I'm actually going through something very similar right now! I filed for SSDI in October 2023 for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, and I'm still waiting for a decision 16 months later. I ended up taking early retirement at 62 in January because I just couldn't make it financially anymore. Reading all these responses has been such a relief! I was also worried about having to pay back benefits, especially after the person at my local SSA office seemed confused about how it all works. It sounds like the offset system is pretty straightforward once you understand it. The part about getting Medicare 24 months after SSDI approval is huge for me too - my current health insurance premiums are brutal and don't cover much. And knowing that the early retirement penalty essentially gets erased if I'm approved for disability makes me feel so much better about the decision to file early. @Landon Morgan - have you tried checking your case status online through your my Social Security account? Sometimes that shows updates before you get anything in the mail. Also, if it helps at all, my disability attorney said that cases involving autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis often have better approval rates, especially with strong medical documentation. Hang in there!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my perspective as someone who just went through this exact situation! I filed for SSDI in March 2023 for multiple sclerosis and took early retirement at 62 in September 2024 after waiting 18 months with no decision. I was terrified about the repayment issue too - my local SSA office gave me conflicting information and I lost sleep worrying about it. But I got approved for disability in January 2025, and everything everyone here is saying is absolutely correct. SSA handled the adjustment automatically through their offset system. No repayment required! My monthly benefit went from $1,743 in reduced retirement to $2,480 in disability benefits, and I received a lump sum backpay for the difference. The relief was incredible, both financially and emotionally. What really struck me reading through this thread is how common this situation is, yet how little clear information is available upfront. The SSA representatives seem to give different answers depending on who you talk to, which just adds to the stress when you're already dealing with health issues and financial pressure. @Landon Morgan - you absolutely made the right choice taking early retirement while waiting. Don't let anyone make you feel otherwise. The system is designed to handle these concurrent situations, and you won't be penalized for making a smart financial decision during an impossibly long wait. Hoping your approval comes through soon!

I'm sorry for your loss, Gael. What you're experiencing is unfortunately common with the RIB-LIM rule that others have mentioned. I went through something similar when my mother passed - the initial estimate was much higher than what I actually received due to these complex calculations. One thing I'd recommend is requesting your husband's complete earnings record (Form SSA-7050-F4) along with that technical explanation others mentioned. This will help you verify that they're using the correct earnings history in their calculations. Sometimes there are errors in the earnings record that can affect benefit amounts. Also, if you do decide to request the detailed calculation, be prepared that it might take several weeks to receive it. The SSA doesn't generate these explanations routinely, so they have to create them specially upon request. But it's worth having for your records, especially since you're planning to switch to your own benefits at 70. The good news is that your survivor benefit strategy still makes sense - you're essentially getting paid to delay your own retirement benefits until they max out at 70, even if the survivor amount is less than you initially expected.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Gael. The RIB-LIM rule is one of the most confusing aspects of Social Security that many people encounter unexpectedly. What you're describing sounds exactly right - when a deceased spouse claimed early AND had dependent children receiving benefits, it creates this complex limitation that reduces survivor benefits. I went through something similar after my father passed. He had claimed at 62 and my younger brother had received child benefits for several years. The initial estimate they gave my mother was about $400 higher than what she actually received, and like you, she was told it was due to "system calculations" without any clear explanation. The key thing to remember is that this isn't an error - it's an actual Social Security provision, just one that's poorly explained. Since you're planning to switch to your own benefits at 70 anyway, you're still maximizing your lifetime benefits even with this reduction. The survivor benefit is essentially bridging you to age 70 when your own delayed retirement credits will kick in. Definitely push for that technical explanation others have mentioned. It took my mother three requests over two months, but she finally got a document that showed exactly how they calculated her benefit amount.

my father in law got burnt by GPO so bad... worked 40 years for the county and gets zero ss even though he paid in for 10 years at a second job. this whole system is garbage

I'm in a very similar situation as a newer CSRS retiree! Filed for spousal benefits at 62 but they were immediately suspended due to GPO. I've been following the GPO reform closely and from what I understand, the new law creates a more favorable calculation but doesn't change your original month of entitlement. However, I'd strongly recommend calling SSA in early 2025 to specifically ask about your case since you never received actual payments. Some field offices are more knowledgeable about complex CSRS cases than others - if the first person doesn't seem to understand GPO thoroughly, ask to speak with someone who specializes in government pension cases. Also keep detailed notes of who you speak with and when, as you may need to reference previous conversations. The reform should at least get you some benefit instead of zero, which is progress!

Hi there! This is a great question and a common situation many families face. Yes, your son can potentially receive both DAC benefits and partial SSI to make up the difference - this is called "concurrent benefits." Here's how it typically works: SSA will pay the higher of the two benefits first (in your case, the DAC), and then SSI can supplement up to the federal benefit rate if your son meets all SSI eligibility requirements. Since his DAC will be about $60 less than the full SSI amount, he should be eligible for that $60 difference in SSI. The good news is that since your son already receives Medicaid through a waiver, he likely meets the disability requirements for SSI. During your Monday appointment, make sure to ask specifically about: - Concurrent benefits eligibility - How the SSI supplement calculation works - Whether his current Medicaid waiver will transition smoothly - Any required documentation for the SSI application Having that waiver already in place should help streamline the process. Good luck with your appointment on Monday!

I'm facing a similar decision at 63 and this thread has been incredibly helpful! One thing I'd add is that you might want to consider getting a personalized benefit statement from SSA that shows your projected benefits at different claiming ages. You can create an account at ssa.gov/myaccount and run the numbers yourself. Also, since you mentioned your husband will get the maximum benefit, that suggests his PIA will be around $4,000-$4,400 (the 2025 maximum). So your spousal benefit at YOUR FRA would be roughly $2,000-$2,200 (50% of his PIA). If your own benefit at FRA is $2,500, you'd stick with your own benefit since it's higher than the spousal amount. But here's the key point others have made: if you file early now, you'd get $2,200 permanently, AND if you later became eligible for spousal benefits, those would ALSO be reduced because you filed early. So you could end up with less than $2,200 total even when he files. Given that your husband is healthy and plans to work into his 70s, waiting until your FRA seems like the clear winner financially. Those extra few hundred dollars per month really add up over 20+ years of retirement!

I'm glad you're taking the time to research this thoroughly before making your decision! One additional consideration that might be helpful: since you're 64.5 now and your FRA is likely around 66-67, you're only looking at waiting about 1.5-2.5 years to get your full benefit. During that waiting period, your benefit will continue to grow due to delayed retirement credits until you file (though these stop at age 70). More importantly, you'll avoid the permanent reduction that would affect both your retirement benefit AND any future spousal benefits. Given that your husband is planning to work well into his 70s and you mentioned he's in good health, it sounds like you both have time on your side to maximize your benefits. The peace of mind knowing you'll get your full entitled amounts might be worth more than the immediate income from filing early. Have you also considered what you'll do for health insurance if you're not currently working? Sometimes that factors into the filing decision as well, since Medicare doesn't start until 65.