wait hold up - ur saying u can collect SSDI and then switch to regular SS later?? does that mean u get two checks?? i'm confused how that works

Something nobody's mentioned yet: if you have enough work credits and are approved for SSDI, you'll automatically qualify for Medicare after 24 months of receiving SSDI benefits, regardless of your age. This could be really important if you're losing employer health insurance and aren't yet 65. In my case, this was almost as valuable as the SSDI payments themselves. Also, have you looked into whether your employer's long-term disability insurance might cover you? Many people don't realize they have LTD through their job that could help bridge the gap while waiting for SSDI approval (which can take many months).

I recommend getting a detailed benefit estimate from SSA before making any decisions. When I was getting disconnected repeatedly trying to call them, I found Claimyr (claimyr.com) was worth it to get connected. Their service got me through to an actual person who pulled up all my numbers and walked me through different scenarios. The video on their site shows exactly how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Made a huge difference to have accurate numbers to work with.

I'm a retired SSA claims specialist, and I want to clarify something important: Your husband being on SSDI prior to death actually works in your favor. Since SSDI payments are calculated as if the person had reached full retirement age (regardless of actual age), his benefit amount wasn't reduced. This means your survivor benefit will be based on his full SSDI amount. Regarding your strategy - yes, it's perfectly allowable to take your own reduced retirement at 62 and switch to survivor benefits at your FRA. However, based on what you've shared, you should calculate whether taking survivor benefits early (as young as 60) and then switching to your own benefit at 70 might give you more money over your lifetime. This depends on your own earnings record and life expectancy. Also, don't overlook the potential for the Lump Sum Death Payment of $255 if you haven't already claimed it. And be aware that remarriage before age 60 would affect eligibility for survivor benefits. I'd recommend scheduling an appointment with your local office specifically for a WEP/GPO determination to ensure there are no surprises related to pensions that might affect your benefits.

I just delt with this last year!!!! make sure ur sister knows that if her husbands check was from SSDI there might be a disability freeze on his earnings record that could effect the PIA calculation for her survivors benefit!!! The SSA ppl didn't even mention this to me until my THIRD CALL and it made a $137 difference in my monthly payment!!!! The system is SO COMPLICATED uggggh

To address your original question more precisely about the percentages: - At 65 and 11 months: 95.9% of his benefit - At 66 (November 2024): 97.2% of his benefit - At 66 and 4 months (February 2025): 100% of his benefit The reduction is approximately 0.396% per month before her survivor FRA. The financial decision weighs immediate need against long-term gain. If she waits from October 2024 to February 2025 (4 months), she gains 4.1% higher benefit for life. Whether that's worth it depends on: 1. Her immediate financial needs 2. Life expectancy considerations 3. The actual dollar difference (4.1% of a $2,000 benefit is $82/month or $984/year) If she's in difficult financial circumstances, taking the slightly reduced amount now might make more sense than waiting for the higher amount.

Make sure u bring id also they asked me for 2 forms of id when i went!!

Did anyone else notice how complicated our system is?! Why should someone have to jump through all these hoops just to get benefits they're entitled to? Two deceased ex-spouses, early vs. full retirement age rules, documentation requirements... No wonder people give up or miss out on benefits they deserve. The whole system needs an overhaul!

Has anyone else noticed that the SSA website hasn't been updated with ANY information about the WEP repeal yet? I've been checking every few days but there's nothing official about how they're planning to implement it.

After reading through all the comments, I want to emphasize a strategic approach. File now, but be prepared for some administrative challenges. The SSA will almost certainly implement the WEP repeal retroactively once it's signed into law, meaning anyone affected will eventually receive the correct amount regardless of when they file. The key is documentation and follow-up. Keep copies of everything, use the Remarks section of your application to note your WEP situation, and be prepared to follow up regularly. While the SSA systems may take time to adjust, establishing your benefit entitlement at your FRA is valuable from a planning perspective. Regarding your spousal benefit top-off, that calculation will automatically adjust based on your new primary insurance amount after the WEP repeal is implemented.