Just wanted to add one more practical tip from my recent experience - when you do apply (whether online or in person), make sure you have all your documents ready beforehand. You'll need your birth certificate, W-2s or tax returns for the past 2 years, and bank account info for direct deposit. I made the mistake of starting my online application without having everything gathered, and it timed out on me twice! Had to start over each time. Now I keep a folder with copies of everything so it's ready when I need it. Also, if you apply online, you can save your progress and come back to it later, which is really helpful if you want to double-check any information or decisions about your start date.

This is such a comprehensive thread with lots of great advice! I'm in a similar situation and wanted to add one point about the online application process that might be helpful. When you apply online at ssa.gov, there's actually a really clear section where you can specify your "month of election" (when you want benefits to start). The system won't let you pick a date before you're eligible, but it gives you a dropdown menu of all the months after your eligibility date. It's much more straightforward than I expected! I also discovered that after you submit your online application, you get a confirmation receipt number that you can use to check your application status. This was a huge relief since I was worried about whether everything went through properly. You can call the 1-800-772-1213 number and use that receipt number to get updates on processing. One last tip - if you're still working and plan to continue after starting benefits, the online application actually has a section where you can estimate your future earnings. This helps them calculate how the earnings limit might affect your payments, which ties into what @Dylan Campbell mentioned about the $22,500 threshold.

I'm just learning about all this myself, but from what I've read, people transitioning from SSI to Social Security benefits can sometimes qualify for subsidized marketplace plans depending on their income level. The subsidy eligibility is based on your total household income compared to the Federal Poverty Level. If her ex-spousal benefit puts her income between 100-400% of FPL, she might still qualify for premium tax credits. But you're right that it gets complicated fast! Another thing to consider - some states have expanded Medicaid programs that might provide coverage even with slightly higher income levels. It really depends on what state she's in. I'd definitely recommend she talk to a navigator or counselor through healthcare.gov when the time comes to explore her options during that potential coverage gap. This whole thread has been so educational - there are so many interconnected pieces with SSI, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid that I never realized!

As someone who recently went through a similar situation with my ex-husband, I wanted to share a few practical tips that might help. First, I'd strongly recommend that both of you create my Social Security accounts online at ssa.gov if you haven't already - this will give you access to benefit estimates and make it easier to track everything. Also, keep in mind that your ex-wife will need to provide documentation when she applies for divorced spouse benefits, including your marriage certificate, divorce decree, and her birth certificate. It's worth gathering those documents now so there are no delays later. One more thing - if your projected benefit increases significantly before you retire (due to continued earnings), her potential divorced spouse benefit would increase too, since it's based on 50% of your FRA amount. So both of you benefit from you continuing to work and potentially increase your earnings record. The planning ahead approach you're taking is really smart and shows you care about both your futures!

I'm new to this community but wanted to reach out because I'm currently helping my mom navigate a very similar situation. She was recently diagnosed with a progressive neurological condition and we're in the early stages of applying for SSDI. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about so many of these programs and options. The information about auxiliary benefits for children being based on the disabled parent's work record (not spousal income) is especially valuable since we were worried about income limits affecting eligibility. One thing I learned from our experience so far that might help - our state's 211 helpline (you can dial 2-1-1) was able to connect us with local disability resources we never would have found on our own. They knew about state-specific programs and even helped us understand which applications we could start working on before the SSDI approval comes through. Also, regarding documentation - we started keeping a "bad days" journal where we note not just symptoms but specifically how they prevent normal activities (like "couldn't grip coffee cup," "too fatigued to shower," "brain fog made it impossible to balance checkbook"). Our attorney said this kind of functional impact documentation is often more compelling than just medical records. Your proactive approach to researching options and asking questions is exactly right. Even though the system seems complicated, it sounds like there are more safety nets available than most people realize - you just have to know where to look. This community has been such a great resource for learning about all the possibilities. I hope your SSDI application goes smoothly and that you find good coverage solutions for your whole family!

