Thanks to everyone for all the helpful advice! I spoke with SSA yesterday (and yes, I did use Claimyr to get through quickly). The agent confirmed everything about the ABLE account and helped me understand exactly how my daughter's earnings will affect her SSI payment. I'm relieved to know she can save for her future while still maintaining some benefits and especially keeping her Medicaid. We're setting up the ABLE account this weekend, and I've started documenting all her hearing-related work expenses for those IRWE deductions. The agent said her benefits will decrease some, but with the combination of part-time work and reduced SSI, she'll actually have more monthly income overall, which is wonderful. Thanks again for helping us navigate this complicated system!

That's wonderful news! It sounds like you've got a great plan in place. Your daughter is so lucky to have an advocate like you helping her navigate this system. The fact that she'll end up with more monthly income overall while keeping Medicaid is exactly what the work incentive programs are designed to achieve. One small tip for the ABLE account - many programs offer automatic investment options if you're not comfortable managing investments yourself. Ohio's STABLE Account has some really user-friendly options for beginners. Best of luck to your daughter with her new job! It's great to see someone successfully transitioning to work while maintaining the safety net of benefits. Stories like yours give hope to other families in similar situations.

Just sharing my experience - I'm getting survivor benefits now at age 66 (my FRA) after taking my own reduced benefits at 62. When my husband passed last year, SSA automatically gave me the higher amount (his benefit). I didn't have to do anything special because they already had his death certificate from the funeral home. Maybe it varies by state though.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is that you might want to consider using the SSA's online benefit calculators before making your final decision. The Retirement Estimator can show you exactly how much your benefit would be reduced by filing at 63 versus waiting until FRA. Since you mentioned your husband's benefit will be about 60% higher than yours, you can also estimate his survivor benefit amount if he waits until 70. Having those specific dollar amounts will help you make a more informed decision about whether the early filing strategy makes sense for your household. The calculators are free on ssa.gov and don't require creating an account.

I'm so glad you found this information helpful! As someone who went through a similar situation, I wanted to add one more important point: when you call SSA, make sure to specifically ask about the "deemed filing" rules since you're already receiving SSDI. Sometimes the SSA representatives aren't familiar with how SSDI interacts with spousal benefits, so you might want to mention that you understand you can receive the higher of either your SSDI amount or the spousal benefit amount, but not both in full. Also, since you're 62, ask them to calculate both what you'd get now versus what you'd get if you waited until your full retirement age - sometimes the math works out better to wait depending on your specific situation. One last thing - if the first person you talk to seems uncertain about the rules, politely ask to speak with a supervisor or specialist. These cases can be complex and not every rep handles them regularly. Wishing you the best of luck with this process!

I'm a newcomer here but wanted to share what I learned when I helped my neighbor with a similar situation last year. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is that you should ask SSA about any potential "government pension offset" (GPO) or "windfall elimination provision" (WEP) that might affect your benefits. These rules can reduce Social Security benefits if you receive certain types of pensions, though they typically apply to government pensions rather than SSDI. Also, since you mentioned being in Florida now, you might want to check if there's a local SSA field office near you. Sometimes it's easier to get help in person, especially for complex cases like yours where you're dealing with both SSDI and potential ex-spousal benefits. You can find local offices on the SSA website. One more tip: if your ex-husband's earnings were significantly higher than yours (which sounds likely given the potential benefit amounts others have mentioned), this could be a game-changer for your monthly budget. Don't get discouraged if the first call doesn't go smoothly - persistence really pays off with SSA. Good luck!

Update: I finally got through to someone at SSA today after trying for three days. The agent explained that they had initially calculated my benefit based on my husband's estimated earnings for his last year of work, but when the actual earnings were processed, it was lower than estimated. They're giving me options to either have reduced payments for 10 months or pay a lump sum (which I can't afford). I'm still going to file for reconsideration because I don't think I should be penalized for their estimation error. Thank you all for your helpful advice and support during this stressful time. The forms and information you suggested really helped me understand what was happening and what my options are.

I'm so glad you were able to get through and get some clarity on what happened! That estimation issue is incredibly frustrating - you're absolutely right that you shouldn't be penalized for their error. When you file your reconsideration, make sure to emphasize that: 1. You relied on SSA's benefit determination in good faith 2. You had no way to verify their earnings estimate was incorrect 3. The overpayment was entirely due to their administrative process, not any action on your part Also consider requesting a waiver alongside the reconsideration. Even if the overpayment stands, you might still qualify for waiver if repayment would cause financial hardship. Many people don't realize you can pursue both options simultaneously. Keep us posted on how the reconsideration goes - your experience could really help others in similar situations!

This is such valuable information, and I really appreciate how thorough everyone has been in explaining the rules. As someone who's been helping folks navigate Social Security for years, I can confirm what others have said - your husband's early filing absolutely will NOT reduce his survivor benefits. One thing I'd add that might be helpful: if your husband does become a survivor, he'll want to understand his timing options. Since his own benefit will be permanently reduced due to early filing, but your survivor benefit would be based on your full amount, he might benefit from what's called a "restricted application" strategy where he could potentially switch between benefits at different times to maximize his total lifetime benefits. Also, just a heads up - when the time comes (hopefully many years from now), make sure to apply for survivor benefits promptly. Unlike retirement benefits, survivor benefits can't be paid retroactively for more than 6 months, so timing matters for maximizing the total amount received. You're doing great by planning ahead and getting the facts straight!

As someone who went through this exact scenario with my parents, I can confirm what everyone else is saying - your husband's early filing won't affect his survivor benefits at all. My dad filed at 62 and my mom waited until her FRA of 66. When mom passed away two years ago, dad was able to switch to her full benefit amount without any reduction due to his early filing. One thing that really helped us was creating a simple one-page summary of all the key facts - both of their Social Security numbers, their projected benefit amounts, and the key rules about survivor benefits. We kept copies in multiple places so it would be easy to find when needed. The SSA office actually commented on how organized we were and it made the whole process much smoother during an already difficult time. Your planning ahead like this will really pay off if your husband ever needs to navigate this situation. The peace of mind alone is worth it!