As someone who just went through this process myself, I can confirm everyone here is absolutely correct - Social Security uses your highest 35 years of earnings, not your last 5 years. I was in a similar situation where I reduced my hours in my late 50s due to health issues and was worried it would tank my benefits. What really helped me was not just looking at the earnings record on ssa.gov, but also understanding that they "index" your older earnings for inflation. So that $15,000 you made in 1985 might be worth $40,000+ in today's calculation. This indexing process ensures your older full-time earnings aren't unfairly penalized compared to recent years. One tip: if you have any years showing zero earnings that you think should show income, definitely contact SSA to get those corrected. Missing or incorrect earnings records can definitely impact your benefit calculation since they need those 35 years of data.

I'm so glad you asked this question because I was told something similar by a family member and it had me panicking too! It's incredible how widespread this misinformation is about Social Security calculations. Just to add one more perspective - I actually spoke with a Social Security representative last month when I had questions about my own benefits, and they confirmed what everyone here is saying. The 35-year calculation has been the standard for decades. They also mentioned that this is one of the most common misconceptions they hear from people approaching retirement age. What's really helpful is that once you create your my Social Security account, you can actually see how different scenarios would affect your benefits. For example, you can see what would happen if you worked a few more years versus claiming early. It's a great tool for planning, especially when you're dealing with health issues like you mentioned. Don't let your buddy's misinformation stress you out - sounds like you're in a much better position than you thought!

As someone who works in retirement planning, I want to emphasize a few key points that haven't been fully covered yet: 1. **Timing matters for maximizing benefits**: If your husband is still working or has other income, he might benefit from delaying his Social Security until age 70 to get delayed retirement credits (8% per year). This would increase the survivor benefit you'd eventually receive. 2. **Consider your filing strategy now**: Since you're both already receiving benefits, this ship has sailed, but for others reading - sometimes it makes sense for the higher earner to delay benefits to maximize the eventual survivor benefit. 3. **Medicare implications**: When you become a widow, you'll need to evaluate your Medicare coverage. If you're on your husband's employer plan as a retiree, you may lose that coverage and need to make decisions about Medicare supplements. 4. **Document everything**: Keep copies of your marriage certificate, both of your Social Security cards, and any military service records if applicable. Having these ready will make the process smoother when the time comes. The survivor benefit is really one of Social Security's most important protections for older Americans - it helps ensure the surviving spouse doesn't face financial hardship on top of grief.

I'm in a similar situation and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! My husband and I are 71 and 68, and I honestly had no idea about most of these details. A few things I'm taking away: 1. Report the death IMMEDIATELY to avoid overpayment issues 2. You have to actually APPLY for survivor benefits - they don't automatically switch you 3. Keep all important documents organized and ready 4. Expect long wait times when calling SSA (that Claimyr service sounds like a lifesaver) One question I haven't seen addressed - if the surviving spouse remarries, does that affect the survivor benefits? I'm happily married and not planning anything, but I'm curious about the rules since I have a widowed friend who's been hesitant to remarry partly because of benefit concerns. Also, thank you to everyone who shared their personal experiences. It really helps to hear real stories rather than just the official policy explanations.

I'm also navigating SSI issues as a newcomer here and this thread has been incredibly informative. What strikes me is how many families are dealing with this exact same problem - it seems like there's a real gap in how SSA handles custody changes and ensures benefits follow the child's actual living situation. For anyone starting this process, I'd suggest creating a simple spreadsheet to track everything: dates your child is with you, expenses you cover, medical appointments, therapy sessions, school activities, etc. Having this organized from day one will make the SSA application much smoother. Also, if your custody agreement specifies overnight percentages like 70/30, make sure you have certified copies - SSA will want official documentation. One question for those who have been through this: did any of you face retaliation from the other parent during the process? I'm worried about potential complications with visitation or other custody issues while pursuing the payee change.

I'm new to this community but have been following this discussion closely as I'm in a very similar situation. My 13-year-old son with intellectual disabilities receives SSI, but his mother is the representative payee even though he lives with me about 65% of the time following our recent custody modification. Reading through all these responses has given me so much valuable information - especially about Form SSA-11 and the fact that SSA typically prefers to assign payee status to whoever has majority physical custody. I had no idea about the annual Representative Payee Report requirement either, or that SSA can investigate how current benefits are being used. What really resonates with me is how many families are dealing with this exact issue. It seems like there's a systemic problem where SSA doesn't automatically review payee arrangements when custody situations change. I'm definitely going to start documenting everything like everyone has suggested - expenses, overnight stays, medical appointments, therapy sessions - and look into that Claimyr service to actually get through to SSA. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and advice. It's encouraging to know that others have successfully navigated this process and gotten the benefits properly allocated to follow their child's actual living situation. The money should be supporting our kids wherever they spend their time, not just benefiting one parent's household.

Just wanted to give a quick update. I called SSA today and spoke with a rep who confirmed what most of you have said. As long as I apply in January WITH January as my benefit month, I can use the annual earnings test for all of 2025. I made sure to specifically tell them I wanted January 2025 as my benefit month, not February. The rep did initially try to set it for February saying "that's our normal procedure" but I politely insisted on January, and they were able to do it. So relieved I don't have to track monthly earnings! Thanks for all your help everyone.

Congratulations on getting it sorted out! You made the right call pushing for January as your benefit month. I'm a retired SSA employee and can confirm this is one of those rules that even some current staff get confused about, which is why that rep initially tried to set you up for February. One small tip for the year ahead: even though you're using the annual limit, I'd still recommend keeping a simple running total of your earnings throughout the year. Not for monthly reporting, but just so you know where you stand. With variable income, it's easy to lose track and accidentally go over that $25,410 threshold. Also, remember that if you do exceed the annual limit, SSA will ask for overpayment recovery the following year, so it's much better to stay aware and avoid that situation entirely. Enjoy your semi-retirement!

That's fantastic news! So happy to hear your appeal was successful. Thanks for updating us - it's helpful for others who might face similar issues in the future.

Congratulations on winning your appeal! This is such encouraging news for families dealing with similar situations. Your experience really highlights how important it is to gather comprehensive documentation and not give up after the initial denial. The fact that you got backpay too is huge - that makes such a difference for families who rely on these benefits. Thanks for taking the time to update everyone with the successful outcome and the specific steps that worked. This thread is going to be incredibly valuable for other parents navigating SSA's confusing policies around non-traditional schools.