I just went through a similar process with my wife's earnings from Australia! A few additional tips that helped us: First, definitely start with the German pension authority (Deutsche Rentenversicherung) as others mentioned. You can actually request the Versicherungsverlauf online through their website if your husband still has his German social security number - it's much faster than going through mail. Second, when you do get to SSA, ask specifically for the "International Operations" specialist at your local office. Regular claims reps often aren't trained on totalization agreements and will give you incorrect information. I learned this the hard way after three failed appointments. The whole process took us about 7 months, but the benefit increase was substantial - added about $180/month to her projected retirement benefit. Definitely worth the hassle, especially since your husband is still relatively young and you have time to sort this out properly. One last thing: keep detailed records of every interaction with both agencies, including names and dates. You'll likely need to reference previous conversations multiple times throughout the process.

I went through this exact process with my husband's work history from Canada about two years ago. The key breakthrough for us was learning that SSA has a specific "International Operations" unit that handles totalization cases, but not all local offices have staff trained on these agreements. Here's what I wish someone had told me at the start: Don't waste time with multiple phone calls - they'll just frustrate you. Instead, call your local SSA office and specifically request an appointment with someone who handles "totalization agreements" or "international cases." If they say they don't have anyone with that expertise, ask them to refer you to the nearest office that does. Also, start gathering ALL documentation now, even stuff that seems irrelevant. We needed: German tax returns, employer certificates, proof of social security contributions, work permits, and even utility bills showing his German address during that period. The more documentation you have upfront, the fewer follow-up requests they'll make. One thing that really sped up our process was having everything professionally translated by a certified translator. It cost about $300 but saved us months of back-and-forth. SSA was much more responsive when they didn't have to question the authenticity of foreign documents. The whole thing took about 8 months but resulted in a significant increase to his projected benefits - definitely worth the effort!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share some additional considerations that might help with your decision, Saleem. I recently went through a similar analysis for a family member, and one thing that really stood out was the importance of looking at the "survivor benefit" implications. If something were to happen to you, your children would be eligible for survivor benefits based on your earnings record. However, these survivor benefits are calculated based on your actual benefit amount at the time of death - not your PIA. So if you take the 30% reduction by filing at 62, that reduction would carry forward to their potential survivor benefits as well. On the flip side, given that your older child only has about 2 years of eligibility remaining, the guaranteed income from dependent benefits (even if reduced by the earnings test) might outweigh the long-term survivor benefit considerations. Also, I haven't seen anyone mention that you might want to explore whether your employer offers any flexibility with your part-time schedule. If you could structure your work to earn less than the monthly earnings limit after you file (around $1,900/month for 2026), you could potentially qualify for that first-year retirement rule that Jasmine mentioned earlier. This could be a game-changer for your situation. Have you calculated what your actual monthly earnings would be from that $31K annual part-time income?

As a newcomer to this community, I want to add some perspective on the broader strategic considerations for your situation, Saleem. I've been researching Social Security extensively as I approach my own retirement decisions, and cases like yours with dependent children really highlight how individualized these strategies need to be. One aspect I haven't seen fully explored in this thread is the "opportunity cost" analysis. Yes, you'll face the earnings test penalty and early filing reduction, but you need to compare that against what you could do with the benefits you DO receive. For instance, if your family receives even $2,000/month in combined benefits (after reductions), that's $24,000 annually that could be invested, used to pay down debt, or cover living expenses while preserving other retirement assets. Also, I'd suggest looking into whether your state has any additional programs or tax benefits for families receiving Social Security. Some states don't tax Social Security benefits at all, which could help offset some of the federal tax implications others have mentioned. Given the complexity and the significant dollar amounts involved (potentially $100K+ in total family benefits over the children's eligibility period), have you considered consulting with a fee-only financial planner who specializes in Social Security optimization? The cost of professional advice could easily pay for itself in this situation. The fact that your older child only has about 2 years left of eligibility makes this decision quite time-sensitive. What's your current thinking after reading through all these perspectives?

