I'm so sorry to hear about your husband's diagnosis. I went through something similar when my spouse was diagnosed with a terminal illness at 52. The reality is harsh but straightforward - you won't be eligible for spousal benefits until age 62 unless you're caring for a child under 16 or become disabled yourself. However, here are some things that helped us during that difficult time: 1. Make sure your husband mentions the stage 4 diagnosis prominently in his SSDI application - this should qualify for Compassionate Allowances and speed up approval significantly. 2. Look into your state's caregiver support programs. Some states do provide assistance for family caregivers of terminal patients. 3. Contact your local Area Agency on Aging - they often have resources for younger caregivers too, not just seniors. 4. Check if your husband's employer offers any extended disability benefits or if there's a pension that might provide survivor benefits. 5. Consider speaking with a social worker at the hospital or cancer center - they're incredibly knowledgeable about available resources. The financial stress is real, but focus on getting his SSDI approved first. That will at least provide some stability while you figure out the rest. Sending you both strength during this incredibly difficult time.

I'm so sorry to hear about your husband's diagnosis. This is such a frightening and overwhelming situation to face, especially when you're also worried about the financial implications. Unfortunately, what others have shared is correct - you won't be eligible for spousal benefits until age 62 unless you're caring for a child under 16 or become disabled yourself. I know that feels like forever when you're dealing with immediate concerns. However, I wanted to mention a few things that might help bridge the gap: 1. Make sure your husband's SSDI application specifically mentions "Stage 4 lung cancer" right at the beginning - this should qualify for Compassionate Allowances and potentially get approval in just a few weeks rather than months. 2. Don't forget about the 24-month Medicare qualification rule - once your husband has been receiving SSDI for 24 months, he'll qualify for Medicare regardless of age. This can significantly help with ongoing medical expenses. 3. Look into your state's Medicaid programs - Wisconsin may have expanded Medicaid options that could help with medical costs during treatment. 4. Contact the Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition (cancerfac.org) - they have a database of organizations that provide financial help specifically for cancer patients and their families. The waiting period and age requirements are genuinely frustrating when dealing with a terminal diagnosis. Focus on getting his SSDI application submitted properly first, and then work through these other resources. You don't have to figure everything out at once. Sending you both strength during this incredibly difficult time.

That unexpected payment of $764 labeled as "xxsupp sec/pay" could be several things: First, it might be a retroactive payment for a month where you were eligible but didn't receive your full benefits. This happens sometimes when SSA processes eligibility changes. Second, it could be an adjustment payment if SSA determined you were underpaid in previous months. Third, the amount ($764) was actually the standard federal SSI payment for an individual in 2022 before the 2023 increase to $914, so it might be related to a prior year adjustment. I strongly recommend calling SSA directly at 1-800-772-1213 or visiting your local office to get the exact explanation. Have your Social Security number and the payment details ready when you call. It's important to understand exactly what this payment is for, especially since unexpected payments sometimes need to be reported for other benefits programs you might receive. While extra money is nice, getting clarity will help you avoid any potential issues down the road if it was sent in error. Only SSA can give you the definitive answer about this specific payment.

I agree with Lena's advice to contact SSA directly for the definitive answer. That $764 amount is particularly interesting because it matches the 2022 federal SSI rate, which suggests this could be related to a prior year issue. A few additional thoughts on what this might be: - If you had any changes in living arrangements, income, or resources in 2022 that SSA is just now processing, they might owe you back payments - It could be related to a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) calculation error that they're correcting - Sometimes there are delays in processing appeals or redeterminations that result in retroactive payments When you call SSA, ask specifically about: 1. What time period this payment covers 2. Whether it affects your ongoing monthly benefits 3. If you need to report it to any other agencies (like Medicaid or SNAP) Keep all documentation about this payment, including any letters or notices from SSA. Even if it seems like "found money," it's crucial to understand the reason behind it to avoid any complications with your benefits going forward. The 1-800-772-1213 number Lena mentioned is correct, and you can also check your my Social Security account online at ssa.gov for more payment details.

My sister did something similar after her husband died. She took the survivor benefit at her FRA for that and kept working. Then at 70 she switched to her own larger benefit. She said it was the best financial decision she made and now has a much more comfortable retirement than she expected. Just thought I'd share a success story!

This is such valuable information for anyone in a similar situation! I want to add one practical tip that helped me when I was researching survivor benefits: the SSA website has a publication called "Survivors Benefits" (Publication No. 05-10084) that specifically explains the different FRA for survivor benefits vs. retirement benefits. It's buried pretty deep in their resources, but it's the official documentation that confirms what everyone here is telling you. Also, when you do file for your survivor benefits in September, make sure to explicitly tell them you want to "restrict your application to survivor benefits only" and that you want to delay filing for your own retirement benefits until later. This ensures there's no confusion about your intent to switch strategies later. You're making a really smart financial move here - maximizing both benefits over time while still being able to work at a job you love. Best of luck with everything!

To clear up some confusion in this thread: for Social Security retirement benefits, if you apply after your Full Retirement Age (which at 67, you have), you can receive up to 6 months of retroactive benefits. However, they don't automatically pay back to your eligibility date - only to your application date unless you specifically requested retroactive benefits during your application. Since you applied in August, your first payment should include August benefits (paid in October). There is no "waiting period" for retirement benefits like there is for disability. Also, to answer your question about payment dates: If you were born on the 15th, you'll receive payments on the 3rd Wednesday of each month going forward.

Don't stress too much about the delay - this is totally normal! I went through the same thing when I started my benefits two years ago. The $0 test deposit means everything is set up correctly on their end. Since you were born on the 15th, your payments will come on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. Your first real payment should arrive October 16th and will likely include your August benefits since that's when you applied. The key thing to remember is that SS always pays one month behind - so October's payment covers September's benefits. I'd suggest checking your my Social Security account online around October 10th to see if your payment has been scheduled. That usually shows up a few days before the actual deposit hits your bank account.

Sorry but have u considered what happens if SHE dies first? My brother planned everything around him dying first and then his wife got cancer and passed before him. Completely different situation and he wasn't prepared at all for it financially. Not trying to be negative just realistic.

Since you're about to reach your FRA, here's something else to consider: If you haven't already applied for benefits, you might want to consider file and suspend strategy. You could file for your benefits at FRA, immediately suspend them to earn delayed retirement credits, while potentially allowing your wife to claim a spousal benefit if it's higher than her own reduced benefit at 65. Then if you pass away, her survivor benefit would include any delayed credits you earned. However, the rules around this are complex following the 2015 law changes, so I'd recommend getting personalized advice about your specific situation from SSA directly before making any decisions.