Based on everything in this thread, here's what I recommend: 1. DON'T give up SSDI - the Medicare loss and inability to easily get back on if needed make this too risky 2. DO set up a benefits planning session with a Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) counselor - they're free and specifically trained on work incentives 3. DO look into Trial Work Period (9 months) and Extended Period of Eligibility (36 months) for maximum flexibility 4. DO request a detailed written explanation of how his survivor benefits were calculated, specifically asking about GPO adjustment if his father didn't pay into Social Security 5. If having trouble reaching the right SSA person, consider using a call service or contacting your congressional representative's office (they often have dedicated SSA liaisons) Good luck to you and your son!

I work as a disability advocate and want to emphasize one critical point that hasn't been fully addressed: your son should absolutely NOT give up his SSDI without getting a comprehensive written analysis first. Here's why this situation is more complex than it appears: The survivor benefit he's receiving may already be significantly reduced by the Government Pension Offset (GPO) because his father worked for the state. GPO reduces survivor benefits by 2/3 of the government pension amount. So if his father's monthly state pension was, say, $2,000, the survivor benefit would be reduced by about $1,333 - which might explain why it's only $780/month instead of a higher amount. Before making any decisions, request these specific documents from SSA: - Form SSA-1724 (Claim for Amounts Due in the Case of Deceased Beneficiary) - A detailed GPO calculation worksheet - Written explanation of what his survivor benefit would be if SSDI is terminated Also, contact your state's Disability Rights organization - they often have staff who specialize in Social Security work incentives and can provide free consultation. This is too important a decision to make without expert guidance. The Trial Work Period route mentioned by others is definitely the safer path to explore first.

I'm a new retiree and went through this exact same confusion! My FRA was October 18th last year and I was so worried about the timing. Everyone here is absolutely right - you get the full month's benefit for May even though your FRA is on the 14th. One thing I wish someone had told me is to set up text alerts through your MySocialSecurity account so you get notified when your payment is processed. It gave me such peace of mind that first month to get the confirmation text a few days before the money actually hit my account. You're all set - May benefits will definitely arrive in June on that 3rd Wednesday! Congratulations on reaching this milestone!

I work as a Social Security claims representative and wanted to chime in to confirm what everyone is saying here - you absolutely will receive your full May benefit payment in June! The key thing to understand is that Social Security uses what we call the "deemed FRA rule" - when your FRA falls anywhere within a month, you're considered to have reached FRA on the first day of that month for benefit purposes. This means no reduction in benefits and you're entitled to the full monthly amount. Since you selected "earliest month possible without a permanent age-related reduction" on your application, everything is set up correctly. Your first payment will be your full May 2025 benefit, deposited on the third Wednesday of June 2025 (which would be June 18th). Just keep an eye on your MySocialSecurity account for any updates, and don't hesitate to call if you have any other questions closer to your payment date. Congratulations on your upcoming retirement!

Just to add one more point - if you do decide to apply for benefits based on your husband's record, you'll need to provide: 1) your marriage certificate, 2) both your Social Security numbers, and 3) his date of birth. If you don't have his SSN, SSA can usually find it with his name and date of birth. You don't need to communicate with him directly to apply for spousal benefits. SSA has this information in their system and can verify your relationship status when you apply.

I'm in a somewhat similar situation - married but separated for about 10 years now. One thing I learned when I went through this research last year is that you can actually receive spousal benefits even if your husband hasn't filed for his own benefits yet, as long as he's eligible to receive them (meaning he's at least 62). This is called "independently entitled" spousal benefits. Also, since you mentioned health concerns, you might want to look into whether you could qualify for Medicare early due to disability. If you can get on Medicare before 65, it might help with those health issues and potentially influence your decision about when to claim Social Security. The separation length really doesn't matter as long as you're still legally married. I know it feels weird after being apart so long, but legally you're still spouses with all the same benefit rights as any married couple.

my financial guy told me the best thing is usually for the lower earner to claim at 62 and higher earner wait till 70. that way u get some money flowing in early but also maximize the survivor benefit for later. worked good for us!

As someone new to understanding Social Security benefits, this conversation has been incredibly enlightening! I'm 58 and my husband is 61, so we're starting to think seriously about these decisions. One thing I'm still unclear on - if my husband files for his benefits at 62 but I wait until my FRA to claim spousal benefits, will I get the full 50% of his PIA even though he filed early? From Diego's examples, it looks like the answer is yes, but I want to make sure I understand correctly. Also, does anyone know if there are any recent changes to these rules? I feel like every time I think I understand Social Security, someone mentions that the rules changed a few years ago!

One more thing to consider - when you apply in January 2025, your benefit won't actually start until February, and your first payment will arrive in March. Social Security pays a month behind, so February's payment comes in March, March's in April, etc. Make sure you have enough savings to tide you over during that initial gap, especially if your work situation is uncertain!

I'm in a similar boat - turned 69 last month and considering filing soon rather than waiting until 70. One thing I learned from my financial advisor is that you can actually change your mind about the timing up until you receive your first payment. So if you file in January but your work situation stabilizes, you could potentially withdraw your application before February and wait until 70 after all. Also, regarding your question about continuing to work - I've been tracking this closely and yes, even after you start benefits, any year where your earnings are higher than one of your current "top 35" earning years will boost your benefit. The recalculation happens automatically, though as others mentioned, it can take several months to show up. The key thing is having that financial cushion for the transition period. Sounds like you're being smart and practical about your situation rather than just following the "always wait until 70" advice that doesn't account for real-world uncertainties.