this is so confusing!!!! how is anyone supposed to keep track of all these rules and limits and trial periods???? and they wonder why people just give up trying to work at all!

Thank you everyone for all this valuable information! I've learned so much. I'm going to call SSA tomorrow to find out exactly where I stand with my Trial Work Period and get clarity on my specific situation. I'm also going to look into both the Ticket to Work program and whether any of my expenses qualify as Impairment-Related Work Expenses. Really appreciate all the help!

To directly answer your question about what to expect in 2025: Based on your 14 years of substantial earnings, your WEP penalty is likely reduced from the maximum by 40%. With the information you've provided, I estimate your benefit will increase by approximately $330-380 per month once WEP is eliminated. To get a more precise estimate, you can: 1. Log into your my Social Security account 2. Look for your PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) before WEP reduction 3. Compare it to your current benefit amount The difference is approximately what you'll gain when WEP is eliminated. Keep in mind that there will also be COLA increases between now and 2025 that will make the actual dollar amount higher.

Thank you all for the helpful information! I've been trying to get straight answers for months. I'm going to request the non-WEP PIA calculation and try to get through to an agent. From what everyone has shared, it looks like I might see an increase of $300-350 per month once WEP is eliminated. That would make a huge difference for me. Does anyone know if we'll receive any official communication from SSA about our specific increase amount before the changes take effect in 2025?

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I've learned so much from this discussion. Just to summarize what I understand now: 1. My husband should go ahead and file for his own benefits when he turns 70. 2. He can't receive spousal benefits based on my record because his own benefit will be more than half of mine. 3. When I decide to file (likely at 70), I'll get my own benefit amount. 4. The higher benefit (mine) will become the survivor benefit if one of us passes away. I appreciate everyone taking the time to explain this. The Social Security rules can be so confusing!

You've got it exactly right, Zara! Your summary is spot on. One additional tip I'd suggest - since you're planning to wait until 70 to file, make sure to apply about 3-4 months before your 70th birthday to avoid any processing delays. Social Security benefits can be retroactive up to 6 months, but you don't want to miss out on any payments due to paperwork timing. Also, keep good records of both your and your husband's work history and earnings - it helps when you finally do file to make sure your benefits are calculated correctly. Good luck with your planning!

One additional consideration that might help with your decision-making: you can actually apply for both your retirement benefits AND your daughter's DAC benefits at the same time. This means you won't have to wait months between starting your benefits and getting her application processed. Also, if you do decide to start your benefits early, remember that you can still work and earn up to the annual earnings limit without affecting your benefits (in 2025 it's $23,400 if you're under full retirement age). This might help offset some of the reduction from taking benefits early. Have you calculated what your daughter's potential DAC benefit amount would be? It's typically 50% of your primary insurance amount, which might help you weigh the financial trade-offs more precisely.

I'm in a very similar situation with my 60-year-old disabled son! We went through the same SSI denial years ago due to assets. What I learned is that you can actually get some preliminary guidance without committing to anything by requesting a benefit estimate that shows what your daughter's DAC benefit would be at 50% of your PIA. Also, one thing that helped us was discovering that if you start benefits at 67 (your full retirement age) rather than earlier, you're not taking a "reduction" - you're just not getting the delayed retirement credits you'd earn by waiting until 70. The way I looked at it was: am I better off with my full benefit amount plus my son getting 50% of that, or waiting 3 years for the delayed credits while continuing to fully support him? For us, starting at full retirement age made sense financially even without the delayed credits, especially considering the Medicare eligibility after 24 months. Every family's situation is different though!

You're making a smart decision to wait it out, especially given the significant difference between reduced and full retirement benefits ($690/month is substantial over a lifetime). Since you already have legal representation, that puts you in a much better position than many applicants. One additional thing to consider - if your husband's condition has worsened since the initial application, make sure your lawyer documents any progression or new limitations. Sometimes cases get approved not just on the original condition but on how it has deteriorated during the waiting period. Also, keep detailed records of all your financial hardship during this waiting period (medical bills, lost income, etc.) as this documentation can be helpful both for expedite requests and potentially for calculating any additional backpay periods. The financial stress of waiting is real and legitimate grounds for requesting faster processing. Hang in there - 11 months is frustrating but not unusual, and having a lawyer significantly improves your odds at each stage of the process.

I went through a very similar situation with my father who applied for SSDI at 64 after a workplace injury. What helped us was understanding that you can actually request a "dire need" or "critical case" expedite if you're facing serious financial hardship - which it sounds like you definitely are. The key is having documentation ready: unpaid medical bills, utility shutoff notices, mortgage/rent arrears, etc. Your lawyer should be able to help request this expedite, but sometimes calling SSA directly (when you can get through) works better. Also, I learned that even if the decision comes after his FRA, the "protective filing date" from his original application protects his rights to full disability backpay from that original date. So you're not losing those months - they're just being delayed. One more thing - if your husband's medical condition has worsened during this waiting period, make sure your lawyer documents that progression. Sometimes cases that might not have been approved initially get approved based on how the condition has deteriorated over time. The waiting is absolutely brutal, but don't give up. The system is slow but it does eventually work for people with legitimate claims.