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I'm in a very similar situation - 65 and on SSDI for the past 6 years, with an ex-husband who recently started collecting his retirement benefits. I just went through this exact process last month and wanted to share what I learned. The most important thing is that you absolutely need to apply for the divorced spouse benefits to trigger the comparison - SSA won't do this automatically. When I called, they were able to give me the exact amounts over the phone before I even submitted my application, which helped me understand what to expect. In my case, my SSDI was actually $180 higher than what I would get from the ex-spouse benefit, so nothing changed for me financially, but at least I know I'm getting the maximum I'm entitled to. The whole process took about 3 weeks from application to receiving the written determination. One thing I wish I'd known earlier is that even if the amounts are close, it's worth applying because your ex-spouse benefit amount could increase if your ex-husband gets cost-of-living adjustments to his retirement benefit. Don't let the paperwork intimidate you - it's really not as complicated as it seems once you get started!
This is exactly the kind of detailed, real-world experience I was hoping to hear! Thank you so much for sharing what you went through. It's really helpful to know that they can give you the exact amounts over the phone before you even apply - that takes away a lot of the uncertainty. I'm definitely going to ask for those specific numbers when I call. The point about potential cost-of-living adjustments to the ex-spouse benefit is something I hadn't even considered, but it makes total sense. Even if my SSDI is higher now, that could change over time. I'm feeling much more confident about moving forward with this process now. Thank you for the encouragement about the paperwork too - I tend to overthink these things and make them seem more complicated than they actually are!
I'm also 64 and have been on SSDI for about 4 years now. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful! I've been putting off looking into this because the whole system seems so overwhelming, but it sounds like there's really no risk in at least applying to see what I might be entitled to. My ex-husband started collecting his retirement benefits about 6 months ago, and I keep wondering if I'm missing out on additional money. Based on what everyone has shared, it seems like the worst case scenario is that I find out my current SSDI is higher and nothing changes - but at least I'd know for sure. I think I'm going to follow the advice about using that Claimyr service to get through to SSA, since trying to call on my own has been frustrating. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - it's so much easier to navigate this when you hear from people who've actually been through it!
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My sister actually got a spousal benefit for 3 years and THEN switched to her own benefit when she hit 70. But that was under the old rules that changed in 2015 with the Bipartisan Budget Act. You can't do that strategy anymore unless you were born before January 2, 1954. Just mentioning it because there's a lot of outdated advice floating around from people who filed under the old rules!
Thank you for pointing that out! I was born in 1957, so I definitely fall under the new rules. It's really helpful to know that some of the advice I might hear from slightly older friends could be outdated.
Just wanted to add one more consideration that might help with your planning - if you do end up qualifying for a spousal benefit (because your own benefit at 70 is still less than 50% of your husband's PIA), you don't have to wait until 70 to claim it. You could potentially claim your spousal benefit as early as your Full Retirement Age without any reduction, since spousal benefits don't earn delayed retirement credits anyway. This could give you some income starting earlier while your own benefit continues to grow with delayed credits until 70. Definitely worth running the numbers on both scenarios when you check your estimates on ssa.gov!
This is really valuable information! I hadn't considered that I could potentially claim the spousal benefit earlier while letting my own benefit continue to grow. That could make a significant difference in our cash flow planning for those early retirement years. When I check our estimates on ssa.gov, should I be comparing my benefit at Full Retirement Age to 50% of his PIA, or my projected benefit at 70 to 50% of his PIA to determine if I'd qualify for spousal benefits?
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good luck!!! make sure u send it certified mail so they cant say they never got it. thats what happened to my mom the first time!
That's a smart idea! I'll definitely send it certified mail. I wouldn't put it past them to
lose important paperwork! Also, keep a copy of the certified mail receipt with your records. I learned this the hard way when dealing with my own SSA issues last year. You might also want to take photos of everything before you send it - having digital backup copies saved me when they claimed they never received some of my documents. Wishing you a speedy resolution on this!
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I'm sorry to hear about your spouse's health situation. This is such a difficult time to be making these kinds of financial decisions. From what I understand reading through the responses, it sounds like you have a solid grasp of your options. Since your benefit is already higher than your spouse's, continuing the suspension until 70 would likely maximize your lifetime benefits even if the worst happens. Those delayed retirement credits really add up - that's an extra 32% on top of your FRA amount by age 70. One thing I'd suggest is getting exact benefit projections from SSA for both scenarios (your benefit at 70 vs. potential survivor benefits) so you can see the actual dollar amounts. Sometimes the numbers can surprise you, especially if there are cost-of-living adjustments or other factors you haven't considered. Also, given the complexity of your situation with the SSDI conversion, suspension, and potential survivor benefits, it might be worth consulting with a fee-only financial advisor who specializes in Social Security planning. They can help you model different scenarios and make sure you're not missing anything important. Wishing you and your spouse all the best during this challenging time.
Thank you Teresa for the thoughtful advice. Getting exact projections from SSA is definitely my next step - I want to see the actual dollar amounts rather than just assuming my benefit will be higher. You're also right about considering a Social Security specialist. I've been trying to figure this all out on my own, but given how much money is at stake over our lifetimes, paying for expert advice might be worth it. The fee-only approach makes sense so there's no conflict of interest. I appreciate the kind words about our situation too.
I'm so sorry to hear about your spouse's diagnosis - that must be incredibly overwhelming to deal with while trying to navigate these complex benefit decisions. Based on what others have shared, it sounds like you have the right understanding of your options. Since you mentioned your SSDI benefit is already higher than your spouse's Social Security, the math likely favors continuing your suspension until 70 even if the unthinkable happens before then. Those delayed retirement credits could increase your benefit by up to 32%, which would probably exceed any survivor benefit amount. One additional consideration: if you do decide to suspend at FRA, make sure you understand how that affects your Medicare Part B premiums. You'll still need to pay those even while your cash benefits are suspended, so factor that into your budget planning during the suspension period. I'd also echo what others said about getting everything in writing from SSA. With a situation this complex involving SSDI conversion, suspension, and potential survivor benefits, you want to make sure you have documentation of exactly what your options are. Take care of yourself during this difficult time. These financial decisions are stressful enough without the added emotional burden you're carrying.
Liam Sullivan
One more thing - if she's turning 65 she needs to apply for Medicare NOW even if she delays SS benefits!!! Don't mess this up or you'll pay penalties forever!!!!!
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Zoe Stavros
•You're right! We already took care of the Medicare application, so she's all set there. Part A and B will start in March when she turns 65. Thanks for the reminder though - that would've been a costly mistake to make.
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Samantha Johnson
Just wanted to add one more consideration that might be relevant - if your wife does decide to withdraw her Social Security application and wait, make sure you understand the implications for any spousal benefits you might be eligible for. If you're close to retirement age yourself, her decision to delay could affect your options for claiming spousal benefits. Also, since she's already been approved for LTD, that's a good sign that her medical documentation is strong, which should help with the SSDI application if she decides to pursue that route. The fact that multiple people here have confirmed LTD doesn't count toward the earnings limit should give you confidence in moving forward with whatever decision makes the most financial sense for your situation.
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Mei-Ling Chen
•This is excellent advice about spousal benefits - something we hadn't fully considered! I'm 62 and was planning to wait until my FRA to claim, but you're right that her timing could affect my options. We'll need to run the numbers on different scenarios. And yes, the strong medical documentation from her LTD approval does give us more confidence about the SSDI application. It sounds like the consensus here is clear that LTD won't count against the earnings limit, so now it's really about optimizing the timing of everything. Thank you for adding that perspective!
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