Sounds like a solid plan! Just remember that if you're still working while collecting early retirement benefits, you'll be subject to the earnings test until you reach your FRA (around $21,240/year for 2025 as someone mentioned). Good luck with everything!

Great to see so many people sharing their experiences with this strategy! Just wanted to add one important point that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure to keep detailed records of all your communications with SSA. Save copies of any forms you submit, write down the names of representatives you speak with, and keep notes with dates of phone calls or office visits. This documentation can be incredibly valuable if there are any issues or mix-ups later on. Also, consider requesting a benefit verification letter once your retirement benefits start - this confirms what type of benefit you're receiving and can help when you switch to survivor benefits at your FRA. The more documentation you have, the smoother the transition should be!

I've been following this discussion and wanted to share some additional insights. The confusion here highlights why it's so important to get accurate information directly from SSA. From what I understand, the key rule is that for divorced spouse survivor benefits, you generally cannot receive them if you remarried before age 60 (unless you were disabled and remarried after age 50). Since you remarried at 54 and weren't disabled, you likely don't qualify for survivor benefits on your ex-husband's record. However, don't give up hope entirely - there can sometimes be nuances in individual cases that only a trained SSA representative can evaluate. When you call, definitely ask specifically about "divorced spouse survivor benefits" and mention your remarriage age. Also consider that even if you don't qualify for survivor benefits, you may still have good options with your own retirement benefits or future spousal benefits on your current husband's record when he becomes eligible.

As someone who's also navigating the complexities of Social Security rules, I wanted to chime in with some encouragement. This thread really shows how confusing these regulations can be - even knowledgeable community members are giving conflicting advice! From what I've gathered reading through everyone's responses, it seems like the consensus is that remarrying at 54 (without being disabled) likely disqualifies you from survivor benefits on your ex-husband's record. But I agree with others that you absolutely need to get this confirmed directly from SSA. One tip I learned from dealing with government agencies: when you call, write down the name and employee ID of whoever you speak with, plus the date and time. That way if you get conflicting information later, you have a record. Also, don't be afraid to call back and speak to a different representative if the first answer doesn't seem right - consistency across multiple calls can give you more confidence in the information. Wishing you the best of luck getting through to them!

I just want to warn everyone that SS doesn't always explain all ur options!! My mom found out YEARS after my dad died that she could have gotten more by switching between benefits. No one told her! Make them run ALL the calculations and get everything in writing!!!!

This is such valuable information everyone is sharing! As someone new to navigating survivor benefits, I'm learning so much from reading about your experiences. One thing I'd add - I've heard that it's really important to apply for survivor benefits in person at a local SSA office rather than online, especially for complex situations like switching strategies. The online system apparently doesn't handle the nuances well, and you need an experienced representative who can walk through all the scenarios with you. Also, @Zadie Patel, you might want to consider getting a written benefit estimate for both scenarios before making your final decision. That way you have documentation of what SSA calculated and can refer back to it if there are any issues later. The stories about people missing out on thousands because they weren't told about all their options are really concerning. It seems like you really have to advocate for yourself and ask specifically about switching strategies.

One more important point: make sure you're clear about which type of benefits your son receives. You mentioned DAC (Disabled Adult Child) benefits from his mother's record, which are Title II benefits (sometimes called SSDI). These are different from SSI (Supplemental Security Income), which has much stricter income and resource limits. For DAC benefits, the primary concern is whether he's engaging in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). Since he's not earning income from this activity, it's unlikely to affect his benefits, but as others have mentioned, documenting everything and potentially reporting it is a good idea for transparency. I've helped many families navigate these waters, and in your situation, I recommend: 1. Keep detailed records of all sales, expenses, and donations 2. Consider sending a letter to your local SSA office describing the activity 3. Focus on the therapeutic/social aspects of the activity in your documentation 4. Keep the business funds completely separate from personal funds Regarding forming a nonprofit - this adds significant administrative burden without necessarily providing additional protection for his benefits. A simpler approach might be to partner with the existing animal shelter as a program under their nonprofit umbrella.

I'm dealing with a similar situation with my daughter who has autism and receives DAC benefits. She's been making and selling greeting cards at craft fairs, but like your son, all proceeds go to charity (in her case, a local food bank). What I learned from our experience: SSA cares more about the structure and documentation than the actual activity itself. We created a simple written agreement with the food bank showing they receive 100% of proceeds, and we maintain a separate checking account just for this activity. Every penny in gets documented and donated. The key insight our disability attorney shared: frame this as a therapeutic/social activity rather than a business venture in any communications with SSA. Emphasize the social skills development, routine building, and community connection aspects. This helps distinguish it from competitive employment. One practical tip: consider having the animal shelter sell the birdhouses directly rather than your son selling them and donating proceeds. This removes him from the "sales" aspect entirely and makes it clearly volunteer work/donation of goods. Best of luck navigating this - it's wonderful that your son has found something meaningful to do that helps animals!

Hey Mateo! I went through this exact same nightmare a few months ago. Here's what finally worked for me: I called the SSA main number (1-800-772-1213) early in the morning (like 8 AM sharp) and kept pressing 0 to get to a human. It took several tries, but I eventually got through to someone who walked me through the new verification process. They can do identity verification over the phone now using a series of questions about your credit history and past addresses. Also, make sure you have your most recent SSA statement handy - they'll ask for specific info from it. Don't give up! The system is messy right now but there are ways through it.

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! It's been such a headache since they stopped using ID.me. I tried calling multiple times but kept getting disconnected or stuck on hold forever. Reading through these comments, I'm definitely going to try the early morning calling strategy and see if I can get the phone verification process. Also thinking about reaching out to my congressperson's office like Giovanni suggested - didn't even know that was an option. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, it's helpful to know I'm not alone in this mess!