i got so confused by all the conflicting advice that i just went to my local ss office and had them explain everything. took half a day but worth it. way better than trying to figure it out online.

Just wanted to add my experience since I was in almost the exact same situation last year. I retired at 65 (my FRA) and was totally confused about whether to start benefits immediately or wait. After talking to a financial planner and doing my own research, I learned that the key thing is understanding that your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) is already locked in based on your work history - it doesn't change whether you're working or not. What DOES change is the delayed retirement credits if you wait past FRA. I ended up starting benefits at FRA because I wanted the peace of mind of getting something rather than gambling on living long enough to make waiting worthwhile. But if you're healthy and have good longevity in your family, those 8% annual increases until age 70 are pretty attractive. The main thing is that you're NOT losing money by delaying just because you stopped working. The SSA website language is confusing but the delayed credits are real regardless of your employment status.

I understand how scary this situation is - facing potential loss of your home while trying to navigate complex disability rules. Here are some additional options to consider beyond just working: 1. **Housing assistance programs**: Contact your local housing authority about emergency rental/mortgage assistance, especially programs for disabled individuals. Many areas have specific programs for people at risk of foreclosure. 2. **Utility assistance**: If you're behind on utilities too, programs like LIHEAP can help free up money for your mortgage. 3. **Food assistance**: Maximizing SNAP benefits and using food banks can free up more of your SSDI for housing costs. 4. **Disability advocacy organizations**: They often know about local emergency assistance funds specifically for people with disabilities facing housing crises. 5. **Credit counseling**: Non-profit housing counselors can sometimes negotiate with mortgage companies for modified payment plans or forbearance. The roommate suggestion is also excellent - rental income typically doesn't affect SSDI benefits as long as it's not considered "work activity." If you do decide to work, definitely get that WIPA counseling first. But explore these other options too - sometimes there are resources available that people don't know about.

I'm new to this community and this situation hits close to home for me. I've been on SSDI for about 3 years now and have been too scared to even consider working because of all the conflicting information out there. Reading through everyone's responses here has been really eye-opening - especially learning that the Trial Work Period is actually designed to HELP us test our ability to work, not punish us for trying. @Amina Bah your list of housing assistance resources is amazing. I had no idea there were specific programs for disabled individuals facing housing crises. One thing I wanted to add - I recently discovered that some states have "Work Incentives Planning and Assistance" (WIPA) programs that will actually do a personalized benefits analysis for free. They can run scenarios showing exactly how different income levels would affect your specific situation. Might be worth looking into for your area, @Yara Nassar. Also, for anyone else reading this who's in a similar situation: the National Disability Rights Network website has a directory of local disability advocacy organizations that might know about emergency assistance funds in your area. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical advice people need when dealing with these complex systems.

Just wanted to add one clarification that might help with your planning - when you're thinking about survivor benefits, keep in mind that if your husband delays claiming past his FRA (say until age 70), his benefit will grow by about 8% per year due to delayed retirement credits. If he passes away after that, your survivor benefit would be based on that higher amount, not just his original PIA. So his claiming strategy can significantly impact your potential survivor benefits down the road. Also, regarding the earnings test - it's worth noting that even if you claim benefits before your FRA and have earnings that reduce your monthly payments, those "withheld" benefits aren't lost forever. SSA will recalculate your benefit at FRA to give you credit for those months when benefits were reduced due to earnings. But once you hit FRA, it's a clean slate - work as much as you want with zero impact on benefits!

This is such a helpful discussion! As someone who's been navigating these same questions with my spouse, I wanted to add one more consideration that might be useful. If you're planning to continue working after your FRA, don't forget that your continued earnings could potentially increase your own Social Security benefit calculation if those later years represent some of your highest earning years. SSA recalculates your benefit annually if you have earnings that would increase your average, which could boost either your retirement benefit or the baseline for spousal benefit comparisons. Also, I learned from my financial planner that it's worth running the numbers on different claiming strategies - sometimes it makes sense for the higher earner to delay claiming to maximize both the current spousal benefit and future survivor benefits, while the lower earner might claim earlier. The "file and suspend" strategy is no longer available, but there are still ways to optimize timing between spouses. Definitely worth getting a personalized analysis of your specific situation!

That's fantastic news! So glad the Claimyr service worked for you and you finally got connected to someone who understood CIC benefits. It's amazing how much of a difference it makes when you reach the right person who actually knows the rules. Your list of documents looks perfect - sounds like the Technical Expert really knew what she was talking about. The fact that she scheduled you for an in-person appointment is also a great sign since those tend to go much smoother for complex cases like yours. Thanks for sharing the update! This whole thread will be really helpful for other parents dealing with similar situations. Looking forward to hearing how your appointment goes next week. Fingers crossed everything gets processed smoothly from here!

Congratulations on finally getting through to someone knowledgeable! This is exactly why I always tell people dealing with complex SSA issues to keep pushing until they reach a specialist. Regular claims reps just aren't trained on the nuances of benefits like CIC for disabled adult children. Your persistence really paid off, and I'm sure this thread will help so many other parents in similar situations. The step-by-step documentation you've shared here is invaluable - from asking for Technical Experts to citing the specific Social Security Act section numbers. One small tip for your in-person appointment: bring copies of everything rather than originals when possible, since SSA sometimes needs to keep documents for their files. Also, don't be surprised if the process takes a few weeks to complete even after your appointment - CIC benefits can involve multiple reviews. Really hoping everything goes smoothly for you next week! Please do update us on how it turns out.

I'm so sorry for your loss. As someone who works with Social Security disability and survivor claims, I want to emphasize what others have said - the child support amount you're receiving should NOT automatically disqualify your stepdaughter from survivor benefits. The key test is whether your late husband provided more than 50% of your daughter's total living support. From what you've described - him being the primary breadwinner covering housing, utilities, food, and other household expenses while the $1,720 child support mainly covers her personal needs - it sounds like he was likely providing well over half her support. A few important reminders: - Apply immediately and request a protective filing date to preserve your claim - Gather comprehensive documentation: bank statements, tax returns, household bills, proof of living arrangements - Don't forget about the one-time $255 death benefit - Benefits can be retroactive, but only for a limited period Even if the child support reduces your benefit amount somewhat due to family maximum limits, you're still likely to receive meaningful financial assistance. I've seen many families in similar situations successfully obtain survivor benefits despite receiving child support. The worst outcome is they deny the claim, but based on your circumstances, that seems unlikely. Your family needs and deserves this support during such a difficult time. Don't let uncertainty prevent you from applying for benefits you're entitled to receive.

I'm so sorry for your loss and what you're going through right now. I lost my spouse two years ago and went through the survivor benefits process, so I understand how overwhelming this feels when you're already dealing with grief. The good news is that the $1,720 child support shouldn't disqualify your stepdaughter from survivor benefits. SSA looks at the total support picture, not just income amounts. Since your husband was covering your major household expenses (housing, utilities, food, insurance) while the child support mainly went to your daughter's personal needs, he was likely providing well over 50% of her total support. A few things that helped me during my application: - I called early in the morning (around 8 AM) to get through to SSA faster - I organized all our financial documents beforehand - bank statements, tax returns, household bills - I made a list of exactly what my husband paid for versus what other income sources covered Don't wait to apply thinking you might not qualify. Even if benefits are reduced due to family maximums, you'll likely still receive substantial help. The application process took about 6-8 weeks for me, but they backdated the benefits to the month after my spouse died. You're being incredibly strong advocating for your family during this difficult time. Your stepdaughter is lucky to have you fighting for her future security.