I'm going through a very similar situation with my 8-year-old daughter who has severe autism and intellectual disability. We were initially worried about our income disqualifying her, but we got approved after appeal! Here's what helped us: The SSA worker explained that they use a "parental allocation" formula - they don't just look at your total income. They subtract amounts for basic living expenses for you, your spouse, and any other children before determining what counts against your disabled child's eligibility. For the medical side, make sure your son's evaluations use specific language about his "marked" or "extreme" limitations in areas like social functioning, communication, and activities of daily living. The SSA has very specific criteria they're looking for in autism cases. Also, start tracking EVERYTHING autism-related financially - copays, gas to appointments, special foods if he has dietary restrictions, weighted blankets, sensory equipment, respite care, etc. These can sometimes be deducted as disability-related expenses. The whole process took us about 8 months with the appeal, but the monthly payment plus automatic Medicaid coverage has been life-changing for accessing services. Don't give up if you get that first denial letter - most autism cases I know of got approved on appeal with better documentation.

I want to add something that hasn't been mentioned yet - timing can be really important with SSI applications for children with autism. If your son is approaching age 18, the eligibility criteria completely changes and they'll evaluate him as an adult rather than using the childhood disability rules. Adult evaluations are often harder to qualify for since they focus more on work capacity rather than developmental milestones. Also, I'd strongly recommend applying even if you're unsure about income eligibility. The worst they can say is no, but if you don't apply, you'll never know if those deeming rules would have worked in your favor. Plus, if your family's financial situation changes in the future (job loss, medical expenses increase, etc.), having an established case file can make reapplying much faster. One practical tip: when you call SSA or visit the office, bring a detailed list of questions written down beforehand. The workers deal with so many cases that having specific questions about deeming calculations, medical documentation requirements, and timeline expectations will help you get clearer answers. Good luck with your application process!

I want to thank everyone for the incredibly helpful advice. I've gathered all our documents (birth certificates, marriage certificate, my wife's medical records) and plan to start my application online tomorrow using Chrome as suggested. I'll clearly note my wife's terminal condition in the remarks section and hope it gets flagged for the TERI program. After I get my application submitted, I'll help my wife apply for her benefits and clearly indicate she's applying for both her retirement and spousal benefits. Based on the calculations shared, she should receive around $1,350 total between the two, which will really help with our expenses. I'm also going to check out that Claimyr service since it sounds like I'll need to speak with SSA at some point about the spousal benefits. Being able to avoid long wait times would be a huge relief given my caregiving responsibilities. You've all been so supportive and informative - it's made a stressful situation much more manageable. I'll update on how things go after we submit our applications.

I'm so sorry to hear about your wife's diagnosis. As someone who works with seniors navigating Social Security, I wanted to add a few practical tips that might help: First, when you submit your online application, save a copy of everything before hitting submit. The system can be glitchy and you don't want to lose your work. Also, after submission, you'll get a receipt number - keep that handy as it helps SSA locate your case quickly. For your wife's application, consider doing it as soon as possible after yours is processed. There's no advantage to waiting, and given her condition, getting benefits started sooner rather than later is important. One thing I haven't seen mentioned - if you're caring for her full-time and she qualifies for disability benefits due to her terminal illness, that could potentially change the benefit calculation. Terminal cancer often qualifies for expedited disability processing under their Compassionate Allowances program, which could provide higher monthly payments than regular retirement benefits. You might want to ask about this when you speak with SSA. The disability route could be worth exploring alongside the retirement/spousal benefits path. Sending you both strength during this challenging time.

