Looking at your numbers more carefully, there's something important to consider for your long-term planning: If you wait until your FRA (66+8mo), your own benefit would be $1,750. The full 50% spousal benefit based on your husband's $2,900 PIA would be $1,450. Since your own benefit at FRA ($1,750) is greater than the spousal benefit ($1,450), you would not receive a spousal top-up even at FRA. However, your husband's benefit will be significantly reduced by claiming at 63 (about 22.5% reduction). You both might want to reconsider your filing strategy if your financial situation allows waiting longer.

You're absolutely right to rethink your approach! Based on what others have explained here, it sounds like you have a relatively strong work record that eliminates any spousal benefit advantage. One thing to consider is the break-even analysis - at what age would the higher monthly payments from waiting offset the years of missed payments from filing early? For many people, this break-even point is around age 78-80. Also, don't forget about the earnings test if either of you plans to work after claiming. If you're under FRA and earn more than $22,320 (2024 limit), Social Security will withhold $1 for every $2 you earn above that limit. Have you looked into filing strategies like "file and suspend" or considered whether one of you might benefit from delaying until age 70 for the delayed retirement credits? Sometimes a mixed approach works better than both spouses filing at the same time.

Just wanted to share my recent experience since I see some conflicting advice here. My husband applied exactly 3 months before his intended start date and everything went smoothly. The online application really is the way to go - much faster than trying to get an appointment at the local office. One tip that helped us: create a my Social Security account first if you don't already have one. It makes the application process smoother and you can check the status afterward. Also, don't forget that once he starts receiving benefits, he'll get a 1099-SSA for tax purposes, so keep that in mind for next year's taxes. The payment schedule based on birth date is exactly right - since your husband was born on the 25th, expect payments on the 4th Wednesday of each month. Good luck with everything!

I went through this exact situation with my mother last year and wanted to share what we learned. First, definitely apply online - it's much more efficient than the office visits. Since your husband reaches FRA on March 25th, his first full month of eligibility would be April, so his first payment would arrive in May on the 4th Wednesday (since he was born on the 25th). One thing I'd strongly recommend is setting up the my Social Security account before you start the application - it makes everything smoother and you can track the status. Also, since his employer insurance ends when he retires, make sure to indicate this during the application so they can coordinate his Medicare Part B enrollment properly. The 3-month advance application window is generally recommended, but since you're cutting it close in November, I'd suggest applying as soon as possible. Don't panic though - they do allow some retroactive benefits if you're past FRA. Just make sure to call and confirm they received your application after submitting it online. Good luck!

does ur husband have good retirement besides ss? my friend had to go back to work when her kid turned 16 cuz of this stupid rule

I'm dealing with a similar situation and wanted to share some practical advice. When my oldest turned 18 last year, SSA automatically sent the school verification form (SSA-1372) about 2 months before his birthday. Make sure your school's registrar knows to expect this - some schools aren't familiar with the process and it can delay things. Also, regarding the benefit gap you'll face - I started planning for this 2 years ahead by gradually increasing my work hours and building up savings. The loss of your mother's benefits when your youngest turns 16 will be significant, so the earlier you can start preparing financially, the better. One thing that helped me was creating a timeline of when each benefit would end so I could budget accordingly. Your 17-year-old's benefits will stop at 18 (or 19 if still in school), then your 15-year-old's benefits will follow the same pattern. Planning ahead made the transition much smoother for our family.

Thank you all so much for your advice and sharing your experiences. We're going to apply immediately and make sure her doctors document everything thoroughly. I've already started gathering all her medical records. One last question - does anyone know if private disability insurance through her employer affects the SSDI application? She has some short-term disability coverage through work.

I'm going through a similar situation with my sister right now. She has Stage 4 ovarian cancer and we just got her SSDI approved through Compassionate Allowance last month - took about 7 weeks from application to approval letter. A few things that really helped us: 1) We applied online at ssa.gov - it was faster than going to the office 2) Her oncologist wrote a detailed letter specifically for the disability application explaining her prognosis and limitations 3) We made sure to include ALL treatment records, not just the diagnosis The key thing about working - she was doing freelance work (about $800/month) when we applied and it didn't hurt the application at all since it was under the SGA limit. They actually told us it was better to apply while she still had some work history rather than waiting. One tip: when you apply online, there's a section where you can upload documents. We scanned and uploaded everything immediately rather than mailing it later. I think this helped speed things up. Best of luck to you both. The waiting is horrible but don't give up hope.

Thank you everyone for your helpful responses. This clarifies so much for us. I'll make sure to work with the hospice social worker to look into the additional medical cost assistance programs mentioned, and I'll definitely make sure my dad has his direct deposit information on file with SSA. It sounds like there's no benefit to pursuing the compassionate allowance route in our situation, which helps us focus our energy on more productive paths. I truly appreciate all of your insights and experiences during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry about your mother's diagnosis. This is such a difficult time for your family. Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - if your parents haven't already, make sure they have all the important paperwork organized (Social Security cards, Medicare cards, bank account info, etc.) in one place that your dad can easily access. When my grandmother was going through something similar, we found it really helpful to have everything ready ahead of time so my grandfather didn't have to search for documents while dealing with grief. Also, consider having your mom sign any necessary forms or authorizations now while she's still able to, so your dad can handle things on her behalf if needed later. The community here has given you excellent advice about the Social Security aspects - I hope some of the other assistance programs work out to help with costs.