Has your wife checked her earnings record on the SSA website? It's good to verify that all her past work is properly credited before she adds new earnings. Sometimes there are errors, especially if she had name changes after marriage, etc. Make sure all her previous work is counting toward her future benefit.

I went through something similar when my husband started receiving early retirement benefits and I was considering part-time work. One thing that really helped us was using the SSA's online earnings test calculator to estimate the impact before I started working. You can find it on their website under "Retirement Estimator" tools. It lets you input different income scenarios to see exactly how it would affect benefits. Also, keep detailed records of all her paychecks and hours worked - if there's ever a discrepancy with SSA later, having your own documentation makes resolving it much easier. The annual limit resets each January, so if she starts mid-year, she has less time to reach that $22,320 threshold.

Just to clarify a common misconception I'm seeing in some responses - the fact that your ex-husband was receiving SSDI rather than retirement benefits has no negative impact on your survivor benefit amount. The benefit calculation is based on his Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is what he would have received at his full retirement age, regardless of when or what type of benefits he actually claimed. The reduction in your survivor benefits will be solely based on your age when you claim them. At exactly age 60, you'll receive approximately 71.5% of his PIA. Each month you wait beyond 60 increases this percentage slightly until you reach your full retirement age (probably 67 for you), at which point you'd receive 100% of his PIA. Additionally, since you'll be turning 60 in 2025, your FRA for survivor benefits is 67. This is important when calculating the exact reduction percentage.

I'm in a very similar situation and found this thread incredibly helpful! My ex-husband passed away in 2023 while on SSDI, and I'll be turning 60 next month. After reading everyone's experiences, I'm now questioning whether I should file immediately or wait a bit longer. My biggest concern is the earnings test - I'm making about $40,000 annually and really can't afford to quit working. From what I'm understanding, most of my survivor benefits would be withheld due to the earnings limit. But I keep going back and forth on whether it's worth filing anyway just to get the process started. Has anyone here actually done the math on whether the eventual recalculation at FRA makes up for the hassle of dealing with withheld benefits? And does anyone know if there are any other benefits to having the survivor claim active (like qualifying for Medicare earlier) even if payments are being withheld? I've been trying to get through to SSA for weeks with no luck. The automated system just keeps hanging up on me after 20+ minutes of holding. This whole process is so stressful when you're already grieving.

Update: I just finished applying! Took about 25 minutes total. They definitely ask for bank info for direct deposit. The site says they'll process my application and send me a letter with their decision. Fingers crossed I'll get March benefits since I applied before the end of the month! The reduction amount works out to about $160 less per month than if I waited until November, but that's fine with me. I'd rather have 8 months of slightly reduced payments than no payments at all during that time. Thanks everyone for your help!

Congrats on getting your application submitted! That's a smart move applying before month-end. Just wanted to add a couple things that might be helpful: 1. You can track your application status through your mySocialSecurity account - there's usually an "Application Status" section that gets updated as they process it. 2. If you don't hear anything within 2-3 weeks, don't hesitate to call the SSA number (1-800-772-1213) to check on status. Sometimes applications get held up for minor reasons that can be resolved quickly with a phone call. 3. Make sure to keep copies of everything you submitted, including screenshots of your completed application if possible. You made the right choice for your situation - having income now vs waiting for a slightly higher amount later is totally valid, especially since you'll still be collecting for many years to come. Best of luck with the approval!

One more thing to consider - if you're taking care of any children or dependents with disabilities that your late husband was supporting (even if not biological children), there might be benefits available to them. Also, while the 9-month marriage rule is generally strict, there are occasionally unique circumstances where SSA can make exceptions. For anyone dealing with a similar situation, it's worth filing an application even if you think you'll be denied, because: 1. The application establishes your protective filing date 2. You get a formal, appealable decision 3. Sometimes unusual circumstances do result in exceptions In your specific case, since you mentioned you're 58 now, the most viable path would likely be examining benefits based on your 10+ year first marriage when you reach age 62, while comparing that amount to what you'd receive on your own record.

wait i'm confused...if you were with him for 16 years why did you only get married 6 months before he died? not judging just wondering if there was a reason because that timing seems important

I recommend having them run a complete AERO (Automatic Earnings Recomputation Operation) calculation during your call to ensure all your earnings are properly counted. Sometimes earnings from recent years or certain employers don't get automatically included in your benefit calculation. Also - very important - ask them to calculate what's called your "RIB-LIM" amount. This is a special calculation that applies to people who took survivor benefits early and are now considering switching to their own retirement benefit at FRA or later. The RIB-LIM calculation can sometimes result in a higher payment than the standard calculation. Finally, since you mentioned health concerns, remember that the general breakeven point between taking benefits at FRA versus age 70 is typically around age 82-83. If you have serious health concerns, maximizing monthly income sooner rather than later may make more sense than waiting.

How did the call go? I'm curious what you decided because I'm in nearly the same situation but haven't reached my FRA yet.