I went through this exact situation with my dad when he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. He was terrified to stop working but physically couldn't keep up with his normal duties anymore. Here's what we learned that might help your sister: The $1,850/month she's earning is technically above the SGA limit, BUT there are exceptions for cancer patients, especially stage 4. Document everything about how her work capacity has changed - reduced hours, needing help from coworkers, frequent absences for treatment, etc. This shows "diminished earning capacity" which SSA can consider. Also, make sure her oncologist includes specific functional limitations in their report - like "can only stand for 15 minutes at a time" or "requires rest breaks every 2 hours due to fatigue." The more specific, the better. One thing that really helped us was keeping a daily log of her symptoms and how they affect her ability to work. Even just a week or two of documentation can be powerful evidence. My dad's case was approved in about 5 weeks under Compassionate Allowance, and he was still working reduced hours when he applied. Stay strong - you're being such a good advocate for her during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry your sister is going through this. As someone who works in disability advocacy, I want to emphasize a few critical points that haven't been fully covered: 1. **Apply immediately** - Don't wait. Stage 4 renal cancer is on the Compassionate Allowances list, which means faster processing (typically 2-4 weeks vs 3-6 months). 2. **The SGA issue is manageable** - While her $1,850/month is above the $1,550 SGA threshold, there are several ways around this for cancer patients: - Document that her employer is providing "subsidized employment" (paying her the same rate despite reduced productivity) - Show this is an "unsuccessful work attempt" due to medical limitations - Emphasize that her continued work is temporary while awaiting approval 3. **Key documentation needed**: - Oncologist's detailed RFC form stating specific limitations - Letter from employer explaining accommodations being made - Treatment records showing stage 4 diagnosis and prognosis - Documentation of missed work days/reduced productivity 4. **Use the magic words**: Make sure her application specifically mentions "Compassionate Allowances" and if her prognosis is less than 12 months, request "TERI" (Terminal Illness) designation. The system isn't perfect, but with proper documentation and the right approach, stage 4 cancer cases do get approved even when the person is still working reduced hours. Stay strong!

To summarize what's been discussed and add a bit more clarity: 1. The earliest your husband could receive spousal benefits is age 62, with a reduction (approximately 30-35% less than at his FRA). 2. If he significantly reduces his work or stops completely at 57, this could affect his own future benefit calculation since SSA uses the highest 35 years of earnings. Low-earning or zero years could reduce his personal benefit. 3. The spousal benefit would be up to 50% of your Primary Insurance Amount (your benefit at your FRA), but is reduced if claimed before his FRA. 4. He will always receive the higher of either his own benefit or the spousal benefit, not both. 5. For survivor benefits, he could claim as early as age 60 if you predeceased him, with a reduction. At his FRA, he would receive 100% of your benefit. 6. If your husband is considering reducing work significantly at 57, you might want to evaluate other retirement income sources to bridge the gap until he can claim Social Security benefits.

One thing to keep in mind is that when you switch from survivor benefits to your own retirement benefits at 70, make sure you understand how this affects the spousal benefit calculation for your husband. The spousal benefit will be based on YOUR Primary Insurance Amount (what you'd get at your FRA), not the higher amount you'll receive by waiting until 70. So even though you're maximizing your own benefit by waiting, your husband's potential spousal benefit won't increase beyond that 50% of your PIA. Also, since you mentioned you both had comparable earnings, definitely run the numbers on his own projected benefit vs. the spousal benefit before making any decisions about him reducing work at 57.

Based on everything in this thread, here's my recommendation: 1. Take your unemployment benefits immediately after separation 2. Don't file for SS until at least your FRA (66+4mo) if you can afford to wait 3. Ensure your severance is properly structured as a lump sum for past service 4. Consider waiting until 70 for SS if financially feasible - that's a 76% higher monthly payment than filing at 64 5. Speak with a tax professional about managing the tax implications Having an exact calculation of your benefit amounts at different ages is crucial for this decision. Get your Social Security statement online at my.ssa.gov or contact SSA directly.

One more thing to consider - if you're eligible for maximum unemployment benefits in Illinois, that's currently $484/week (about $25k annually). Combined with your $38k severance, you'd have roughly $63k to work with for the year. Since you mentioned your wife is already collecting SS, make sure you understand whether she's receiving benefits based on her own work record or spousal benefits. If she's getting spousal benefits based on your (not-yet-filed) record, there could be some complications. Also, don't overlook COBRA for health insurance during this transition period. You'll need coverage until Medicare kicks in at 65, and losing employer coverage is a qualifying event. The premiums might be steep, but it's often better than marketplace plans for comprehensive coverage. Good luck with your decision - sounds like you're being very thoughtful about planning this transition!