I've been getting Social Security disability for about 8 years now, and I've noticed they seem to send them out in batches based on your Social Security number. People with numbers ending in certain digits get theirs first. My husband and I almost always get ours about 10 days apart even though we're at the same address. Maybe your SSN just puts you in a later batch this year?

I work at a tax preparation office and can confirm that the SSA typically mails out 1099s throughout January, with the deadline being January 31st. What many people don't realize is that the forms are often available online several days before they arrive by mail. If you're having trouble with the SSA website, try calling their main number (1-800-772-1213) early in the morning - wait times are usually shorter between 8-9 AM. Also, if you use a tax preparer, they can often help you access your online account or work with estimated numbers while you wait for the physical form to arrive.

I'm in a very similar situation - 64 and on SSDI with about 18 months until my FRA. What really helped me was creating a spreadsheet to track everything before I even started considering work. I included columns for TWP months used, earnings, benefit amounts, and estimated taxes. One thing I learned from my research is that you can actually check how many TWP months you've already used (if any) by calling SSA or checking online - many people don't realize they might have used some in the past without knowing it. Also, if you do decide to move forward, consider starting with just a few hours per week to test both your physical capacity and how well you can manage the reporting requirements. The documentation advice from others here is spot-on. I keep a simple monthly log with dates worked, hours, gross pay, and copies of all communications with SSA. It's tedious but gives peace of mind. Have you looked into whether your profession offers any flexible arrangements that might make the work more sustainable for your health condition?

I'm in a somewhat similar situation at 66 and recently went through the TWP process myself. One thing that really helped was setting up a dedicated folder (both physical and digital) specifically for all SSDI work-related documentation from day one. A few practical tips that made my experience smoother: First, when you call SSA to set up earnings reporting, ask them to put a note in your file about your work attempt and get the representative's name/date. This can be helpful if there are any discrepancies later. Second, consider having a backup plan for your professional certifications - if you need to stop working suddenly due to your health, you'll want to ensure they don't lapse during recovery periods. Also, since you mentioned earning $5,200-6,000 monthly, keep in mind that during your Extended Period of Eligibility phase, months where you earn over the SGA limit ($1,550 for 2025) will result in no SSDI payment for that month - but you'll still get the work income. The key is understanding that it's truly month-by-month, so if you have a bad health month and can't work, your benefits can resume immediately. Given your timeline to FRA, you're actually in one of the best possible positions to test this safely. The worst-case scenario is much less risky for you than someone with years left until retirement age.

This is such a great discussion! I'm in a similar situation and have been wrestling with the same decision. One additional consideration I'd add is to make sure you and your wife both understand the "deemed filing" rules that might apply if she claims benefits before her FRA while you're still alive. If she files for her own retirement benefit before reaching her FRA and you're already collecting, she would be required to also file for spousal benefits at the same time (if eligible), and both would be permanently reduced. This could affect the timing strategy some couples use. Also, have you considered using the Social Security calculators on ssa.gov to run different scenarios? They can help you see the break-even points for different claiming strategies. Given your family's longevity and the significant benefit difference, delaying to 70 really does seem like the smart move for maximizing lifetime household benefits.

As someone who works with retirement planning, I want to emphasize that your strategy is excellent and add one more consideration: make sure to keep detailed records of your Social Security decisions and the reasoning behind them. When your wife eventually needs to claim survivor benefits, having documentation about when you claimed, what your benefit amount was, and any relevant dates can make the process much smoother for her. The SSA keeps records, but having your own documentation can be helpful. Also, consider discussing this plan with a fee-only financial advisor who can help you coordinate your Social Security strategy with your other retirement accounts (401k, IRA, etc.). Sometimes the optimal Social Security claiming strategy affects how you should draw down other retirement assets for tax efficiency. Your plan to delay until 70 is textbook perfect for your situation - higher earner with longevity and a spouse with significantly lower benefits. You're setting both of you up for maximum lifetime benefits.