wait I just remembered something important!!! if ur turning 62 soon make sure u understand deemed filing!!! the rules changed after 2015 and now if u file for ANY benefit they automatically make u file for ALL benefits ur eligible for! so u cant do that strategy where u take spousal first then switch to ur own later like people used to do!!

If your husband is 64 and receiving survivor benefits, and you're turning 62, you might want to consider a 2-step strategy that could maximize your household benefits over time: 1) You file for your reduced retirement benefit at 62 (accepting the reduction) 2) When your husband reaches 70, he switches to his own retirement benefit (maximized with delayed credits) which then triggers your eligibility for potentially higher spousal benefits While you'd have a permanent reduction on your own benefit from filing early, the years of receiving some benefit (rather than nothing) plus the eventual higher spousal amount might work out better financially depending on your specific benefit amounts and life expectancy. I'd recommend sitting down with a financial planner who specializes in Social Security claiming strategies to review all your options with actual numbers.

I think there's some confusion in this thread. The benefit is real, but there are specific requirements. Your child can get benefits on your record when you start collecting retirement, but: 1. The child must be unmarried 2. Under 18 (or up to 19 if still in high school) 3. The benefit is up to 50% of your PIA 4. There's a family maximum benefit that might reduce the amount Also, just to clarify something I saw earlier - these payments continue even if the child is working. Their earnings don't affect eligibility like they would for SSI.

Ok I just got off the phone with SSA after waiting FOREVER and I want to share what I learned since we're in similar situations: 1. Yes, our teen children CAN get benefits when we claim retirement 2. It's NOT automatic - we need to apply for them specifically 3. They recommended applying for the child's benefits at the same time as your own 4. You'll need the child's birth certificate, SS card, and YOUR marriage certificate if your name on the birth certificate is different than your current name 5. Benefits can continue until 19 if still in high school 6. The money goes to YOU as representative payee until they turn 18 Hope this helps someone! The agent I spoke with actually seemed surprised I knew to ask about this benefit!

Based on your additional information about the surgery occurring in 2019 with documentation, you have a legitimate path forward. Here's what I recommend: 1. Use Claimyr or visit your local SSA office to confirm your exact date last insured 2. If your DLI was after your 2019 surgery, proceed with gathering your medical evidence 3. In your application, clearly specify an onset date in 2019 when the surgical complications began 4. Include all medical documentation from 2019-present showing consistent treatment 5. Consider getting a statement from your doctor specifically addressing how your condition prevented substantial gainful activity since 2019 The fact that you weren't working at the time of onset doesn't matter as much as proving the disability began before your DLI expired. The key is establishing that your medical condition would have prevented you from working since 2019 if you had attempted to return to work.

I will say, based on personal experience, applying for a closed period SSDI claim with an onset date from several years ago is challenging but absolutely possible. The key is having thorough documentation and being VERY specific about your onset date. The SSA will want to see that you've been receiving consistent treatment for your condition since 2019. Any gaps in treatment can be problematic, so be prepared to explain any periods where you might not have seen doctors regularly.

Update: I called SSA again (had to try three times to get through) and finally spoke with someone helpful! You were all right - there is NO time limit for applying for survivor benefits. The 2-year limit only applies to the one-time $255 death payment. The rep told me that based on my husband's earnings, my survivor benefit would be about $2,450/month at my full retirement age of 67, or about $1,750 if I take it now at 63. My own benefit at FRA would be around $1,900. She recommended I take the reduced survivor benefit now and then switch to my own benefit at 70 when it would be about $2,350. Thank you all so much for your help! I was so worried I'd lost everything due to that misleading recording!

FYI - Since you're still working, remember the 2025 earnings limit is $22,320 if you're under full retirement age. They'll deduct $1 for every $2 you earn above that. So if you make $30,000, they'll deduct $3,840 from your annual benefit ($30,000-$22,320 = $7,680 ÷ 2 = $3,840). Make sure to factor this into your planning if you're continuing to work.

To clarify a technical point about your situation: The maximum Federal SSI payment in 2025 is $943 (assuming this is correct from your post). So with the $20 general income exclusion, your son's total benefits would be $963 ($20 survivor benefits + $943 SSI). If he's approved for VA DIC as the child of a veteran with service-connected disability, that additional benefit (currently around $400-500 monthly for dependent children) would NOT reduce his SSI, as it's specifically excluded as income for SSI purposes under the law. So potentially, he could receive approximately $1,400+ monthly combined from all benefits. Make sure SSA correctly categorizes his VA benefit when it starts.

Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I've scheduled a meeting with the VA benefits counselor next week and I'm going to bring printouts of the SSA determination letter. I'll definitely specify that we're applying for DIC benefits and make sure SSA understands these are VA service-connected benefits when we report them. I'm also going to look into both the ABLE account and the Childhood Disability Benefit options. I had no idea there were so many different programs with different rules! It's a relief to hear from others who've successfully navigated this and been able to receive both benefits. Managing my son's care alone has been overwhelming since my husband passed, so this financial support will make a huge difference.