Thank you all so much for your helpful advice. I'm going to gather his school records, get statements from family members and his current doctors, and try to get through to SSA to start the application process. I'm feeling much more hopeful knowing that the Disabled Adult Child benefits might be an option, even without childhood medical records. I'll update once we make some progress with the application.

Best of luck with your brother's application! One more tip - when you're gathering those family statements, ask people to be specific about what they observed over the years. Instead of just saying "he always needed help," have them describe specific examples like "I noticed he couldn't manage his money and would get confused counting change" or "he needed reminders to do basic tasks like brushing his teeth even as a teenager." The more concrete details you can provide about his limitations throughout his life, the stronger your case will be. You're doing an amazing job advocating for your brother during such a difficult time.

After reviewing the numbers again, you should be fine for federal taxes on your SS benefits as long as you don't have other significant income sources this year. To avoid surprises, consider having 10-15% withheld from your IRA distribution for federal taxes. The financial institution will have a form for this. This way you won't face an unexpected tax bill next April. And Pennsylvania, where you mentioned you live, does NOT tax Social Security benefits or retirement account distributions if you're over 59½, so you're set on the state tax front as well.

Just want to add one more consideration - since you're reaching FRA in December, make sure the timing of your IRA withdrawal doesn't accidentally trigger any earnings test issues if you have any work income this year. Once you hit FRA, the earnings test goes away completely, but before then there are limits. Also, given that you're dealing with home repairs, you might want to check if any of those expenses qualify for tax credits (like energy efficiency improvements) that could help offset some of the tax burden from the IRA distribution. Every little bit helps when you're managing on a fixed income!

Great news! One more thing to consider: make sure you request a benefit verification letter after everything is processed. This will show your correct benefit amount and serve as documentation in case there are any future questions. You can request this through your my Social Security account online or by calling SSA directly.

Congratulations on getting this resolved! This is exactly why communities like this are so valuable - collective knowledge helps people navigate these complex systems. Your experience is a perfect example of why it's important to question SSA decisions and seek second opinions. The difference between 50% and 100% benefits is huge over a lifetime. Thanks for sharing the update - it will definitely help others who face similar confusion with SSA representatives mixing up divorced spouse vs divorced survivor benefits.

Just wanted to add that you should also check if your husband qualifies for any state disability programs while waiting for Medicare. Some states have programs that can help bridge the gap during that 24-month waiting period. Also, when he does get Medicare, make sure to understand the difference between Parts A, B, C, and D - Part A (hospital) is free for SSDI recipients, but Part B (medical) has a monthly premium. You can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) or stick with Original Medicare plus a supplement. Start researching these options about 6 months before his Medicare eligibility date so you're prepared!

I went through this exact situation with my mom last year, so I can share what we learned. The 24-month waiting period is definitely correct, not 15 months. What helped us was creating a calendar marking her Medicare eligibility date so we could plan ahead. One thing that really surprised us was that Medicare will automatically send information packets about 3 months before coverage begins - don't throw those away thinking they're junk mail! They contain important enrollment information and deadlines. Also, if your husband has any other chronic conditions beyond rheumatoid arthritis, make sure those are documented in his medical records, as some conditions (like certain kidney diseases) can qualify for earlier Medicare eligibility. The waiting period is frustrating, but use this time to research Medicare supplement insurance options - you'll want to have that ready to go when his coverage starts since Original Medicare has gaps.

Since we're clarifying misconceptions, let me address the part about being "married way over 20 years" - that duration only matters for divorced spouse benefits (which require a 10-year marriage). For currently married couples, there's no marriage duration requirement for spousal benefits except that you must be currently married. To summarize your situation: 1. You'll get 100% of your own benefit at FRA in March 2025 2. Your husband's early filing has no impact on your benefit amount 3. You'll get either your own benefit OR a spousal benefit (whichever is higher), not both 4. Since you worked your entire life, your own benefit is likely higher than any spousal benefit If you want to verify all this, call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 and request a benefit verification or speak with a claims specialist.

Just wanted to add my experience to help confirm what others have said. I was in almost the exact same situation - my husband filed at 62 and I waited until my FRA at 66. I was also told by someone at our local senior center that my benefits would be reduced because of his early filing. Complete nonsense! When I filed, I got my full PIA with no reduction whatsoever. Your own retirement benefit is calculated independently based on YOUR earnings record and YOUR filing age. Period. The confusion probably comes from the fact that if you were to take a spousal benefit (which you won't need to since your own is higher), THAT could be affected by various factors. But your own retirement benefit? Absolutely not affected by your spouse's decisions. File with confidence in March! You've earned every penny of that benefit through your 32 years of work.