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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
I had no idea about the disability freeze! What exactly should she ask about? Is there specific terminology she should use when mentioning this?
Tell her to specifically ask: "Since my husband was on SSDI, is there a disability freeze on his earnings record, and how does that affect my survivor benefit calculation?" They should check if years of zero/low earnings due to disability were excluded from his benefit calculation. If they act confused just keep asking to speak to someone who understands disability freezes and PIA calculations!
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.
Thank you for breaking down the exact percentages and monthly reduction rate. That helps tremendously with the decision. Since her husband's benefit was around $2,300, we're looking at about a $94 difference between claiming now versus at her FRA. Given her current financial situation, I think she'll probably claim soon rather than waiting for the full 100%.
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Make sure u bring id also they asked me for 2 forms of id when i went!!
Thanks for the reminder! I'll definitely bring my driver's license and passport just to be safe.
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!
I agree it's complicated, but to be fair, this is a pretty unique situation. Most people don't have multiple deceased ex-spouses with different benefit amounts. The complexity comes from trying to make the system fair for all these different scenarios.
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my cousin got ssi then ssdi later but he did it himself no lawyer. its possible just gotta fill out all the papers right and have good medical stuff.
That's true, you can definitely apply without an attorney. Just make sure your medical documentation is thorough and clearly shows how your condition meets a disability listing or prevents you from working.
Update: I wanted to thank everyone for their advice! I was able to get through to SSA using Claimyr (thanks for that tip!) and confirmed my SSDI benefit would be $972/month - much higher than my current SSI. The agent also explained that because I have more work credits now than when I first applied, my case might be stronger. I'm going to apply on my own first as suggested, and then look for an attorney for the appeal if needed. I'll specifically mention the benefit amount difference when talking to attorneys. Really appreciate all your help!
Great update! Glad you were able to get through to SSA and get the information you needed. That's a significant difference in benefit amounts, which should definitely help when approaching attorneys. Best of luck with your application!
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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.
Because they're COMPLETELY UNPREPARED for this change!!! They'll probably take MONTHS to figure out how to implement it properly!! That's why waiting might be smart!
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.
I really appreciate the thoughtful advice from everyone. I think I'll go ahead and file now rather than delay my benefits, but I'll make sure to document everything carefully and specifically mention the WEP situation in my application. It seems like the consensus is that SSA will eventually sort it out, even if it takes some time for the adjustment to happen.
CosmicCommander
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
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Javier Torres
•No, you don't get two checks. When you reach Full Retirement Age (FRA), your SSDI benefits automatically convert to retirement benefits, usually at the exact same amount. It's just an administrative change on SSA's end - your benefit amount typically stays the same and you continue getting one monthly payment. The advantage is that taking SSDI early (if you qualify) doesn't reduce your benefit amount like taking early retirement would. So you avoid the early filing reduction that would normally apply if you took retirement benefits before your FRA.
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Natasha Volkova
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).
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Amina Toure
•The Medicare info is SO important - thank you! I was actually really worried about health insurance between retirement and 65. I hadn't even thought about checking my employer's LTD policy. I'll look into that right away. The early retirement package includes 18 months of subsidized COBRA, but after that I'd be on my own until Medicare eligibility.
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