This is such a helpful thread! I'm 64 and in a somewhat similar situation, though my husband and I have closer benefit amounts. Reading through everyone's experiences, I wanted to add one important point that hasn't been mentioned yet: if you're considering the strategy of taking survivor benefits early and switching to your own retirement benefit later, make sure you understand how delayed retirement credits work. If you wait until age 70 to claim your own retirement benefit, you can earn delayed retirement credits that increase your benefit by 8% per year from your FRA to age 70. So in your case, if your estimated benefit is $1,375 at FRA (let's say that's age 67), waiting until 70 could increase it to around $1,705. This might impact which switching strategy makes the most sense. Also, I second the recommendation about getting professional advice. The Social Security rules are so complex, and one wrong move can cost you thousands over your lifetime. The RSSA certification that Katherine mentioned is definitely something to look for in an advisor.

Welcome to everyone who's new to this discussion! This has been such an informative thread. I wanted to add one more important consideration that might help with your planning: the impact of working while receiving benefits. If you're planning to continue working after claiming Social Security (whether retirement or survivor benefits), be aware of the earnings test if you haven't reached your Full Retirement Age yet. For 2024, if you're under FRA, you can earn up to $22,320 without any benefit reduction. Above that, they reduce your benefits by $1 for every $2 you earn over the limit. However, this is particularly relevant to survivor benefit strategy because if you take survivor benefits early (say at 60) and continue working, the earnings test could significantly reduce or even eliminate your benefits temporarily. The good news is that once you reach FRA, there's no earnings limit, and they'll recalculate your benefit to give you credit for any months that were reduced due to the earnings test. This is another reason why the timing of when to claim which benefit becomes so strategic, especially if you're still working. It might make sense to delay claiming if you're earning above the threshold, or to time your claim with when you plan to reduce your work hours. Just wanted to make sure this factor was part of everyone's planning considerations!

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! Based on all your advice, we're going to have my wife call SSA to set up an appointment. From what you're all saying, it sounds like she can technically apply now, but it might be easier to wait until a bit closer to January. Regarding the reduction for claiming early - we've calculated that and are okay with it. Even with the reduction, the extra income will help us more now than waiting for the full amount later. One last question - does anyone know if they'll need my information during her application process? Should I plan to be there with her for the appointment?

Great question about the timing! I went through this with my husband's benefits last year. Your wife can definitely apply now - the SSA agent told me they actually prefer to have spousal applications submitted at least 2-3 months before the benefits are supposed to start. This gives them time to process everything and catch any potential issues. When I applied for my spousal benefits, they had me bring: - Marriage certificate (certified copy) - My husband's SSN and claim number - My own birth certificate and ID - Last year's tax return The appointment took about 45 minutes and the agent was really thorough in explaining how the "deemed filing" rules work. Since your wife is under her FRA, she'll be required to file for both her own benefit AND the spousal benefit at the same time - she can't choose to delay one or the other. One tip: when she calls for the appointment, specifically mention it's for a "spousal benefit application" - they'll know to schedule extra time and have the right forms ready.

One last thing to consider: Even though you're reaching FRA in January 2025, your payment date will be determined by your birth date. If you were born on the 7th, your payment will typically arrive on the second Wednesday of each month. So your January 2025 benefit would be paid on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. Just something to keep in mind for your budgeting.

One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned - if you're currently receiving benefits from a former spouse's record or survivor benefits, those will automatically stop when you start receiving your own retirement benefits. The SSA should handle this transition automatically, but it's worth double-checking that your benefit estimate reflects your own work record and not any auxiliary benefits you might currently be receiving. Also, if you're married, your spouse may be eligible for spousal benefits on your record once you start receiving your own benefits, even if they haven't filed yet. Just another consideration for your overall retirement planning!

As someone who works in disability advocacy, I want to emphasize how important this thread is! The confusion between SSDI and SSI is probably the #1 misconception I encounter with clients. Your brother is absolutely in the clear to accept his inheritance without any impact on his SSDI benefits or Medicare coverage. I've helped hundreds of SSDI recipients navigate similar situations, and the key thing to remember is that SSDI is an insurance program you've paid into through your work history - it's your earned benefit. The Social Security Administration doesn't care about your assets when you're on SSDI, only about whether you're attempting to return to work above the substantial gainful activity threshold. One practical tip: your brother might want to keep good records of where the inheritance came from (copy of the will, documentation from the estate) just for his own tax records, since inheritances can sometimes affect tax filings even though they don't affect SSDI benefits. But that's purely a tax consideration, not a Social Security one. It's wonderful that your family is looking out for each other during what must be a difficult time with both the loss of your uncle and managing your brother's MS progression. He can accept this gift from your uncle with complete peace of mind!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now, so this thread couldn't have come at a better time! My mom has been on SSDI for about 3 years due to severe fibromyalgia, and we just found out she's inheriting around $25,000 from her sister's estate. I was panicking thinking this might mess up her benefits, but reading everyone's experiences here is such a huge relief. The distinction between SSDI and SSI really needs to be explained better by Social Security - I can't believe how many people get confused by this (myself included!). It makes total sense now that SSDI is based on what you've paid in through working, not your current financial situation. One question for those who've been through this - did any of you notify your local Social Security office anyway, just as a courtesy? I know from what @Yuki Yamamoto said that it's not required, but I'm wondering if anyone chose to give them a heads up just to avoid any potential issues down the road.

Another option to consider is using the callback feature if they offer it. Some government agencies let you request a callback instead of staying on hold - you keep your place in line but don't have to sit there listening to hold music for hours. Worth asking about when you first get through to the automated system!

You can also try calling right around 2-3 PM on weekdays - I've noticed that's often a sweet spot where hold times aren't as brutal. Also, make sure you have all your documentation ready before calling: SSN, current address, old phone number, and new phone number. Having everything organized saves time once you get through. One thing that helped me was writing down exactly what I needed to say beforehand so I wouldn't stumble when I finally got a person on the line!