I just want to thank everyone for their helpful responses. I had no idea I might still be eligible for survivor benefits after all these years! I've scheduled an appointment with my local SSA office for next week and will bring all the documents suggested. I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high since my husband was so young when he died and didn't have a long work history, but even a small increase would be helpful with my medical bills. I'll update once I find out what they say. I appreciate all of you taking the time to respond to my situation!

I'm so glad you're pursuing this! Your situation really highlights how important it is for people to know about all their potential benefits. The fact that you've been eligible for survivor benefits this whole time but didn't know it is unfortunately way too common. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - when you go to your appointment, you might also want to ask about Medicare Supplement Insurance benefits if you're not already enrolled. Sometimes people on disability retirement miss out on certain Medicare enrollment opportunities, and survivor benefits can sometimes affect your Medicare options too. Also, don't be discouraged if the first person you talk to seems unsure about the calculations for such an old case. These situations with decades-old survivor benefits don't come up every day, so you might need to ask to speak with a supervisor or specialist who has more experience with complex survivor benefit calculations. Persistence really pays off with SSA! Wishing you the best of luck - I really hope you get some good news that helps with those medical expenses!

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I feel much better now. To summarize what I've learned: 1. The inheritance from my father's retirement account won't affect my Social Security benefits 2. Since I'm at FRA, I don't need to worry about the earnings test regardless 3. The 20% tax withholding is standard but I might be able to adjust it 4. I should keep my SSA appointment to discuss the survivor benefits from my ex-spouse I'll call the retirement plan administrator on Monday to get more details about the account type and tax implications, but I won't stress about it affecting my Social Security. Really appreciate all the insights!

Great advice from everyone here! Just wanted to add that when you do receive the distribution, make sure to save all the paperwork (1099-R form, etc.) that the retirement plan sends you. Even though this won't affect your Social Security benefits, you'll definitely need those documents for tax filing purposes. Also, since you mentioned you're new to navigating all these Social Security rules - the SSA website has a really helpful benefit calculator tool that can give you estimates for different scenarios. It's under the "Retirement Estimator" section. Might be worth checking out before your appointment so you have a better sense of what to expect with the survivor benefits vs. your own retirement benefit. Good luck with your appointment next week!

have u thought about reducing ur hours just enough to get under the limit? might be worth it depending on how much ur kid would get

One thing to keep in mind is that the earnings test applies monthly, not just annually. So if you're planning to retire completely at some point during the year (even if you turn 65), you could potentially receive benefits for the months after you stop working, even if your total annual earnings exceed the limit. The SSA uses a monthly test of $1,770 (for 2025) in addition to the annual limit. This might give you some flexibility in timing if you're considering full retirement in the next year or two. Also, make sure you understand exactly when your FRA is - for someone turning 65 in 2025, your FRA is likely 66 and some months, not 66 exactly.

To follow up on my earlier comment, when your wife files, SSA should automatically determine which is higher - her own reduced retirement benefit or her reduced spousal benefit. However, there's an important timing consideration here. Since you haven't filed for your own benefits yet, your wife can only get her own retirement benefit initially. Once you file next month, SSA should automatically recalculate to see if she qualifies for an additional amount as a spouse. This happens because spousal benefits can't be paid until the primary worker (you) has filed. This two-step process sometimes gets overlooked in the system, which is why having records of everything and following up is crucial. I'd suggest calling SSA or using the Claimyr service someone mentioned about 30 days after you file to ensure the spousal calculation was properly processed.

Just wanted to add another perspective here - I work as a benefits coordinator and see these dual filing situations regularly. Your approach is solid, but I'd recommend getting everything in writing from SSA when you meet with them or speak by phone. One thing I've noticed is that the online system sometimes doesn't capture the nuances of spousal benefit calculations correctly, especially when there are timing differences like yours. The representatives can manually override the system when needed, but only if they understand your full situation. Also, keep detailed records of when each of you files and what amounts you're initially awarded. This makes it much easier to catch errors early. I've seen cases where the spousal benefit adjustment took 3-6 months to process correctly, and having your own documentation helped expedite the corrections. Your timing strategy makes financial sense - getting some income flowing now while maximizing the higher earner's benefit is often the optimal approach for couples with significant age or earnings differences.

This might sound crazy, but have you tried tweeting at them? I've seen some people get responses from government agencies on social media when all else failed. Worth a shot? 🤷‍♂️

Hey Aurora! I went through this exact same nightmare about a year ago. Here's what finally worked for me: try calling the SSA number (1-800-772-1213) at exactly 8:00 AM when they open - set multiple alarms! I also found that Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to be less busy than Mondays. Another trick: when you get the automated menu, press 0 immediately and keep pressing it - sometimes it bypasses the system and gets you to a human faster. Also, make sure you have your documents ready before you even get the appointment - they're super strict about having everything in order. Don't give up, you'll get through eventually! The bureaucracy is frustrating but persistence pays off. 💪