Wow, thank you all for the helpful responses! I feel like I understand the basics now - we'll get separate checks based on our own work records. The points about the earnings test and tax implications were things I hadn't even considered. I think our next step will be to sit down with our tax advisor to figure out the tax angle, and maybe use that Claimyr service to connect with SSA directly about how the earnings test might affect my wife if she claims while still working. It's a relief to know there's no benefit reduction just because we're married. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to explain!

dont forget social security gets a cola raise most years my parents got like 3.2% more this year i think better than nothing lol

One thing your brother might want to consider is putting some of that inheritance into an ABLE account if he qualifies (his disability must have begun before age 26). ABLE accounts let people with disabilities save money above resource limits without affecting benefits. But again, this is more important for SSI recipients than SSDI.

To summarize for anyone else who finds this thread: - SSDI: No asset limits. No limits on unearned income (inheritance, investments, gifts, lottery). Only limits on earned income from working. - SSI: Strict asset limit of $2,000 for individuals. Almost all income, earned or unearned, can reduce benefits. I've seen this confusion cause so much unnecessary stress for people. The programs have similar names but completely different rules.

Something else to consider - if your mom has Medicare and gets Extra Help with prescription costs or has Medicaid coverage, marriage could affect those benefits since they're income-based. The survivor benefits won't change, but household income calculations for other programs might. Just something to be aware of.

Thank you all so much for the helpful information! I just talked to Mom and she's incredibly relieved. She was actually considering postponing the marriage because of the financial concerns, but now she feels comfortable moving forward. She does have some Extra Help with her Medicare Part D, so we'll look into how that might be affected. I'm going to help her schedule an appointment with SSA to confirm everything for her specific situation. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to share your knowledge!

my friend just got her exhusbands ss and she had to have birth certificate. they made her show everything marriage divorce the works

One more thing to consider - make sure your ex is actually eligible for Social Security (either currently receiving benefits or eligible to receive them). You can only claim ex-spouse benefits if they're eligible, and you'll need to know their Social Security number or date of birth when you apply. Also, since you mentioned you're 66, that means you're at or very close to your full retirement age (FRA), which is good timing for ex-spouse benefits.

If you're going to lose most of your benefits anyway due to the earnings test, AND you plan to continue working for 3-4 more years, it might actually make more sense to suspend your benefits now and restart them later. By claiming at 67 (your FRA) instead of 63, you'd get approximately 33% more in monthly benefits for the rest of your life. Plus, you'd avoid the hassle of the earnings test completely. You can contact SSA within your first 12 months of entitlement and withdraw your application (Form SSA-521). You'd have to repay benefits received, but then it would be as if you never claimed.

There's no penalty for withdrawing your application within the first 12 months, but you can only do this once in your lifetime. Regarding spousal benefits - if you withdraw your retirement claim, you could potentially file for spousal benefits only, but there are complications: 1. You're subject to deemed filing rules if you're under FRA 2. Spousal benefits would still be reduced for claiming before your FRA 3. Spousal benefits would still be subject to the same earnings test At 63, you'd get approximately 35% of your husband's PIA as a reduced spousal benefit (instead of 50% at your FRA). And with your income level, most or all of these spousal benefits would still be withheld due to the earnings test.

@user8 It's called the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), along with the Government Pension Offset (GPO). These are the provisions being phased out over the next decade. But they're being reduced gradually, not eliminated immediately. 10% reduction in 2025, 20% in 2026, and so on until fully eliminated in 2035. @yourusername If you can't find the marriage certificate, you should request a certified copy from the county clerk's office where they were married. SSA typically requires official documentation and may not have marriage records in their system. They need to verify both the marriage and that it remained valid until your father's passing.

i don't understand why this is so complicated lol. just call social security and tell them ur dad died and see what they say. my grandpa died and my grandma got his social security check the next month, it was automatic

yeah she got the money but took like 5 weeks after fixing the problem. keep ALL paperwork they send you

One final note: make sure when you speak with RRB that you specifically ask about the

just want 2 add something i just remembered - my friend tried to talk to SS about this and they told her something about a "special monthly rule" for the year u start benefits or the year u retire. has anybuddy heard of this? something about if u make under a certain amount in a month they might not take out $ even if ur yearly income is over the limit??

Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I think I'm going to go ahead with my plan to claim survivors benefits at 64 while continuing to work, understanding that: 1) Yes, they'll reduce my benefit now due to early claiming and the earnings test 2) The earnings test will completely disappear at my FRA 3) I'll get some adjustment at FRA for completely withheld months, but not a full payback 4) I can let my own retirement benefit grow until 70 which might be the better long-term strategy I really appreciate all the insights and personal experiences shared here. Social Security decisions are so complicated, and it helps to hear from others who've been through it!

I want to add an important clarification since I see some confusion in other responses. If you're already receiving survivor benefits and switch to your own retirement benefits, you CANNOT switch back to survivor benefits later. This is a permanent decision. This is why getting accurate information before making the switch is so critical. However, if you're receiving your own retirement benefits first, you CAN switch to survivor benefits later if your spouse passes away. The rules are asymmetrical. Also, the maximum retroactive benefits for retirement claims is 6 months, and only if you're past Full Retirement Age. So even if you discover that your own benefit would have been higher all along, you can only receive a maximum of 6 months of retroactive payments for the difference.

This is EXACTLY why people hate dealing with SS!!! They make everything so complicated and then refuse to explain things clearly. I bet half the people who call in don't even know what questions to ask. And getting disconnected when you ask for a supervisor? Classic SS move right there.

One critical thing no one has mentioned: make sure to request a "Without Fault" determination under SSA POMS GN 02250.061. This specifically addresses situations where the Representative Payee was prevented from performing their duties through no fault of their own. Also, when you visit the office, bring a signed statement explaining exactly what happened - having it in writing helps ensure nothing gets missed during your conversation. Be sure to emphasize that you began reporting wages immediately upon discovering the employment. The fact that you proactively reported once you found out will significantly strengthen your case.

To answer your follow-up questions: 1. For your office visit, bring copies rather than originals. Have the originals with you in case they need to see them, but they'll typically just make copies for their files. 2. The reconsideration deadline is 60 days from the date on the notice. If you're close to that deadline, you can file a basic reconsideration form immediately and then supplement with additional evidence later. 3. A simple signed statement is sufficient - no need for notarization. One more important tip: If the SSA representative at your local office isn't helpful, don't argue with them. Instead, politely ask to speak with a supervisor or office manager. Sometimes the front-line staff aren't familiar with the nuances of representative payee liability, especially in cases like yours where you were denied access to financial information. Keep us updated on how your appointment goes!