btw have u looked into an ABLE account? its a special savings account for disabled people that doesnt count against asset limits for benefits. we set one up for my son and can put money in it for him without affecting his ssi eligibility. might be good for your situation if your financially stable and want to save for her

To summarize the options for your daughter based on what others have shared: 1. Focus on thorough documentation now rather than applying while your income disqualifies her 2. Consider applying for SSI when she turns 18 (though household support may still affect eligibility) 3. Look into setting up an ABLE account to save money for her future without affecting benefits 4. Understand that for future Childhood Disability Benefits (adult SSDI without work credits), she'll need to prove: - Disability began before age 22 - She remains unmarried - A parent is deceased, retired, or disabled and receiving Social Security The most important thing you can do now is maintain excellent records of all medical appointments, treatments, school accommodations, and how her conditions affect daily functioning. This documentation will be the basis for any future claims.

Just to add to whats already been said - I know with my parents situation my mom gets a small "top off" because her own SS benefit was really low compared to my dads. But thats only because her own benefit was tiny. From what your saying your SSDI is already pretty high so you probably wont get anything extra when he files.

There's a key point I want to clarify here. When your husband files for Social Security retirement benefits (whether at FRA or age 70), you could be eligible for auxiliary benefits as his spouse. However, the maximum spousal benefit is 50% of his PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) at his Full Retirement Age. Since you're already receiving your own SSDI benefit of $2,948/month, you would only receive additional spousal benefits if 50% of your husband's PIA exceeds your current SSDI amount. For high earners reaching the maximum Social Security wage base ($168,600 in 2024, higher in future years), the maximum PIA for someone reaching FRA in 2024 is approximately $3,822. Half of that would be $1,911 - still less than your current benefit. Even with your husband's high income and maximum contributions, it's unlikely that 50% of his PIA would exceed your current SSDI benefit. Therefore, your benefit amount would likely remain unchanged when he files.

nobody knows how long theyll live. take the money now and enjoy life thats my philosophy!

After reading all the comments and your responses, it seems like filing at 62 might make sense in your specific situation. The child benefits alone could total well over $100,000 over the 11 years. Just be absolutely sure both you and your wife fully understand the long-term implications for survivor benefits. One resource I recommend is the book "Social Security Made Simple" by Mike Piper. It's very accessible and covers these complex situations well. You might also consider consulting with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security strategies before making your final decision.

btw when i got my retroactive $$ it was for the full benefit amount for those months not reduced or anything

After you get this sorted out, you might want to check if you made the optimal claiming decision. At FRA, you receive 100% of your primary insurance amount (PIA), but each year you delay past FRA (up to age 70) adds 8% in delayed retirement credits. If you're in good health and have other income sources, sometimes it's more beneficial to delay even past FRA. Just something to consider for others reading this thread - in your case, definitely claim those retroactive benefits!

To clarify the confusion in this thread: @profile5 - I suspect there's some misunderstanding about your situation. It's possible that: 1. You were born before January 1, 1954 (making you eligible for the restricted application) 2. You may have filed for your own benefit, then your spouse filed later, making you eligible for the higher spousal amount 3. You might be receiving a spousal benefit because it's higher than your own benefit The rule is very clear in SSA's Program Operations Manual System (POMS): individuals born after January 1, 1954 cannot file restricted applications for just spousal benefits while their own retirement benefit grows. @OP - If you're experiencing difficulty getting consistent information, I recommend: 1. Get an appointment with an SSA claims specialist (not just a service representative) 2. Ask specifically about "deemed filing rules for people born after January 1, 1954" 3. Request a written explanation of your filing options

Something no one has mentioned yet - even though you're approaching FRA, working part-time earning $25K won't affect your benefits because you'll be past your FRA when you file. Also, don't forget to consider how these benefits would be taxed when making your decision. Up to 85% of your Social Security can be taxable depending on your combined income. Since you're working part-time, you might want to calculate how the additional SS income would impact your tax situation.