Yeah there is a fee, but honestly after spending DAYS trying to get through and getting nowhere, it was worth it to me. Got my questions answered in one call instead of trying for weeks. Time is money too ya know!

Here's a summary of what we've discussed to help clarify: 1. If you're married at least 9 months before your husband passes away, you qualify for survivor benefits 2. If your husband passes away while on SSDI, your survivor benefit would be 100% of his disability benefit amount IF you claim at your Full Retirement Age or later 3. If you claim your own retirement benefit early (before your FRA) and later switch to survivor benefits, the RIB-LIM rule might reduce your survivor benefit amount 4. You can choose to receive either your own retirement benefit OR the survivor benefit, whichever is higher (not both simultaneously) 5. You can switch between benefits - for example, take your reduced retirement now and switch to survivor benefits later, or take survivor benefits first and switch to your own retirement later if it's higher The best strategy depends on the specific benefit amounts in your case. I recommend speaking with a knowledgeable SSA representative who can review both your records.

The tax situation depends on your state too! Some states like NM, UT, VT tax Social Security benefits while others like FL, TX, WA have no state income tax at all. Where do you live? That could make a big difference in your calculations.

Since no one has mentioned it yet - you might want to run some actual numbers on the break-even analysis. If your wife claims at 67 versus waiting until 70, she'll need to live until approximately age 82-83 to break even (where the total benefits received by delaying equal what she would have received by filing at 67). Any years beyond that break-even point would favor delaying. Given that a woman who reaches 67 has an average life expectancy into her mid-80s, statistically delaying often makes sense, even accounting for the taxation of benefits.

Since ALS is progressive and your sister's speech is already affected, I'd suggest looking into assistive technology right away, in addition to the benefits applications. Many ALS patients use eye-tracking technology and speech generating devices that Medicare will cover with the right documentation. Ask her neurologist for a referral to a speech-language pathologist who specializes in ALS right away. They can help with both communication strategies and the documentation needed for Medicare to cover communication devices when needed.

I know everyone's focused on the SSDI/SSI question, but don't forget to look into whether your sister's state has a Medicaid waiver program that could help with home care. Many ALS patients eventually need significant assistance, and these waiver programs can provide caregivers, equipment, and home modifications. The income/asset limits are sometimes more flexible than regular Medicaid too. Also, has she worked enough recently to qualify for short or long-term disability through her business? That might provide some immediate income while the SSDI application is being processed, even with the expedited timeline.

does she own her house?? that makes a HUGE difference if she has a mortgage or not. my SIL retired at 63 with just ss and she does ok because her house is paid off.

Here's another option for your sister to consider: If she really doesn't want to work full-time anymore, she could look for a part-time job just to cover her expenses until reaching an age where her SS benefit would be higher. Each year she delays claiming between 62 and 70 increases her benefit by approximately 8% FOR LIFE. Working part-time would also help address the health insurance gap before Medicare at 65, as some part-time positions offer health benefits. Plus, if she finds something less stressful than her previous job, it might be a good transition to full retirement. Just food for thought as she weighs her options.

Update: I finally managed to get through to SSA this morning! They confirmed my husband's application is still processing (ugh) but should be completed within the next two weeks. And yes, with his birthday being the 27th, his first payment will come on February 26th. They also said we'll receive an award letter about 2-3 weeks before the first payment. Thanks everyone for your help!

I actually ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned above. Felt a little silly paying to get through to a government agency we all fund with our taxes, but I was desperate after weeks of trying. Got connected to an agent in about 25 minutes!