Thank you all for the helpful responses! I've learned so much. To summarize what I understand now: Since my sister was born after 1954, when her SSDI converts to retirement at 67, she has to choose either her own benefit OR 50% of her ex's (whichever is higher) - she can't do one then switch to the other. I'll help her set up a my Social Security account to see her projected benefit amount and then we'll try to figure out what her ex might be receiving to compare. I appreciate everyone taking the time to explain this complicated situation!

Just wanted to add one more consideration that hasn't been mentioned yet - if your sister's ex-husband hasn't filed for his own benefits yet, she might still be able to claim divorced spouse benefits even if he's just eligible (age 62+). The rule is that if they've been divorced for at least 2 years, she can claim on his record even if he hasn't actually applied yet. This could be relevant depending on his age and filing status. Also, make sure she understands that claiming divorced spouse benefits won't affect what her ex receives - it's completely independent of his benefits. Good luck navigating all this!

After reading all these comments, I'd suggest you have a one-on-one consultation with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security claiming strategies. With a significant difference between your benefit amounts, proper timing could make a substantial difference in your lifetime benefits, especially considering survivor benefits down the road. While the spousal benefit won't increase if your husband delays claiming, survivor benefits would be based on his actual benefit amount including any delayed retirement credits.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who recently navigated this! I was in a very similar situation - my own benefit was around $400/month and my husband's was $3,800. The key thing that helped me understand it was when the SSA representative explained that you essentially get "topped up" to the higher amount. So you're not losing your own work credits - they're still there as the foundation - but you get supplemented up to that 50% spousal amount. Also, definitely recommend keeping detailed notes when you talk to SSA reps because I got slightly different explanations from different people, which was confusing. The bottom line for me was getting about $1,900/month total (50% of his PIA) instead of my $400. Make sure you understand the timing requirements too - I had to wait until after my husband filed, but once he did, the process was pretty straightforward. Good luck!

my aunt went thru this last year. she got the spousal increase but had to fight for backpay. they only gave her 6 months backpay even tho she shoulda been getting it for 2+ years! make sure u ask about retroactive benefits when u apply

I'm in a very similar situation - took my benefits at 62 and just turned 64. Reading through all these responses has been really eye-opening! I had no idea about the spousal benefits potentially being available. My husband's benefit is about $2,800/month and mine is only $1,100, so it sounds like I should definitely look into this. One question for those who've successfully gotten the spousal benefit - did you need to bring any specific documentation when you applied, or do they have everything they need in their system already? I want to be prepared when I call so I don't waste the opportunity if I actually get through to someone! Also, @Sean Murphy, thanks for mentioning that Claimyr service - I'm definitely going to look into that since the thought of sitting on hold for hours is making me put this off.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet: if your benefits are reduced because you exceed the earnings limit, it's not money you permanently lose. Once you reach your Full Retirement Age, SSA will recalculate your monthly benefit amount to give you credit for the months they withheld benefits. So you'll get a higher monthly payment after FRA to make up for some of those reductions. Also, for your first year of retirement, SSA sometimes applies a monthly earnings test rather than the annual one. You might want to ask about the "first year rule" when you speak with them.

As someone who just went through this process last year, I wanted to add a few practical tips that might help: 1) Keep detailed records of ALL your income sources throughout the year - wages, self-employment, and yes, even those royalty payments. Even though the royalties shouldn't count against your limit, having documentation will save you headaches if SSA ever questions anything. 2) If you do decide to take that hardware store job, ask your employer upfront about flexible scheduling. Since you're close to the $22,320 limit, you'll want to track your earnings carefully as you approach it. 3) One thing that caught me off guard - if you have any unused vacation pay or severance from a previous job that gets paid out after you start collecting benefits, that DOES count toward your earnings limit for the year it's paid, even if you earned it before retiring. 4) The "first year rule" mentioned earlier is really important for your situation since you just started benefits in January. In your first year of retirement, you can use a monthly test ($1,860/month for 2025) instead of the annual test, but only for months after you retire. This can be helpful if you had high earnings early in the year before starting benefits. Good luck with everything! The SSA phone wait times are absolutely brutal, so definitely consider that Claimyr service or try visiting your local office if you need to speak with someone directly.

I'm sorry you're going through this difficult situation. As others have mentioned, the personal needs allowance system can feel really limiting. One thing I'd add that might help is to ask your facility's social worker about any charitable programs or assistance they might offer. Some facilities have hardship funds or partnerships with local organizations that can help with small personal expenses like phone bills or personal care items. Also, if you have family or friends who visit, they might be able to help by bringing you certain items directly rather than having you purchase them with your limited allowance. It's not a perfect solution, but every little bit can help stretch that small monthly amount. I hope the ombudsman can provide some good guidance for your specific situation!

I'm really sorry you're facing this stressful situation. The uncertainty while waiting for SSDI approval is hard enough without worrying about what happens to your benefits afterward. One additional resource that might help is contacting your state's SHIP program (State Health Insurance Assistance Program). They provide free counseling specifically about Medicare, Medicaid, and related benefits issues. Even though SSDI isn't Medicare initially, they often have expertise in how different programs interact with Medicaid-funded long-term care. Also, keep in mind that if you do get approved, you may be eligible for retroactive benefits going back to when you first applied in May 2024. While most of those would likely go to the facility as well, having that lump sum could help cover some one-time expenses you've been putting off. The system definitely feels unfair, but knowing your rights and having advocates on your side can make a real difference in navigating it. Best of luck with your approval process!