Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact same situation two years ago! My husband filed at 62 while I was still working full-time making about $75K. Everyone here is absolutely right - your income will NOT reduce his actual Social Security benefit amount. That's only affected by HIS earnings if he goes over the annual limit. However, I'll share what we learned the hard way about the tax situation. With your $87K income plus his benefits and part-time work, you'll likely owe taxes on 85% of his Social Security benefits. We ended up owing about $2,400 extra at tax time our first year because we didn't plan for it properly. My advice: contact a tax professional NOW to run projections based on your expected 2025 income. We ended up increasing my payroll withholding by about $200/month to cover the extra tax liability, which worked out perfectly. That way we still got his full $1,450 monthly for our debt payoff plan without any nasty surprises come April. Also, make sure your husband keeps really good records of his part-time earnings throughout the year. The SSA is very strict about that earnings test, and going even a little over can trigger benefit withholding. Good luck with paying down that mortgage faster!

I'm so glad you asked this question because I was literally having the same worry! My husband is planning to file at 62 next year while I'm still working, and I've been stressed about whether my income would mess up his benefits. Reading through everyone's responses here has been incredibly helpful - it's such a relief to know that only HIS earnings count for the earnings test, not mine. The tax situation is definitely something I hadn't fully considered though. With everyone mentioning that up to 85% of his benefits could be taxable with our combined income, I think I need to start planning for that now. The idea of increasing withholding from my paycheck instead of his SS benefits makes a lot of sense - that way we can still count on his full benefit amount for our budget. Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences with this! It's so much more helpful than trying to figure it out from the SSA website alone. I feel much more confident about our retirement planning now.

I'm really sorry for your loss, and I can see you're getting excellent advice here from people who've been through similar situations. One additional point I wanted to mention that might be helpful: when you do eventually apply for survivor benefits at 60, make sure to ask about "protective filing dates." If there's any delay in processing your application, SSA can sometimes backdate your benefits to when you first inquired, which could mean several months of retroactive payments. Also, since you mentioned being a teacher's aide, you might want to double-check whether your school district participates in Social Security or if they have their own retirement system. Some public employees don't pay into Social Security, which could affect your ability to earn those 40 credits you'll need for your own retirement benefit. The fact that you're thinking about this strategy now, 15 years ahead of time, shows you're being incredibly smart about planning for your family's future. Many people don't realize they have these options until it's too late to optimize their benefits. Keep working on building those credits - you've got plenty of time, and this community is here to help if you have more questions along the way.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Ivanna. Losing a spouse while raising young children is an unimaginable challenge, and I admire your strength in planning ahead for your family's financial security. You've received excellent advice here, and I want to emphasize a few key points that might give you some peace of mind: **You are NOT permanently locked out of survivor benefits.** The family maximum is a temporary limitation based on current circumstances. As your children age out of benefits (at 18, or 19 if still in high school), space will open up under the family maximum for your survivor benefits. **Your strategy is absolutely viable.** Taking reduced survivor benefits at 60 and switching to your own retirement at 67 (if higher) is a legitimate and often optimal approach. Many widows and widowers successfully use this strategy. **You have time to build your work record.** With 15 years until age 60, working full-time should easily get you the 40 credits needed for your own retirement benefit. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned: consider keeping detailed records of all your interactions with SSA, including dates, representative names, and what was discussed. This documentation can be invaluable if you encounter conflicting information later. You're asking all the right questions and planning wisely. Your children are fortunate to have such a thoughtful and proactive parent looking out for their future. This community is here to support you as you navigate this journey.

I've been following this thread as someone who works in disability advocacy, and I want to emphasize something that's come up several times but bears repeating: taking early retirement at 62 while your SSDI appeal is pending is NOT giving up on your disability case - it's a legitimate financial survival strategy. What many people don't realize is that SSA actually expects this scenario. They have established procedures for converting early retirement to disability benefits when claims are approved. The system recognizes that people can't wait 3-4 years without any income. A few additional points that might help your decision: **Hearing preparation**: If you don't have representation yet, seriously consider getting a disability attorney before your hearing. The approval rate jumps significantly with proper representation, and they work on contingency. **State resources**: Check if your state has any interim disability assistance programs while you wait for federal approval. Some states provide temporary support during the appeals process. **Documentation strategy**: Keep detailed records of your medical treatments, work limitations, and financial hardship during this waiting period. This documentation can strengthen your case and demonstrate the impact of the delay. Remember, approximately 65% of cases are approved at the hearing level versus only about 35% at initial application. You've already gotten through the hardest part by persisting this long. Your financial stability during this process matters for your health and your ability to continue fighting for what you're entitled to. There's wisdom in taking care of your immediate needs while pursuing your long-term rights.

