One more thing - if she's turning 65 she needs to apply for Medicare NOW even if she delays SS benefits!!! Don't mess this up or you'll pay penalties forever!!!!!

Just wanted to add one more consideration that might be relevant - if your wife does decide to withdraw her Social Security application and wait, make sure you understand the implications for any spousal benefits you might be eligible for. If you're close to retirement age yourself, her decision to delay could affect your options for claiming spousal benefits. Also, since she's already been approved for LTD, that's a good sign that her medical documentation is strong, which should help with the SSDI application if she decides to pursue that route. The fact that multiple people here have confirmed LTD doesn't count toward the earnings limit should give you confidence in moving forward with whatever decision makes the most financial sense for your situation.

My sister actually got a spousal benefit for 3 years and THEN switched to her own benefit when she hit 70. But that was under the old rules that changed in 2015 with the Bipartisan Budget Act. You can't do that strategy anymore unless you were born before January 2, 1954. Just mentioning it because there's a lot of outdated advice floating around from people who filed under the old rules!

Just wanted to add one more consideration that might help with your planning - if you do end up qualifying for a spousal benefit (because your own benefit at 70 is still less than 50% of your husband's PIA), you don't have to wait until 70 to claim it. You could potentially claim your spousal benefit as early as your Full Retirement Age without any reduction, since spousal benefits don't earn delayed retirement credits anyway. This could give you some income starting earlier while your own benefit continues to grow with delayed credits until 70. Definitely worth running the numbers on both scenarios when you check your estimates on ssa.gov!

For what it's worth, I'd recommend calculating roughly what you'll owe before picking your withholding percentage. You can use the IRS worksheet in Publication 915 to estimate how much of your SS benefits will be taxable based on your total income. That way you're not over-withholding and giving the government an interest-free loan all year. I made that mistake my first year - had them withhold 22% when I only needed about 8% based on my actual tax situation.

Just wanted to add that if you're still having trouble finding the tax withholding option in your mySocialSecurity account, try logging out completely and logging back in. Sometimes the new features don't show up right away due to browser cache issues. Also, make sure you're looking under the "Benefits & Payment Details" section - that's where I found the tax withholding request option after my benefits started. The interface isn't super intuitive, but it's definitely there now for most people who are already receiving payments.

I'm in a very similar situation - 65 and on SSDI for the past 6 years, with an ex-husband who recently started collecting his retirement benefits. I just went through this exact process last month and wanted to share what I learned. The most important thing is that you absolutely need to apply for the divorced spouse benefits to trigger the comparison - SSA won't do this automatically. When I called, they were able to give me the exact amounts over the phone before I even submitted my application, which helped me understand what to expect. In my case, my SSDI was actually $180 higher than what I would get from the ex-spouse benefit, so nothing changed for me financially, but at least I know I'm getting the maximum I'm entitled to. The whole process took about 3 weeks from application to receiving the written determination. One thing I wish I'd known earlier is that even if the amounts are close, it's worth applying because your ex-spouse benefit amount could increase if your ex-husband gets cost-of-living adjustments to his retirement benefit. Don't let the paperwork intimidate you - it's really not as complicated as it seems once you get started!

I'm also 64 and have been on SSDI for about 4 years now. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful! I've been putting off looking into this because the whole system seems so overwhelming, but it sounds like there's really no risk in at least applying to see what I might be entitled to. My ex-husband started collecting his retirement benefits about 6 months ago, and I keep wondering if I'm missing out on additional money. Based on what everyone has shared, it seems like the worst case scenario is that I find out my current SSDI is higher and nothing changes - but at least I'd know for sure. I think I'm going to follow the advice about using that Claimyr service to get through to SSA, since trying to call on my own has been frustrating. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - it's so much easier to navigate this when you hear from people who've actually been through it!

One thing to keep in mind is that even though the math suggests you won't get additional money right now, it's still worth filing a protective application for divorced spouse benefits. Here's why: 1. Your ex-husband's actual benefit amount might be different than your estimate - could be higher 2. If your health condition worsens and affects your ability to manage paperwork later, having it on file protects your rights 3. SSA can backdate benefits up to 6 months from your application date Also, since you mentioned being 64, remember that you can file for divorced spouse benefits as early as age 62 (which you've already passed), but if you filed before your FRA, the spousal benefit would be reduced. At your current age, you're close enough to FRA that this reduction would be minimal. The application process is pretty straightforward - you'll need your divorce decree and your ex's Social Security number. Even if you don't end up getting additional money, at least you'll have official confirmation from SSA rather than estimates, and you'll be protected if circumstances change.

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.