One more important point - you mentioned having a permanent disability but not qualifying for SSDI. If your disability meets SSA's criteria but you were denied because of insufficient recent work credits (which happens when people develop disabilities after being out of the workforce), you might want to explore SSI (Supplemental Security Income). It's needs-based rather than work-based, and while the benefit is typically lower than SSDI, it could provide some income before you turn 62. SSI has strict asset and income limits, but it's worth investigating if your resources are limited while waiting to reach 62.

Based on everyone's responses, it sounds like you have a pretty clear picture now of your options. Since you can't file until 62 and will be deemed filing for both benefits, the key is really comparing those numbers from your SSA account. One thing I haven't seen mentioned - have you considered whether you might be eligible for any other benefits in the meantime? Some states have disability programs, and you might qualify for COBRA continuation or marketplace health insurance subsidies if you haven't explored those options. The gap between now and 62 is significant, so it's worth looking at all possible income sources. Also, regarding the SSDI denial - disability law can be complex, and many people get approved on appeal with proper representation. If your condition truly prevents you from working, it might be worth consulting with a disability attorney who works on contingency. They only get paid if you win, and they're often more successful than self-representation. Just a thought, since getting SSDI would change your whole timeline and potentially give you higher benefits.

I'm in a very similar situation! I reach my FRA in July 2025 and have been worried about the same thing. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea the earnings test only applied to the months before FRA rather than the entire year. One thing I'm curious about - for those who've been through this process, do you need to proactively notify Social Security about your earnings timeline, or do they automatically figure it out based on when you file and your reported income? I want to make sure I don't get caught up in any administrative mix-ups like some folks mentioned here. Also, has anyone dealt with self-employment income in this situation? I have both W-2 wages and some 1099 income, so I'm wondering if the timing gets more complicated when part of your pre-FRA earnings come from self-employment.

Great question about the self-employment income timing! I dealt with this exact situation last year when I hit my FRA in September. For self-employment earnings, Social Security counts the income when it's earned, not when you receive payment. So if you do work in March but don't get paid until August, that income counts toward your pre-FRA earnings limit. I kept a detailed log of when I actually performed the work versus when I received payments, which turned out to be really helpful when I had to explain the timing to SSA. They were actually pretty good about understanding the distinction once I provided documentation. The key is being able to prove WHEN the work was performed for any 1099 income that might cross your FRA date. Contracts, invoices with service dates, and project timelines all help establish this. Much more complex than W-2 wages where the pay period dates make it clearer!

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I think I understand now that since my benefit will be about double his, and his SSDI is likely equal to his PIA, he probably won't qualify for any spousal top-up. I'll definitely verify his exact PIA figure though. I appreciate all the explanations - this stuff is so complicated!

You're welcome! Just to add one more thing - even though it looks like your husband won't get a spousal top-up based on the numbers you've shared, it's still worth having SSA run the calculation when you file for retirement benefits. Sometimes there can be small differences in how benefits were calculated originally, or other factors that aren't immediately obvious. Plus, once you start receiving retirement benefits, your husband will automatically be checked for spousal eligibility, so you don't have to do anything extra to make sure he gets the maximum he's entitled to.

Giovanni, I'm so sorry for your loss and the frustration you must be feeling about missing out on these benefits for so long. You're absolutely not alone - this happens to far too many people. One thing I want to emphasize that's been touched on but bears repeating: even though you'll face earnings test reductions now, filing for survivor benefits at 63 while working is often still the right financial move. Here's why: 1) The survivor benefit amount is based on what your husband would have received at his full retirement age, not reduced for early claiming like your own benefit would be 2) Even with earnings test withholding, you're establishing your claim and will get credit for those withheld amounts later 3) Most importantly, this allows your own retirement benefit to keep growing with delayed retirement credits until age 70 I'd also suggest asking your SSA representative to run projections showing your total lifetime benefits under different scenarios - taking survivor benefits now vs. waiting, when to potentially switch to your own benefit, etc. Having those numbers in black and white can help you make the best decision. The system really should do better at notifying people about benefits they're eligible for. Your story will hopefully help others who might be in similar situations. Best of luck with your appointment!

Giovanni, I'm so sorry for your loss and what you've been going through. Your situation really highlights how broken the notification system is - it's unconscionable that SSA doesn't proactively reach out to people about benefits they're entitled to. I wanted to add one more strategy consideration that might be relevant: since you're planning to work until at least 67, you might want to calculate whether it makes sense to delay applying for survivor benefits until you reach your full retirement age (when the earnings test disappears entirely). At that point, you'd get 100% of your survivor benefit with no earnings restrictions, and you could still let your own retirement benefit grow until 70 if that would be higher. The trade-off is losing the partial payments you'd get now (after earnings test reductions) versus waiting for full payments in a few years. Given that you've already missed 11 years, waiting another 4 years might actually maximize your lifetime benefits - especially since you're earning $85k which would significantly reduce your current payments anyway. Definitely ask your SSA rep to run the numbers both ways: applying now with earnings test vs. waiting until FRA. The math might surprise you! Also, document everything at your appointment and don't be afraid to ask for a second opinion or supervisor if anything seems unclear. You've waited this long - make sure you get it right going forward.

Coming back to your original question: In Iowa specifically, there are no state-specific rules that would make POA arrangements affect Social Security or Medicare differently than federal guidelines. The same federal rules apply in all states. As long as your father's own income and resources haven't changed, his benefits should remain the same regardless of the POA arrangement.

Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - if your dad's memory is getting worse, you might want to consider setting up automatic bill pay for his essential expenses (utilities, Medicare premiums, etc.) through his bank account. This can help ensure nothing gets missed while you're managing his finances under the POA. Most banks can set this up easily and it gives you one less thing to worry about each month. Also, if he hasn't already, make sure he has you listed as an authorized person on his Medicare account so you can help with any issues that come up with his coverage.