Just wanted to add something that might help with your planning - since you're considering delaying your benefits until 70, you might want to explore the "file and suspend" strategy that used to be available (though it ended in 2016). However, there's still a consideration called "restricted application" if you were born before 1954. But more importantly for your situation: your wife's spousal benefit is based on your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) at your full retirement age, NOT the delayed retirement credits you'd earn by waiting until 70. So her spousal benefit won't increase even if you wait. This means you might want to consider filing at your FRA (around 66-67) so she can start receiving her spousal benefits, rather than having both of you wait. The math can get complex depending on your ages and benefit amounts, so definitely consider running scenarios or consulting with SSA before making the final decision!

Yes, there are several good calculators available! The Social Security Administration has their own retirement estimator at ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/estimator.html that can help with basic scenarios. For more detailed spousal benefit planning, I've found AARP's Social Security Calculator and the calculators at MaximizeMySocialSecurity.com to be really helpful - they let you model different filing strategies and show the cumulative benefits over time. Many financial advisors also use software that can run these scenarios if you want professional help with the analysis. The key numbers you'll want to plug in are both of your current ages, your estimated monthly benefit at full retirement age, and different potential claiming dates. Don't forget to factor in that your wife can claim as early as 62 (though at a reduced amount) while you continue working and delay your own benefits if that makes sense financially.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now - SSA made errors during my disability review and now they're saying I owe back thousands of dollars that I never should have received in the first place. It's so frustrating when their mistakes become our financial burden! I've been following this thread closely and wanted to add a few things that have helped me: 1. **Document EVERYTHING** - I started keeping a detailed log of every phone call, office visit, and interaction. Include names, dates, times, and exactly what was said. This has been invaluable when different reps give conflicting information. 2. **Ask for supervisor notes** - When you meet with supervisors, ask them to add notes to your case file about what was discussed and any commitments made. This creates an official record that can't be ignored later. 3. **Consider filing a complaint with your state's disability advocacy organization** - They often have more pull with SSA than individual complaints and can sometimes resolve issues faster than the formal waiver process. The system is definitely broken, but don't give up. You clearly have a strong case since this was entirely their error and you tried to fix it immediately. Keep fighting - you shouldn't have to pay for their incompetence!

I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare - it's absolutely infuriating when SSA's own mistakes become your financial burden! Reading through all the excellent advice here, I wanted to add one more resource that might help. Contact your local Legal Aid Society - many have SSA specialists who can help with overpayment waivers at no cost. They're often more effective than going it alone because they know exactly how to phrase things in "SSA language" and have established relationships with the offices. Also, if you haven't already, consider filing a complaint with the SSA Office of Inspector General (OIG) about the Henderson office's handling of your case. While it won't directly fix your overpayment issue, it creates an official record of their errors and might prevent others from going through what you're experiencing. The combination of the waiver request (SSA-632), personal conference with a Springfield supervisor, and having an advocate in your corner should give you the best chance of getting this resolved properly. Don't let them wear you down - you're absolutely in the right here and deserve to have their mistakes corrected without financial penalty to you.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this process with my own kids a few years ago. All the advice here is spot-on, especially about filing IMMEDIATELY! I can't stress this enough - the 6-month retroactive limit for children's benefits is real and it's heartbreaking how much money families lose by not knowing this. One thing I'd add is that when your brother calls SSA, he should specifically ask about "auxiliary benefits" for his children - that's the technical term they use. Also, make sure he mentions that he just received his disability approval so they understand the timeline. The family maximum calculation can be confusing, but even with the reduction, his kids should receive a meaningful amount. In my case with 2 children, we ended up getting about 75% of what the full 50% per child would have been due to the family cap. Your brother has already fought so hard for 5 years to get his disability - don't let SSA's confusing system cost his children thousands in benefits they're entitled to. File those applications this week if possible!