I'm really grateful to have found this thread as someone who's been struggling with a similar decision. I filed for SSDI about 20 months ago and just got my second denial, so I'm looking at the hearing process now. I'll be 62 in about 8 months, and like Connor, I've been really stressed about what to do if my case is still pending by then. Reading everyone's experiences here has been incredibly eye-opening, especially learning that the early retirement "bridge" strategy is actually a recognized approach that SSA has procedures for. I had no idea that if disability is later approved, they convert you to the higher rate and remove the early retirement reduction - that completely changes the risk calculation! The advice about getting a disability attorney even at the appeals stage seems crucial. I've been trying to handle this on my own, but after 20 months of denials and reading about the 65% approval rate at hearings with proper representation, I think it's time to get professional help. One question for those who've been through this: how do you handle the uncertainty and stress of not knowing which way to plan? Some days I feel confident about my disability case, other days I wonder if I should just plan on taking early retirement. The emotional toll of this limbo is really getting to me, and I'm worried about making a decision based on fear rather than facts. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed and honest experiences. This community support means more than you know!

Update for 2025: Just to add some important context, the WEP and GPO rules haven't changed in the recent legislation. The question "are you collecting a pension based on your own employment?" specifically refers to YOUR employment where YOU didn't pay Social Security taxes. The key phrases are "your own employment" and work where "Social Security taxes were not taken out of your pay." Since your situation involves your ex-spouse's employment, not yours, you should answer "No" to this question.

I went through this exact same situation last year! I was so worried about answering that question wrong on my application. I receive part of my ex-husband's teacher retirement pension through our divorce settlement, and I was terrified it would mess up my own Social Security benefits. After reading through all the paperwork carefully and talking to a SSA representative, I confirmed that since it was HIS employment where he didn't pay into Social Security (not mine), it doesn't affect my benefits at all. I answered "No" to that question and had zero issues. The key thing to remember is they're asking about YOUR work history, not pensions you receive from someone else's work. Good luck with your application!

I want to add something important that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you understand how Medicare eligibility works in your situation. Since you've been on SSDI for 15 years, you've likely been eligible for Medicare since your 27th month of disability. When you reach 65, you'll automatically be enrolled in Medicare Part A and B (unless you opted out of Part B). If you do end up getting any additional Social Security benefits through divorced spouse benefits, it won't affect your Medicare eligibility, but it's worth understanding how your Medicare premiums are calculated. Also, if your LTD policy has been paying you for 15 years, check if there are any policy provisions about when those benefits might change or end. Some policies have maximum benefit periods or change at certain ages (like 65). This could actually make any potential Social Security increase more meaningful if your LTD payments are set to reduce or end. It's a lot of moving pieces, but getting a clear picture of all your benefits and how they interact will help you make the best decisions as you approach retirement age.

I've been through a similar situation with divorced spouse benefits while on SSDI. One thing that helped me was creating a spreadsheet to track all the different benefit amounts and how they interact - your current SSDI, estimated spousal benefit, LTD payments, and any offsets. It's also worth noting that if you do apply for divorced spouse benefits, SSA will automatically calculate which option gives you the higher payment each month. You don't have to choose between them - they'll pay you whichever amount is greater. Since you mentioned your ex plans to retire at 65, I'd suggest calling SSA about 6 months before his 65th birthday to start the process. Even though the math suggests you won't get additional money, having the application on file protects you if his actual benefit ends up being higher than expected, or if your LTD situation changes. The worst that happens is SSA confirms you're already getting the higher benefit amount. Also, keep copies of all your communications with both SSA and your LTD insurer about any benefit applications - it can save you headaches later if there are questions about timing or eligibility.