no u dont have to tell them before working!! just report it on taxes. thats what i do and im way over the limit. they just send me a letter once a year saying they adjusted my benefit.

One clarification on the earnings limit - truck drivers need to be careful about how they calculate their income. If your husband is an independent contractor (1099 worker), SSA counts net earnings from self-employment, not gross income. If he's a W-2 employee, they count gross wages. This difference can significantly impact how much is withheld. Also, only income from actual work counts toward the earnings limit. Investment income, pension payments, or other government benefits don't count against the limit. From what you've described, having him work while receiving reduced benefits probably makes more financial sense than withdrawing the application entirely.

Does anyone know if you'll get the increased benefits AUTOMATICALLY or do we have to reapply? I don't trust the SSA to just adjust everything properly!

My cousin works for the SS office and she told me that Jan. 1st 2026 is when the 100% starts not this year.

SS is THE WORST with these kinds of complex family situations!!! I've been dealing with them for years with my disabled son and working spouse. Got hit with a $7,000 overpayment because nobody could give me a straight answer about reporting requirements. THEN they had the nerve to tell me I should have known better!!! The system is designed to fail us. Good luck getting a straight answer even if you call.

Thank you everyone for the responses. I'm going to try the mobile app first for reporting, and then try to get an appointment with a Claims Specialist who understands concurrent entitlement situations. I'll make sure to get everything in writing and keep good records of all our reporting. Just to clarify - my spouse benefits are definitely under the child-in-care provision because of our disabled adult daughter, not regular spousal benefits (which I know I couldn't get until 62). It sounds like both my wife and daughter need to report their earnings directly to SSA, regardless of employer reporting. I appreciate all the helpful information!

Since you mentioned your health isn't the best, here's another strategy to consider: Apply for reduced survivor benefits now, but ALSO apply for SSDI (disability benefits). If approved for SSDI, you'd receive your full retirement benefit amount without reduction. The SSDI approval process is lengthy and often involves appeals, but it's worth pursuing if your health condition is documented and severe enough to limit your ability to work. You can apply for both benefits simultaneously. This approach gives you some income now through survivor benefits while potentially securing your full retirement rate through SSDI if your health deteriorates further.

Thank you all for the helpful advice. I've scheduled an appointment with SSA (took forever to get through) to review my specific numbers. Going to get documentation of all my options before making a decision. I think I'm leaning toward taking the survivor benefit now and then switching to my own retirement benefit at 70, but I want to see the actual dollar amounts first. Will update once I have more information!

My aunt just went thru this exact thing last yr. SSA gave her a nice chunk of backpay for 6 months plus her monthly check went up by like $800 or something. She was so mad nobody told her sooner!

One more important point - when you call SSA, specifically ask for the "spousal benefit" or "spouse's benefit" by name. Sometimes if you just say you want to see if you can get a higher benefit, the representative might not check all options. Be sure to mention that your husband's benefit is significantly higher than yours and you believe you qualify for a spousal top-up benefit. Write down the name of the representative you speak with and ask for a confirmation number for your application.