I'm so glad to see this thread - it's helping me understand my own situation better! My sister just got approved for SSDI after a 3-year battle and I had no idea about the separate application process for children's benefits or the 6-month retroactive limit. Reading everyone's experiences here has been eye-opening. The SSA really should make this information more accessible upfront instead of families having to learn about these crucial deadlines after the fact. It's frustrating how many hoops you have to jump through when you're already dealing with so much stress from the disability process itself. Thank you to everyone sharing their knowledge - this community is invaluable for navigating these complex government systems!

I've been helping people navigate SSDI for years, and your situation is completely normal! You're absolutely right to expect backpay - the 5-month waiting period is unpaid, but you should receive benefits from December 2024 through March 2025 (4 months) for both your husband and daughter. A few things that might help while you wait: 1. Backpay timing varies widely - I've seen it arrive anywhere from 3-10 weeks after the first payment 2. Your daughter's auxiliary benefits will be around 50% of your husband's benefit amount 3. The payments often arrive separately, sometimes weeks apart 4. If you don't see anything by 8 weeks, definitely call SSA One tip: when the backpay does arrive, it might just show as "US TREASURY" on your bank statement without clearly identifying it as SSDI backpay, so keep an eye out for any unexpected deposits. The medical equipment expenses are tough to manage while waiting. You might want to check with local disability resource centers or even contact the equipment suppliers - some offer payment plans or temporary assistance programs while you're waiting for backpay. Hang in there - the money is coming, SSA is just notoriously slow with processing!

I've been through this exact situation with my own SSDI approval last year, and I can confirm what others have said - you won't get paid for the 5-month waiting period, but you should definitely receive backpay from December 2024 through March 2025 for both your husband and your daughter. One thing that really helped me was setting up online banking alerts for any deposits over a certain amount. That way I got notified immediately when the backpay hit my account (it came as "US TREASURY" like others mentioned). The backpay arrived about 7 weeks after my first regular payment, so you're still well within the normal timeframe. For your daughter's benefits, make sure SSA has all her documentation - sometimes they need updated school enrollment verification or other paperwork that can delay the auxiliary benefits processing. The children's benefits are usually processed separately and can take longer than the primary beneficiary's backpay. Also, if you're struggling with medical equipment costs while waiting, many suppliers will work with you if you can show proof of your SSDI approval. I was able to get a payment plan for a wheelchair by showing my approval letter, even before the backpay arrived. Don't be afraid to ask - the worst they can say is no, but many understand the SSDI payment delays and are willing to help. The waiting is absolutely the worst part of this whole process, but based on your timeline, you should see that backpay very soon!

I'm in a similar situation with my spouse on SSDI, so I've been researching this extensively. One thing I wanted to add that might be helpful - even though you can't use the old "file and suspend" or "restricted application" strategies anymore due to deemed filing, you can still optimize by timing when you file based on your respective benefit amounts. Since your husband's SSDI benefit will remain the same when it converts to retirement at his FRA, you know exactly what his benefit amount is. If your own retirement benefit at FRA would be significantly higher than 50% of his benefit, it might make sense to delay filing until your FRA to avoid the early filing reduction. But if the spousal benefit would be higher even with the early filing reduction, then filing at 62 could make sense. Also, don't forget that if you do decide to file early, you'll be locked into that reduced benefit amount for life (unless you withdraw your application within 12 months and pay back all benefits received). The reduction is permanent, so it's worth running the numbers carefully before deciding.

I'm also navigating Social Security planning as I approach 62, and this conversation has been incredibly informative! One thing I wanted to mention that might help with your decision-making process is that SSA has a retirement estimator tool on their website (in addition to the my Social Security account that Alexander mentioned) that can help you see how different claiming strategies might work out financially over time. Also, since you mentioned having trouble getting through to SSA by phone, you might want to try scheduling an in-person appointment at your local Social Security office. In my experience, they're often better able to walk through complex scenarios like yours when you can sit down together and review your actual records. You can schedule online or try calling early in the morning or later in the day when phone wait times tend to be shorter. The key thing I'm taking away from everyone's responses is that there's no "one size fits all" answer - it really depends on your specific benefit amounts, health, financial needs, and life expectancy expectations. But at least now you know the basic rules about SSDI conversion and deemed filing, which gives you a good foundation for making an informed decision!