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!!!!!

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.

I'm going through something very similar! I'm 63 and on SSDI for the past 5 years, and my ex-husband just filed for his retirement benefits last month. I was so confused about whether I'd lose my disability payments, but after reading through all these responses, I feel much better about applying for the divorced spouse benefits. The key thing I learned from my local SSA office is that they really do just pay you whichever amount is higher - so there's literally no downside to applying and finding out. My only advice would be to ask them to mail you a written summary of the benefits comparison once they calculate everything. That way you have it in writing and can refer back to it later. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - it's so helpful to hear from people who've actually been through this process!

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!

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

wait im confused. so you CAN suspend disability benefits?? i thought once ur on SSDI ur stuck forever?

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.

Oh, and regarding your specific concern about being paperless - you will still need to check your physical mail. Some communications from SSA are only sent by mail for security reasons, especially anything involving direct deposit changes or benefit verification. They're slowly improving their online services, but they're not completely paperless yet.

I work at a local SSA field office and can confirm what others have said - your earnings record absolutely stays accessible after you file for benefits. The main changes to your online account are: 1) The benefit estimator tools are replaced with actual payment information, 2) You get access to benefit verification letters and tax documents, and 3) The message center becomes more active with payment-related notices. Regarding paperless communication - we're moving in that direction but aren't fully there yet. Important notices like annual COLA announcements, Medicare enrollment info, and some legal documents still come by mail for regulatory compliance reasons. Pro tip: Set up text alerts in addition to email notifications - they're more reliable for urgent account updates. And definitely keep your contact info current in the system!