My sister went thru this last year with her disability claim. The most important thing is to be super detailed about how your conditions affect your daily life. Don't just list diagnoses - explain exactly what you can't do anymore. Like instead of saying "I have back pain" say "I can't sit for more than 20 minutes without severe pain" or "I need to lie down 3-4 times a day for an hour" etc. That's what finally got her approved.

I'm going through a similar situation right now and wanted to share what I've learned. Like you, I haven't worked in many years due to disability, so I'm dealing with the SSI route rather than SSDI. One thing that's been really helpful is keeping a daily symptom diary - writing down pain levels, what activities I attempted, how long I could do them, and what happened afterward. My disability attorney said this kind of documentation is gold when it comes to proving how your conditions actually impact your daily functioning. Also, don't underestimate the PTSD component of your case. Mental health conditions can be just as disabling as physical ones, and the combination of chronic pain and PTSD often creates limitations that are greater than either condition alone. The process is definitely frustrating and takes forever, but don't give up. Your combination of conditions sounds very limiting, and you deserve support. Start that application soon though - even if you get denied initially, it establishes your filing date for any potential back pay.

Current processing times for spousal benefits are running about 3-5 weeks for straightforward applications with all required documentation. However, if there are any complications or missing documents, it can take 2-3 months. I recommend applying about 3 months before you want benefits to begin. Also, remember that benefits are paid in the month following the month they're due for. So your January benefit arrives in February, etc. This sometimes confuses people who are expecting their first payment immediately.

I'm in a similar boat - my husband filed early in 2012 and I'm getting close to retirement myself. One thing I learned from my research is that you should also check if you're eligible for "deemed filing" rules depending on when you were born. If you were born before January 2, 1954, you might have some additional strategic options for timing your applications. Also, don't forget that spousal benefits can be paid retroactively up to 6 months before your application date if you're already past your FRA when you apply. The SSA website has a really helpful benefits calculator tool that can give you estimates based on different claiming scenarios - it's under "my Social Security" if you create an account.

Social Security survivor benefit expert here. Let me clarify exactly what's happening: 1. As a surviving spouse at FRA, you're entitled to 100% of your deceased husband's benefit amount. 2. How SSA processes this internally: - They pay your own retirement benefit first - Then they add a "partial survivor benefit" to reach the total - The sum equals your husband's full benefit amount 3. Why they suggested filing for your retirement: - Retirement claims process faster than survivor claims - You'll get some income (your retirement + 6 months backpay) while waiting - When the survivor portion is approved, your total will equal your husband's benefit - You'll also get retroactive survivor payments back to the month after his passing 4. This dual-entitlement processing is standard procedure and doesn't reduce your total benefit. The rep was actually trying to help you by suggesting this approach. It gets money in your pocket faster while the more complex survivor portion processes.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Ava. Losing a spouse is devastating, and dealing with SSA bureaucracy on top of grief makes it even harder. The rep explained it correctly - you'll receive the full amount your husband was getting, but SSA splits it administratively between "your benefit" and "survivor portion." This is completely normal and you're not being shortchanged. Since you've been without income since October, I'd strongly recommend taking their suggestion to file for your retirement benefits now. Here's why: - You'll get your retirement benefit plus 6 months backpay within a few weeks - Survivor benefits can take months to process fully - Once approved, you'll get retroactive survivor payments back to November 2024 - Your total monthly amount will equal your husband's full benefit One tip: get everything in writing or take detailed notes during calls, including the rep's name and date. SSA processing can be inconsistent, and having documentation helps if you need to follow up. You're doing everything right - hang in there. The financial relief is coming.

Update: I called SSA this morning (took forever to get through!) and have an appointment next week to apply for the survivor benefits. The representative confirmed that since we were married over 10 years and I haven't remarried, I'm eligible even though we were divorced. She also verified I can take these benefits now while letting my own retirement benefit grow until 70. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!

This is such valuable information for anyone in a similar situation! I'm 64 and divorced after 12 years of marriage. My ex-husband is older than me and in poor health, so this thread has been really eye-opening about potential future options. The key takeaways I'm getting are: 1) Marriage must have lasted 10+ years, 2) You can't have remarried, 3) You can collect survivor benefits at FRA while delaying your own until 70, and 4) Act quickly since there's only 6 months of retroactive benefits. Taylor, please keep us updated on how your appointment goes - it could help others navigate this process!

My cousin said if u work for 10 more years after taking early SS they have to recalculate everything and give u the higher amount. Is that right???

I'm new to this community but going through a similar situation - started collecting at 62 and now wondering about what happens at FRA. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! It's frustrating that the SSA doesn't explain these permanent reductions more clearly upfront. I had no idea that the early filing reduction would stick with me forever. For anyone else in this boat, it sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) Your own retirement benefit reduction is permanent, 2) Your spousal benefit might see a small increase at FRA, and 3) You'll still get annual COLAs. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world info that's hard to find elsewhere!