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just be careful with the grace year thing. my uncle thought he had that but turns out he already used it the year before when he briefly went back to work. they don't tell you when you've used it up unless you specifically ask!!
Great to see you got confirmation from SSA! That grace year provision is such a lifesaver but you're right that it's not well-publicized. One thing to keep in mind - since you'll have those higher earning months in 2024, make sure to keep good records of your monthly earnings. Even though you're covered by the grace year, it's helpful to have documentation ready in case there are any questions later. Also, for 2025 planning - once those new limits are announced in October, you might want to calculate backwards from your June FRA date to see exactly how much you can safely earn in those first 5 months. Since you mentioned getting a wage bump and potential extra shifts, having that target number will help you maximize your earnings without any surprises. The fact that you'll have zero limits starting in June 2025 is going to be such a game changer for your work flexibility!
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my financial guy told me the best thing is usually for the lower earner to claim at 62 and higher earner wait till 70. that way u get some money flowing in early but also maximize the survivor benefit for later. worked good for us!
This approach works well for many couples, but it depends on factors like age difference between spouses, health/longevity expectations, and immediate income needs. It's definitely worth running the numbers for your specific situation.
As someone new to understanding Social Security benefits, this conversation has been incredibly enlightening! I'm 58 and my husband is 61, so we're starting to think seriously about these decisions. One thing I'm still unclear on - if my husband files for his benefits at 62 but I wait until my FRA to claim spousal benefits, will I get the full 50% of his PIA even though he filed early? From Diego's examples, it looks like the answer is yes, but I want to make sure I understand correctly. Also, does anyone know if there are any recent changes to these rules? I feel like every time I think I understand Social Security, someone mentions that the rules changed a few years ago!
Welcome to the conversation! You're correct based on Diego's examples - if your husband files at 62 but you wait until your FRA to claim spousal benefits, you would get 50% of his PIA (Primary Insurance Amount), not his reduced benefit amount. The spousal benefit calculation is always based on what his benefit would have been at his FRA, regardless of when he actually claimed. Regarding rule changes, there were some significant changes that took effect in 2016 that eliminated certain claiming strategies like "file and suspend" and restricted "claim now, claim more later" strategies. But the basic spousal benefit rules we're discussing here haven't changed recently. The key principles still apply: you get the higher of your own benefit or the spousal benefit (never both), and timing matters for reductions. At 58, you have plenty of time to plan this out carefully. I'd definitely recommend getting your Social Security statements updated and maybe consulting with a fee-only financial advisor who specializes in Social Security optimization before making any final decisions.
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Just to add one more point - if you do decide to apply for benefits based on your husband's record, you'll need to provide: 1) your marriage certificate, 2) both your Social Security numbers, and 3) his date of birth. If you don't have his SSN, SSA can usually find it with his name and date of birth. You don't need to communicate with him directly to apply for spousal benefits. SSA has this information in their system and can verify your relationship status when you apply.
That's a huge relief! I do have our marriage certificate and I know his DOB, but wasn't sure if I'd need more information from him directly. Thank you for clarifying what documents I'll need when the time comes.
I'm in a somewhat similar situation - married but separated for about 10 years now. One thing I learned when I went through this research last year is that you can actually receive spousal benefits even if your husband hasn't filed for his own benefits yet, as long as he's eligible to receive them (meaning he's at least 62). This is called "independently entitled" spousal benefits. Also, since you mentioned health concerns, you might want to look into whether you could qualify for Medicare early due to disability. If you can get on Medicare before 65, it might help with those health issues and potentially influence your decision about when to claim Social Security. The separation length really doesn't matter as long as you're still legally married. I know it feels weird after being apart so long, but legally you're still spouses with all the same benefit rights as any married couple.
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One thing to try while waiting: call your local SSA office directly (not the main 800 number) first thing when they open in the morning. Explain your situation and ask if they've had any appointment cancellations. Sometimes they can fit you in much earlier if you catch them at the right time. Make sure to mention that you've already attempted to apply online but the system wouldn't allow it due to WEP.
That's a great idea! I'll try calling my local office tomorrow morning when they open. Do you happen to know if they're still opening at 9am? And should I explain the WEP situation as soon as someone answers or wait until they ask?
Most offices open at 9am, but some open at 8:30am, so check your local office hours on the SSA website. When you call, I'd recommend briefly explaining right away that you need an earlier appointment for a spousal benefit application that couldn't be completed online due to WEP. Being specific helps them route you to the right person faster.
I'm dealing with a similar WEP situation and it's incredibly frustrating! I'm a retired teacher receiving a pension, and when I tried to apply for spousal benefits online last month, I got the same error messages. What's particularly annoying is that the SSA website makes it sound like ALL spousal benefit applications can be done online now, but they don't mention anywhere that WEP cases are excluded. I ended up having to schedule an appointment for February 14th, which felt like forever to wait. One thing that helped me was contacting my congressman's office - they have caseworkers who can sometimes expedite SSA appointments for constituents. It might be worth a try if you're really in a bind financially. Good luck with your March appointment!
That's a really helpful suggestion about contacting your congressman's office! I never thought about that option. How exactly did you reach out to them - did you call their local office or use their website? And did they actually help speed up your appointment, or just provide general assistance? I'm definitely willing to try this if it might help me get seen sooner than March 18th.
Kingston Bellamy
Has anyone mentioned yet that you should APPEAL your SSDI amount if you think it's too low??? You only have 60 DAYS from the date of your award letter to file a reconsideration if you think SSA calculated your benefit wrong!!! Check your earnings record on the mySocialSecurity site to make sure they included all your work years correctly!!!
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Beth Ford
•This is good advice, but just to clarify - you can appeal many aspects of an SSDI decision within 60 days, but the benefit amount itself is rarely changed through appeal unless there's a clear calculation error. The SSDI benefit formula is based on your lifetime earnings as recorded in the SSA system. However, it's absolutely worth checking your earnings record through mySocialSecurity to ensure all your work years are correctly documented. Missing years or incorrect earnings could indeed affect your benefit calculation.
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Isabella Brown
I went through almost the exact same situation two years ago when I was approved for SSDI after my lupus made it impossible to continue working as a nurse. The shock of realizing that LTD and SSDI don't stack was devastating - I had the same misconception that they would be additive income. Here's what I learned that might help you: First, definitely apply for auxiliary benefits for your 17-year-old daughter right away. Even if she only gets a few hundred dollars a month, every bit helps. Second, once you're on SSDI for 24 months, you'll qualify for Medicare which can significantly reduce your healthcare costs compared to COBRA. One thing that actually worked out better than expected was the tax situation - my LTD payments were fully taxable, but a good portion of my SSDI isn't (depends on your total household income). This ended up saving me about $200/month in taxes. Also, look into your state's disability assistance programs and local utility assistance. Many areas have programs specifically for people on SSDI that can help with mortgage assistance or utility bills. Your local Area Agency on Aging might have resources even though you're under 60 - they often handle disability services too. Hang in there - the financial adjustment is scary but you'll find ways to make it work.
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