As a veteran who went through this process myself, I want to emphasize something that might not be obvious - even though your husband's VA rating is 80%, the actual medical conditions and limitations documented in his VA file are often more than sufficient for SSDI approval. The key is that SSA looks at functional capacity rather than percentage ratings. One thing I'd strongly recommend is gathering all of his VA medical records before applying, including any recent treatment notes. The VA doctors are very thorough in documenting how conditions affect daily functioning, which is exactly what SSA needs to see. Also, if he has any conditions that have worsened since his last VA rating exam, make sure to get current medical documentation of those changes. The timing is actually good since he just started retirement benefits - if SSDI gets approved, the switch to the higher payment amount will be retroactive to when he first became disabled (up to 12 months before application), so there could be some back pay involved too. Don't let the complexity of dealing with both systems discourage you from applying!

One important thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that if your husband does get approved for SSDI, he should be aware of the earnings limit if he ever decides to try working again part-time. In 2024, SSDI recipients can earn up to $1,550 per month without affecting their benefits (this is called Substantial Gainful Activity or SGA). This might be relevant given his 80% VA rating - he could potentially do some light work while still receiving SSDI, whereas with regular retirement benefits there are different earnings limits that apply until full retirement age. Also, since he's already 62 and collecting retirement, if he gets approved for SSDI, he'll automatically convert to regular retirement benefits at his full retirement age (probably 67) but at the full benefit amount, not the reduced amount he's getting now for claiming early. So SSDI can actually help him avoid that permanent reduction penalty. This is something a lot of people don't realize about the interaction between early retirement and disability benefits.

Wow, this has been such an informative discussion! I'm 59 and divorced after 13 years of marriage back in 2018, so I'll be eligible to apply in a few years when I turn 62. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both enlightening and frustrating - it's absolutely mind-boggling that SSA doesn't proactively notify people about benefits they're entitled to. The fact that so many people are discovering these benefits by accident (through friends, financial advisors, or random conversations like this) really shows how broken the system is. It feels like they're banking on people NOT knowing their rights so they can save money. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread for when I'm ready to apply. The practical tips about calling at 7 AM and having all documents ready beforehand are incredibly valuable. It's sad that we have to strategize just to access our own benefits, but at least there are people here sharing real-world advice. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone here ever tried to find out if there are other "hidden" Social Security benefits that people commonly miss out on? If ex-spouse benefits are this poorly communicated, I wonder what else might be flying under the radar that people should know about. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences and making this such a helpful resource!

This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm 63 and divorced in 2021 after 14 years of marriage, so I definitely qualify for ex-spouse benefits. Like so many others here, I had absolutely no idea these benefits even existed until I stumbled across this discussion. What really strikes me is how this seems to be a systematic issue - SSA apparently just hopes people won't find out about money they're legally entitled to. It's honestly infuriating that there's no proactive notification system for something this significant. I'm planning to apply soon and the practical advice here has been so helpful. The 7 AM calling strategy, having all documents ready beforehand, and knowing that my ex's SSN would speed things up but isn't absolutely required - these are the real-world tips you just can't get from the official SSA website. One thing I'm wondering about - for those who've successfully applied, did SSA give you any indication of how much your monthly benefit would be before you actually started receiving payments? I'm trying to plan my budget and it would be helpful to have some idea of the amount before committing to the application process. Thanks to everyone for making this such an educational discussion. This community is doing what SSA should be doing - actually informing people about their rights!

I'm sorry to hear about your loss and the confusion around benefits eligibility. Based on the excellent information already shared here, it sounds like you handled things correctly given the circumstances. Just to reinforce what others have said - the age 62 requirement for divorced spousal benefits is a hard rule, so there really wasn't anything available to you when your ex-husband was alive since you were only 53. The survivor benefits you claimed at 60 were actually the earliest possible benefit available to you in your situation. One additional thing to consider: if you're still working part-time, make sure you're aware of the earnings test rules. Since you're past full retirement age (66 and 6 months), there's no earnings limit that would reduce your survivor benefits, so you can work as much as you want without penalty. This wasn't always the case - before reaching FRA, there were earnings limits that could temporarily reduce benefits. You seem to have a good handle on your situation now, and staying with the higher survivor benefit makes perfect sense financially.

I'm really glad to see how this community came together to help clarify your situation! As someone who's dealt with Social Security questions for family members, I can confirm that the information shared here is accurate. The age 62 requirement for divorced spousal benefits is indeed a firm rule, and you absolutely did the right thing by claiming survivor benefits at 60. One thing I'd like to add that might be helpful for others reading this thread - if anyone finds themselves in a similar situation where they're unsure about benefit timing, SSA does offer benefit estimates through their online portal at ssa.gov. You can create a my Social Security account and run different scenarios to see projected benefit amounts at various claiming ages. It's a great tool for planning purposes. Your decision to stick with the higher survivor benefit of $2,125 versus your own retirement benefit of $1,980 is definitely the smart financial choice. And as others mentioned, you have the flexibility to reassess this if your work record changes significantly in the future.

Not to get off topic but make sure ur checking the tax implications to! When I retired at 63 I had SS + part time work and got surprised by how social security is taxed when u have other income. Up to 85% of benefits can be taxable if ur over certain thresholds.

Just wanted to add one more consideration that might help with your planning. Since your wife will be retiring in August, you should also think about how the timing affects her annual earnings record for Social Security benefit calculations. If she's close to her highest 35 years of earnings, working those extra months in 2025 could potentially increase her average indexed monthly earnings (AIME) and boost her benefit amount. This might offset some of the complications with the earnings test. Also, regarding the maintenance payments - if her sister is paying her as an independent contractor for property maintenance, make sure you're keeping detailed records of when the work was actually performed versus when payment is received. This documentation will be crucial if SSA questions the timing of those earnings. Have you considered having her sister put the maintenance payments on a more regular schedule starting in 2025? Even quarterly payments would be easier to track than one annual lump sum in December.

I'm also in Florida (Fort Lauderdale area) and have been dealing with this same nightmare! Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and depressing - at least I know it's not just me struggling with this system. I tried calling yesterday morning around 10am and got the busy signal, then tried again around noon and waited 1.5 hours before giving up. Based on all the great advice in this thread, I'm planning to try the Wednesday afternoon approach (around 1-2pm) that several people mentioned. Also going to check my online Social Security account first - I totally forgot that was even an option! For my situation I just need to update my address after a recent move, so maybe I can handle that online without calling at all. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and strategies. It's really helpful to know what's working (and what isn't) for other people dealing with the same frustrating system!

I'm also new to this community and currently dealing with the same phone nightmare in Tallahassee! Been trying to reach SSA about updating my direct deposit information after switching banks, and it's been absolutely impossible. Reading through all these experiences really validates how broken the system is right now. I'm definitely going to try the Wednesday afternoon strategy around 1-2pm that several people have had success with. Also had no idea about checking my Social Security online account first - that could potentially save me from having to call at all for something like a direct deposit change. For anyone still struggling with this, it sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) Try Wednesday/Thursday afternoons instead of mornings, 2) Check your online account first to see if you can handle it there, 3) Have all your info ready before calling, and 4) Consider that third-party callback service if you're really desperate. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real experiences and actual strategies that work. It's frustrating we have to jump through so many hoops, but at least this gives me a better game plan than just repeatedly calling at random times!