When i started SS last year i had to quit my good payin job and find something with less hours cause of this stupid rule!! I'm still MAD they dont explain this stuff better!

Just wanted to add one more helpful detail - if you're tracking your earnings throughout the year, Social Security uses your gross wages (before taxes) when calculating against the earnings limit. So make sure you're looking at your gross pay from that part-time job, not your take-home pay. Also, if you get a raise or bonus during the year, factor that in too. The SSA website has a really helpful earnings test calculator where you can plug in your expected annual earnings to see exactly how it would affect your benefits if you do go over the limit.

Fantastic outcome! This is such a great example of why it's worth asking HR about these timing issues. Many people don't realize they can often request changes to payout dates for exactly these reasons. Your story will definitely help others in similar situations. Enjoy your well-deserved retirement and congratulations on getting this sorted out before it became a problem!

Welcome to the community, Jamal! You're absolutely right about how these timing details can make such a huge difference. I've learned so much from threads like this one too. If you're facing a similar PTO payout situation, definitely start the conversation with your HR department early - as Dmitry found out, they often can accommodate these requests but need advance notice. The key thing to remember is that Social Security counts income when you receive it, not when you earned it. Feel free to ask questions here - this community has been incredibly helpful for navigating all the complexities of Social Security and retirement planning!

I went through this exact situation with my disabled daughter two years ago! She was receiving DAC survivor benefits from her father who passed when she was 19. When I started my survivor benefits at 66, her payments stayed exactly the same - $1,640/month. The key thing is that your son is already established on his father's record as a disabled adult child, and that relationship doesn't change when you start collecting. The SSA rep I spoke with explained it like this: your son has his own "claim" on his father's work record that's separate from your survivor claim on the same record. When I switched to my own retirement benefits at 70, we actually got a pleasant surprise - my benefit was high enough that my daughter could switch to my record and get an extra $85/month! SSA handled the switch automatically and sent us a letter explaining the change. One tip: when you do talk to SSA, ask them to check if your son's disability onset date is correctly entered in their system. Sometimes there are data entry errors that can cause problems later. Also, keep copies of everything - benefit statements, letters, etc. It saved me a lot of headaches when I had questions later.

I'm in a very similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My disabled son (32) has been getting DAC survivor benefits from his father's record for about 5 years now. I'm 64 and have been delaying my own Social Security decisions because I was terrified of accidentally disrupting his benefits. Reading through everyone's experiences, especially @Adriana Cohn's story about the automatic switch to the higher benefit, gives me so much hope. My late husband was a high earner, but I also had a decent career, so there's a chance my son might benefit from my record when I switch at 70. One question I haven't seen addressed: Has anyone dealt with Medicare coordination in this situation? My son is on Medicare due to his disability, and I'm wondering if there are any changes or considerations when the parent starts collecting benefits. I know Medicare and Social Security are separate, but sometimes changes in one can affect the other. Also, thank you @CosmicVoyager for the advice about getting everything documented. After reading about your 6-month appeal process, I'm definitely going to be extra careful about getting written confirmation of everything before making any moves.

Another tip that might be helpful: Consider gathering important documents now while your husband can help. You'll need his Social Security number, birth certificate, death certificate (when the time comes), your marriage certificate, tax returns, and military records if applicable. Having these organized in advance can make the application process smoother. Also, survivor applications cannot be done online - you'll need to call SSA for an appointment or visit an office.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also consider how survivor benefits might interact with any health insurance coverage you currently have through your husband's employer or Medicare. When my neighbor's husband passed, she lost his employer health coverage and had to scramble to find new insurance while dealing with everything else. If your husband is already on Medicare and you're on his employer plan, you'll want to understand what happens to your coverage and whether you'd be eligible for COBRA or need to find marketplace insurance until you're Medicare-eligible yourself. It's another layer of planning that's easy to overlook but can be financially significant, especially if you have ongoing medical needs.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Miguel. I went through this exact situation when my ex-husband passed away 3 years ago with kids who were 15 and 17 at the time. Your children should definitely see an increase - mine went from receiving about $800 each to around $1,200 each per month when they converted from dependent to survivor benefits. A few things that helped me navigate this process: 1. Don't wait for the death certificate to arrive - call SSA and report the death immediately. They can start the process and you can submit the certificate later. 2. The conversion isn't automatic despite what some offices might tell you. You absolutely need to contact them and request the survivor benefits. 3. Keep detailed records of when you call and who you speak with. I had to call back multiple times because information got lost between representatives. 4. If possible, try to get an in-person appointment even if it's weeks out - sometimes they can process things faster when you're there with all your documents. The whole process took about 2 months for us, but we received backpay to the date of death. Your kids should be able to keep receiving benefits until they graduate high school or turn 19. Hang in there - the financial help will come!

I'm sorry for your loss, Miguel. I went through something similar when my brother passed away and left behind two teenagers. One thing I want to add that others haven't mentioned - make sure you ask SSA about any potential underpayments when you call. Sometimes there can be a gap between when the parent dies and when survivor benefits are processed, and you might be entitled to additional payments for that period. Also, if your ex-husband had any delayed retirement credits (since he was 67 when he passed), those would factor into the survivor benefit calculation and could mean even higher amounts for your children. The whole process can feel overwhelming when you're grieving, but the financial support really does help. Keep pushing through the phone calls - it's worth it for your kids' future.