've decided to wait until at least 65 to claim benefits, for several reasons: 1. The earnings test would reduce my benefits significantly if I claim at 62 while still working part-time 2. The 29% higher monthly amount ($510 more per month) will add up substantially over time 3. The survivor benefit consideration for my wife is important - I want to make sure she's well taken care of 4. My family history suggests longevity, so the break-even point of 75-76 likely makes waiting worthwhile I'm going to try to speak with SSA directly to get personalized calculations before making the final decision. Thanks again for all your insights!

Smart decision, Mason! You've really thought this through carefully. One additional tip for when you call SSA - ask them to run scenarios showing your cumulative lifetime benefits under different claiming strategies. They can model what happens if you live to 80, 85, 90, etc. This really helps visualize the long-term impact. Also, since you're planning to work until 65 anyway, you might want to check if any of those earnings could increase your benefit calculation. Social Security uses your highest 35 years of earnings, so if you're earning more now than in some earlier years, those extra work years could actually boost your Primary Insurance Amount. The survivor benefit angle you mentioned is crucial - many couples overlook this. Your wife could potentially receive benefits for 20+ years after you're gone, so maximizing that amount protects her financial security for decades. Sounds like you've got a solid plan! The fact that you're thinking this through now rather than just taking the money and running shows you're approaching this strategically.