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.

wait im confused... if your spouse dies dont you get survivr benefits from social security??? my aunt got her husbands ss after he passed away and it was more than hers

One more thing to consider: if you haven't retired yet, you might want to delay your Social Security application until after your ex passes away (if that's potentially on the horizon). That way, the WEP reduction would be calculated using your higher pension amount from the start. This could potentially be better than having your SS benefit established and then reduced later.

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.

To address your question about what happens when your pension runs out: Under GPO rules, if your pension stops, the offset should stop as well. This is different from WEP, which generally continues even if your pension ends.When your pension payments end, you need to notify SSA immediately with proof that you're no longer receiving the pension. At that point, they should recalculate your spousal benefits without the GPO reduction. Make sure to keep documentation showing your pension has ended.If your pension is paid as a lump sum rather than monthly payments, SSA will calculate what the monthly amount would have been and apply the offset as if you were receiving monthly payments. Regarding your 403b specifically - some confusion might exist because 403b plans can be structured different ways. If your 403b was truly a pension from non-covered employment (no SS taxes paid), then GPO applies. But if it was more like a savings plan similar to a 401k where you contributed your own money, different rules might apply.This is definitely worth reviewing with SSA to ensure they've categorized your retirement plan correctly.

Thank you SO much for this information! This gives me some hope that at least when my pension runs out, I might get my full spousal benefit. I'll definitely keep documentation about when my pension ends.And you've given me another avenue to explore - my 403b was partly my contributions and partly employer contributions. I need to verify if SSA is treating it correctly. I'll gather all my pension documentation before calling them.I can't thank everyone enough for all this guidance. I feel much better equipped to address this situation now.