I'm new to this community but wanted to reach out because your post really resonates with me. I'm currently going through the SSDI application process myself for a different chronic condition, and the uncertainty around family coverage has been keeping me up at night. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly educational - I had no idea about auxiliary benefits for children or how the Medicare waiting period actually works. The clarification that your children's benefits would be based on YOUR work record rather than your husband's income is such important information that I don't think is widely understood. One thing that struck me from everyone's advice is how crucial it seems to be to connect with local resources. The suggestions about disability resource centers, independent living centers, and even calling 211 for local program information seem like they could uncover options that aren't obvious from federal websites alone. Your approach of keeping detailed symptom records is really smart. From what I'm learning here, the functional limitations documentation seems to be just as important as the medical records themselves. The SSA wants to see how your condition actually impacts your ability to work and perform daily activities. I know this whole process feels overwhelming when you're already dealing with health challenges, but you're clearly being proactive about planning ahead for your family. The fact that you're researching options now and asking the right questions puts you in a much better position than many people who wait until after approval to figure out next steps. This community has been such a valuable resource - I've learned more from reading everyone's responses here than from hours of searching government websites. I hope your SSDI application goes smoothly and that you find good solutions for your family's healthcare and financial needs!

I wanted to add one more important consideration that hasn't been fully addressed yet - the impact of your own work history on these decisions. Since you're 63 and still planning for retirement, if you're still working and earning credits, your own benefit calculation continues to change each year until you claim. The SSA recalculates your benefit annually based on your highest 35 years of earnings, so continuing to work could potentially increase your own retirement benefit. This is worth factoring into your strategy, especially when deciding whether to claim reduced divorced spouse benefits now or wait. Also, I wanted to clarify something about the survivor benefit calculation that might not be clear from other responses: the survivor benefit is actually the higher of what your ex-spouse was receiving at death OR 82.5% of his Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). This means even if he claims early and gets a reduced benefit, your survivor benefit might still be higher than what he was actually receiving. Given the significant difference in your projected benefits ($3,750 vs $1,850), you're in a fortunate position to have multiple good options. I'd definitely recommend getting those detailed projections from SSA, but also consider consulting with a fee-only financial planner who specializes in Social Security strategies to help optimize your approach.

Based on all the excellent information shared in this thread, I wanted to summarize the key points for anyone else in a similar situation: **Yes, you can receive up to 100% of your ex-spouse's Social Security benefit as a surviving divorced spouse** if: - You were married 10+ years (✓ for you at 12 years) - You're at least 60 years old (✓ you're 63) - You haven't remarried before age 60 (✓ you're still single) - His remarriage doesn't affect your eligibility at all **Important nuances:** - The actual survivor benefit amount depends on when your ex claims his benefits - If he claims early, there are complex rules (like RIB-LIM) that might reduce your survivor benefit - You must apply yourself - SSA won't automatically notify you or convert benefits - You'll need a certified death certificate to apply **Strategic considerations for your situation:** - At 63, you could claim reduced divorced spouse benefits now (≈35% of his PIA) without waiting for him to claim - You retain flexibility to switch between survivor benefits and your own retirement benefits - Given the significant difference in your projected benefits ($3,750 vs $1,850), even reduced survivor benefits would likely exceed your own benefit - Your own benefit continues growing with delayed retirement credits until age 70 **Next steps:** Contact SSA for personalized projections and consider consulting a fee-only financial planner specializing in Social Security strategies to optimize your claiming approach given all these variables.

Following up on my earlier comment - after using Claimyr to reach an actual knowledgeable person at SSA, I discovered my benefits were calculated wrong for YEARS because regular reps didn't understand how the disability freeze worked with my public employment. Got a nice backpay check! Definitely don't give up and keep pushing for answers.

I work for a disability advocacy organization and see cases like yours frequently. The key thing you need to understand is that there's a difference between a "medical determination" and "technical eligibility" for SSDI. It sounds like SSA found you medically disabled (hence the Medicare) but technically ineligible for payments due to insufficient recent work credits. Here's what you should do immediately: 1. Request your complete SSA file including any disability determination notices 2. Ask specifically about "disability freeze" or "period of disability" status 3. Get a written explanation of how your benefits will be calculated at retirement age The fact that you're on Medicare suggests you DID get a medical disability determination, which should protect your retirement eligibility through the disability freeze provision. The reps telling you that you'll get "nothing" at retirement are likely wrong - they're probably not accounting for the special rules that apply to people with established disability periods. Also be aware that your county pension will likely trigger the Windfall Elimination Provision, which will reduce (but not eliminate) your Social Security benefits. Don't let SSA convince you that WEP means you get zero benefits - that's also incorrect. Document everything and don't accept "no benefits ever" as a final answer until you've spoken with someone who actually understands disability freeze calculations.