Just to provide a bit more context on why this system exists this way: The intention of SSDI is to provide income to those who cannot work due to disability, essentially replacing the income you would have earned until retirement age. The intention of delayed retirement credits is to compensate people for delaying the start of their benefits. Since SSDI recipients already receive benefits early, the system doesn't allow for both advantages (early receipt and delayed credits). There's no way to "pause" SSDI at FRA and then restart as retirement at 70 with increases.

As someone new to this whole SSDI system, I really appreciate this detailed discussion! I'm currently going through the application process and was wondering about these same things. It's disappointing to learn that we can't get those delayed retirement credits, but like others have said, at least we're getting our full benefit amount years earlier than we would otherwise. One question though - does anyone know if there are any other ways our benefits might increase over time besides the annual COLA adjustments? I'm trying to understand what to expect for long-term financial planning.

As someone who recently went through a similar situation with my disabled son, I want to emphasize a few key points that haven't been fully covered: 1. **Timing is crucial** - Since you're filing at 65 (before your FRA), your reduced retirement benefit will also reduce your daughter's DAC benefit. Consider whether waiting until your FRA might result in higher overall family benefits. 2. **Medicaid gap planning** - This is the biggest concern. In many states, there's a gap between losing SSI-related Medicaid and qualifying for Medicare (24 months after DAC starts). Contact your state's SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) counselor to understand your options. 3. **Income reporting changes** - Your daughter will need to stop reporting income to SSI once DAC begins, but there can be overpayment issues if not timed correctly. 4. **Representative payee considerations** - If you're currently your daughter's SSI representative payee, you'll need to establish this role for DAC benefits too. My recommendation: Get the estimates first, then consult with a certified benefits planner (CDFA or similar) before making any applications. The math can be complex, and the Medicaid implications vary significantly by state. Don't rush into this without understanding all the consequences.

I work as a benefits counselor and want to add some important details about the appointment process and documentation: **For the SSA appointment:** - Call and specifically request a "complex family benefits consultation" when scheduling - Ask if your local office has a Disability Program Specialist available - Bring TWO sets of all documents (they often keep copies) - Include your daughter's most recent Function Report (SSA-3373) if available **Critical timing consideration:** Since your daughter is already 29 and has been on SSI since 18, make sure SSA has current medical evidence that her disability began before age 22. Sometimes they need updated documentation to establish the "childhood disability" requirement for DAC eligibility. **Regarding estimates vs. application:** I always recommend getting estimates first, especially in your situation. Once you apply, certain decisions become harder to reverse. The estimates will help you model different scenarios (filing now vs. waiting until FRA). **Medicare/Medicaid bridge:** Look into your state's "Medicare Savings Programs" (QMB, SLMB, QI) which can help with Medicare costs during the transition. Some states also have "Working Disabled" Medicaid programs that might apply. The family maximum calculation is complex, but generally your daughter's DAC benefit will be higher than her current SSI, and the asset limits disappearing is a huge advantage for her long-term financial security.

Just to share what I learned after meeting with a financial planner specializing in retirement - those tiny reductions for being so close to FRA aren't really significant in the grand scheme. What matters more is: 1) Do you need the money now? 2) Are you still working? and 3) What's your life expectancy based on your health and family history? With just 2 months' difference, this is more of a personal preference decision than a major financial one. Either choice is reasonable! Best of luck with your retirement - sounds like you've planned well!

I'm in a similar boat - turning 67 in June and considering starting benefits a month or two early. One thing I've been researching is whether there are any state tax implications to consider. Some states don't tax Social Security at all, while others do, and the timing of when you start might affect which tax year those benefits fall into. Also, have you considered the impact on your overall tax situation? If you have other retirement income (sounds like you have a pension), starting SS a couple months early might push you into a different tax bracket for part of the year. Probably not a huge deal with just 2 months, but worth running the numbers. Your situation sounds very manageable either way - the financial difference is minimal, so it really comes down to your personal preference and immediate cash flow needs.

Just to summarize what's been covered for clarity: 1. If you wait until 70 to claim and then pass away, your wife would receive your full benefit amount including delayed retirement credits as her survivor benefit (assuming she's at her FRA when claiming survivor benefits) 2. This is often the optimal strategy for married couples with disparate benefit amounts 3. If she claims survivor benefits before her FRA, they will be reduced 4. She has flexibility to claim her own benefit and survivor benefit at different times 5. COLA increases that accumulate while you delay will also be included in the survivor benefit Based on what you've shared, your strategy of delaying to 70 seems very sound, especially given your family longevity history and the significant difference between your and your wife's benefit amounts.

This is such a great discussion! I'm in a similar situation and have been wrestling with the same decision. One additional consideration I'd add is to make sure you and your wife both understand the "deemed filing" rules that might apply if she claims benefits before her FRA while you're still alive. If she files for her own retirement benefit before reaching her FRA and you're already collecting, she would be required to also file for spousal benefits at the same time (if eligible), and both would be permanently reduced. This could affect the timing strategy some couples use. Also, have you considered using the Social Security calculators on ssa.gov to run different scenarios? They can help you see the break-even points for different claiming strategies. Given your family's longevity and the significant benefit difference, delaying to 70 really does seem like the smart move for maximizing lifetime household benefits.

Thank you all for this amazing advice. I think I understand it better now. My wife will track her earnings carefully for Jan-May 2025, making sure to stay under the monthly limit (around $4,960) as much as possible. We'll watch out for bonuses and vacation pay too. I'm going to have her call SSA to report her expected earnings for those months, and we'll use that Claimyr service if we can't get through normally. Then once she hits FRA in June, she can earn unlimited amounts without affecting her benefits. Is there anything I'm still missing or misunderstanding?

Just wanted to add one more piece of advice from my experience helping clients with this situation: make sure your wife understands that the earnings test applies to her GROSS earnings, not her net take-home pay after taxes and deductions. I've seen people get confused about this and accidentally exceed the limit because they were only tracking their net pay. Also, if she has any self-employment income (like freelance work or a small side business), the rules can be more complex since they look at net earnings from self-employment rather than gross. But for regular W-2 employment income, it's straightforward - just track the gross wages shown on her paystubs. One last thing: if she does accidentally go over the limit in any month, don't panic. As others mentioned, SSA is generally reasonable about working with you to resolve overpayments, especially if you report the issue promptly and work with them in good faith.