I just remembered something else - if your disabled son gets SSI or SSDI himself, that's separate from your benefits! Don't get those confused when your talking to SS people. My nephew gets SSDI payments AND his mom was getting the parent benefits too. Totally different things!

I'm dealing with a similar situation and wanted to share what I learned from my experience. I turned 62 last year while receiving child-in-care benefits for my disabled daughter. Here's what actually happened: SSA sent me a letter about 2 months before my 62nd birthday explaining that I was becoming eligible for retirement benefits, but it clearly stated this was informational only - not a requirement to switch. They automatically did the benefit comparison that others mentioned, and since my CIC benefit was higher than my reduced retirement would be, they kept me on the child-in-care benefits. The key thing I discovered: make sure your son's disability status is current in their system! They had to reverify his condition as part of the process, which delayed things by a few weeks. If his disability determination is old or needs updating, start that process now. Also, I found it helpful to create a my Social Security account online if you don't already have one. You can see your benefit estimates there and track any changes to your case. Much easier than trying to get through on the phone for basic information. You're in a good position since your CIC benefit is higher than your potential early retirement benefit. Just stay on top of the paperwork and don't let anything lapse!

I went through this exact situation two years ago at 63 after my third heart attack. The dual approach is definitely the right strategy - I filed for early retirement first to get immediate income, then applied for SSDI about a month later. A few things that really helped my case: 1. I kept a daily symptoms diary for about 6 weeks before applying - noting chest pain episodes, fatigue levels, how far I could walk without getting winded, etc. The SSDI examiner specifically mentioned this helped them understand my functional limitations. 2. My cardiologist filled out a detailed RFC (Residual Functional Capacity) form that SSA provides. This was crucial - it spelled out exactly what I couldn't do (lift over 10 lbs, work in high-stress environments, stand for more than 20 minutes at a time). 3. I was approved on initial application in about 6 months, which my attorney said was faster than usual for cardiac cases. The key was having comprehensive medical records that clearly showed my limitations weren't going to improve significantly. The financial difference has been life-changing - I'm getting about $2,180/month with SSDI versus the $1,490 I would have gotten with early retirement alone. Plus I got about $8,000 in backpay once approved. Don't let anyone pressure you to "try going back to work first" if your doctor says it's dangerous. Your health is more important than SSA's preference for people to attempt work. You've got strong medical evidence - trust the process and be patient with the timeline.

I'm so glad you found this thread and are getting such helpful advice! As someone who went through a very similar situation at 60 after my bypass surgery, I want to echo what others have said about the dual approach being absolutely the right strategy. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned much - when you're gathering your medical documentation, don't just focus on the major cardiac events. Include records of any ongoing treatments, medication adjustments, follow-up appointments, and especially any notes about exercise restrictions or activity limitations. My cardiologist's notes about restricting me to "light activity only" and "avoid stress" were apparently very important in my approval. Also, if you have any records from cardiac rehab (if you did that) or stress tests that show limitations, those can be really valuable. They provide objective evidence of your functional capacity that goes beyond just the clinical measures. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but having that early retirement income while you wait for SSDI really does make it manageable. I was approved after about 9 months and the backpay plus the higher monthly amount made such a difference. You're doing everything right by starting this process now and getting organized. With multiple cardiac events and clear medical documentation that returning to high-stress work is dangerous, you have a very strong case. Don't let the statistics about denials discourage you - cardiac cases with solid documentation like yours often have much better success rates. Hang in there and trust the process!

Thanks for sharing your experience, Dylan! This is such a helpful thread for anyone dealing with the earnings limit. I'm 64 and considering early retirement benefits while continuing to work part-time, but stories like yours make me realize I need to be much more careful about tracking ALL income sources. One thing I'm curious about - you mentioned the SSA agent said your benefits would increase once you reach full retirement age to account for the months they withheld payments. Do they give you any estimate of what that increase might be? I'm trying to figure out if it's better to wait until FRA to avoid this whole earnings limit mess, or if the eventual benefit increase makes it worth dealing with the complexity now. Also, for anyone else reading this - it might be worth asking your employer about the timing of any bonuses if you're close to the earnings limit. Sometimes they have flexibility on when to pay them out, which could help with year-end planning.

This is exactly why I tell everyone to be super careful about the earnings limit! I learned this the hard way when I first started collecting benefits at 62. The thing that really caught me off guard was that vacation payouts and even unused sick leave payments count toward the limit too - not just regular wages and bonuses. One tip that helped me: I started keeping a running total of my earnings throughout the year in a simple spreadsheet. I include every paycheck, bonus, overtime, etc. That way I can see where I stand at any point and avoid surprises. Some employers will also let you defer bonuses to the next year if you ask early enough, which can be helpful for managing the limit. The good news is that once you get the hang of tracking everything and planning ahead, it becomes much more manageable. And like others mentioned, you're not permanently losing that money - it's just being redistributed to increase your future monthly payments after FRA.

Great news! Just so you know, \

I'm glad you were able to get through to SSA! It sounds like you're on the right track. Just to add another perspective - I work with retirees in my role as a benefits coordinator, and I've seen many cases where people assume their widow benefits are automatically the highest amount they can receive. The delayed retirement credits you've earned by working until 68 could make a significant difference in your monthly payment. Also, don't forget to ask about the Medicare Part D penalty when you meet with them - if you're losing employer drug coverage when you retire, you'll want to enroll in Part D during your Special Enrollment Period to avoid future penalties. Looking forward to hearing how your appointment goes!

my cousin works for ssa and told me they NEVER automatically give you spousal benefits you have to ask for them specifically!!!! the computer doesn't just figure it out. when i applied i told them i wanted to compare my benefit to my husbands spousal amount and the difference was only $31 more for spousal but still that adds up over time!!!

Just went through this exact situation myself last year! One thing I learned that might help - you can actually create estimates on the SSA website using both scenarios before you apply. Go to ssa.gov and log into your mySocialSecurity account, then use their benefit calculators to get rough estimates of your own benefit vs what 50% of your wife's would be. But here's the key thing everyone's mentioned - your wife absolutely MUST file for her own benefits first before you can claim spousal benefits on her record. That notification she did online is just for planning, not an actual application. Also, consider this timing strategy: if your wife's benefit is higher and she's already 2 years older, she could file at her FRA to start receiving benefits, then when you reach your FRA you could file for whichever is higher (your own or spousal). Just don't file early unless you absolutely need the money, because any reduction is permanent. The online calculators won't be perfect, but they'll give you a ballpark idea of which direction to lean before you deal with trying to get someone on the phone at SSA!