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Not to get off topic but make sure your brother applies for both SSDI and SSI at the same time. I didn't know you could do both and it delayed my benefits by months. The SSA should automatically screen for both but sometimes they don't.
That's really good to know. He worked consistently until about 2 years ago when his MS started getting worse, so I think SSDI would be his main benefit. But we'll definitely make sure both are considered.
An update based on the questions - yes, being in different states is not a problem for either the SSA-3288 or SSA-1696 forms. For the SSA-1696, you don't need to show ID when submitting the form, but you will need your brother's signature on it. The easiest approach would be to: 1. Help him start his disability application online 2. List yourself as a contact person on that application 3. Submit the SSA-3288 form to allow information sharing 4. Only pursue the SSA-1696 if you need to formally represent him later This gives you the ability to help with forms and communicate with SSA on his behalf without the more formal representative relationship that's typically used for attorneys or appeal situations.
Thank you so much for this clear step-by-step plan! This makes it much easier to understand. We'll start with the online application this weekend.
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One more thing to consider - if your husband passes away before you, at that point you would be eligible for survivor benefits. As a widow, you could receive up to 100% of what your husband was receiving (including his delayed retirement credits). So while you might not get additional spousal benefits now, his decision to wait until 70 could still benefit you substantially in the future through higher survivor benefits.
This is exactly why my financial advisor told me and my wife to have the higher earner delay as long as possible - it's like buying life insurance through Social Security! The survivor benefit calculation is sooo much better than the stupid spousal benefit rules.
dont forget about taxes!!!! if you get more SS benefits you might have to pay more taxes on them if your over the limit. my brother got a big surprise at tax time last year
That's a good point. We're already paying some tax on our Social Security, but I'll keep that in mind if there is an increase. Thanks!
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wait i just thought of something else - if ur brother ever gets remarried after 60 it wont affect any of his ss benefits. my uncle got remarried at 72 and was worried but the SSA said it dont matter after age 60!!
That's correct. For survivor benefits, remarriage after age 60 doesn't affect eligibility. However, in this specific situation, it doesn't appear that the brother would be eligible for survivor benefits anyway since his own benefit is likely higher than what his wife's benefit would have been with only 4-5 years of work.
That's good to know! He's not planning to remarry right now, but it's helpful information for the future. Thanks for sharing that detail.
One more thing to consider - if your brother hasn't already, he should make sure the Social Security Administration knows about his wife's passing. Sometimes there can be issues if they aren't properly notified. Also, if he's struggling financially, he might want to check if he qualifies for any other programs like Medicare Savings Programs or Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug costs. These aren't related to survivor benefits but could help with his overall financial situation.
That's a great suggestion about those other programs. He's on a pretty tight budget these days, so I'll definitely mention those options to him. I believe he did notify SSA when she passed, but I'll double-check with him. Thanks for the thoughtful advice!
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WAIT are you sure your state isn't one of those weird ones with mandatory pension contributions even if ur still working??? my coworker in Ohio thought same thing but turns out money was going into account even before full retirement!! check ur paystub for pension deductions!!!
Good point! I do have mandatory contributions going to our state retirement system, but I can't access any of that money until I actually retire. I think that's what's causing the confusion with SSA - they see I'm in a pension system but don't realize I'm not drawing benefits yet.
For anyone hitting this thread with a similar issue - this is a perfect example of why it helps to file for Social Security benefits several months before you actually need them. These bureaucratic issues can take weeks or months to resolve, and you don't want to miss payments while waiting. The WEP/GPO provisions affect hundreds of thousands of public employees and the rules are exceptionally complex.
You're right about filing early. I filed 4 months before my intended start date thinking that was plenty of time, but now I'm worried this will delay everything. I'll post an update once I get this resolved to help others in the same situation.
Jeremiah Brown
After considering the earnings test information and your continued employment until August 2025, here's what I'd suggest: Call Social Security and have them calculate your break-even point with WEP factored in. Then make your decision based on your health/longevity expectations and financial needs. Also, file a
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JacksonHarris
Thank you for this detailed advice! I didn't know about the
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