Just wanted to update everyone. I called SSA this morning (took forever to get through!) and the representative confirmed I AM eligible for the spousal top-up right now - I didn't need to wait until my husband reaches any specific age. However, there was a correction to my original post - I miscalculated my FRA. Since I was born in 1959, my actual FRA is 66 and 10 months, which I haven't reached yet. The rep said I can still apply now, but the amount will be slightly reduced until I reach my true FRA in 8 months. I decided to go ahead and apply now anyway, since the reduction is small and I'd rather start receiving the higher benefit amount. Thank you all for your help!

Congratulations on getting through to SSA and getting this resolved! Your update is really valuable for others who might be in a similar situation. It's interesting that even though you hadn't quite reached your true FRA, they still allowed you to apply with just a small reduction. That makes a lot of sense financially - why wait 8 months when you can start receiving the higher benefit amount now, even if it's slightly reduced? The math probably works out better in your favor. Thanks for taking the time to update us with the outcome - it really helps clarify how this process actually works in practice!

don't forget that if you're collecting at 62 your already taking a big reduction on your own benefit. like 30% less than your FRA amount. so waiting til FRA for survivors makes sense if you can

I'm so sorry you and your wife are going through this difficult situation. Planning ahead shows real care and responsibility. From what I've learned through my own research, you have several strategic options to consider: If your wife passes before you claim benefits, you could potentially claim survivor benefits as early as age 60, but they'd be reduced. Alternatively, you could wait until your FRA to get her full benefit amount without reduction. If you've already started your own benefits when she passes, you'd get the higher of the two amounts. Given that her SSDI is $2,450 vs your projected $1,650 at 62, you'd likely benefit from the survivor option. One strategy might be to delay your own benefits past 62 to let them grow (they increase until age 70), while knowing you'd have the survivor benefit safety net. This could maximize your household income while she's still with you. I'd strongly recommend making an appointment with SSA to run scenarios with your actual earnings records. They can show you projections for different claiming strategies. Also consider consulting with a financial planner who specializes in Social Security - the rules are complex and a small difference in timing can mean thousands in lifetime benefits. Wishing you and your wife strength during this challenging time.

I went through something similar with my son who became disabled at 19. The key thing that helped us was getting everything in writing from SSA. When you do talk to them (whether through that Claimyr service someone mentioned or directly), ask them to send you a written summary of what benefits your daughter will be eligible for as a survivor. Also, since her father has other dependents, you might want to consider consulting with a disability attorney who specializes in Social Security cases. Many will do a free consultation and can help you understand exactly how the family maximum will affect her benefits. The peace of mind is worth it when you're dealing with your child's financial security. One more tip - start keeping detailed records of all her medical appointments and treatments now. If they do a continuing disability review after her father passes, having everything organized will make the process much smoother during what will already be a difficult time.

I work as a benefits counselor and see these situations frequently. Your daughter's benefits will definitely increase when her father passes away - she'll move from auxiliary benefits (50% of his PIA) to survivor benefits (75% of his PIA). The fact that you weren't married to her father doesn't matter since paternity was legally established. However, with his current wife and two minor children also eligible for survivor benefits, the family maximum will likely apply. Each survivor would normally get 75%, but if that total exceeds the family maximum (usually 150-180% of his benefit), everyone's benefit gets reduced proportionally. I'd strongly recommend getting a benefit estimate in writing from SSA before any changes occur. Also, make sure your daughter's disability onset date is clearly documented as before age 22 - this is crucial for maintaining her eligibility as a disabled adult child throughout these transitions.

Update: I called SSA this morning and finally got through after trying for 3 days! The rep confirmed what many of you said - they look at net earnings for self-employment. She also explained that they'll take the adjustment from future benefits next year after I file my taxes. I'm going to track my hours and income more carefully going forward, and I might talk to my accountant about restructuring. Thanks everyone for your help!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you can request a waiver if the overpayment creates a financial hardship. I had to do this when I got hit with a $2,800 overpayment notice. You file Form SSA-632 and provide financial documentation showing that repaying would cause undue hardship. Also, keep detailed records of when you work vs. when you don't work each month. If you have months where you truly don't work at all in your consulting business, you can get full benefits for those months under the monthly earnings test that @Luca Bianchi mentioned. This saved me about $1,200 last year during the three months I took off due to a family emergency. The key is being proactive - don't wait for the overpayment notice. Report your estimated annual earnings to SSA early in the year so they can adjust your monthly payments accordingly.

u might try county records office where u got married they can give u copy of marriage license. also check old tax returns that's how my aunt found my uncles ssn

Just wanted to add my experience - I was in a very similar situation when my ex-husband passed. We'd been divorced for years and I had no idea where any of his paperwork was. The SSA office was actually really helpful once I got there. They were able to locate his record using just his full name, date of birth, and our marriage date. I brought my driver's license, our marriage certificate, and his death certificate. The whole process took about 45 minutes once I got called back (the wait was longer than the actual appointment!). Don't stress too much about having his exact SSN - they have ways to work around that. Good luck with your application!