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One important correction to my earlier response: When I mentioned that you'd likely receive about $3,200 in survivor benefits based on your husband's record, that assumes he would have reached his full retirement age. If he passes before reaching his FRA, the survivor benefit would be reduced. Also, regarding returning to work: The 2025 SGA limit is $1,550/month for non-blind individuals as another commenter mentioned. However, there are work incentives like Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) that might help you deduct certain costs related to your disability from your earnings calculation. Given your specific situation with rheumatoid arthritis and potential return to work, I would strongly recommend scheduling an appointment with an SSA Claims Specialist to discuss your options in detail. These consultations are free and can help you make the best decisions for your situation.
Thank you for the correction and additional information. I'll look into the IRWE deductions - that could be very relevant in my case since I have significant expenses related to my condition. I'm definitely going to schedule that appointment with a Claims Specialist. It sounds like there are a lot of nuances to my situation that would benefit from personalized advice.
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ANYBODY dealing with SS should know they ALWAYS mess up family maximum calculations!!!! I had to fight them for 6 months and finally got backpay for my kids of over $7000 because they calculated wrong from the beginning!!!! KEEP FIGHTING!!
same here they shorted my daughter almost $400 a month for almost a year before i got it fixed. the problem is gettin thru to talk to someone who knows what there doing
To summarize the key points for anyone else with a similar family maximum question: 1. When you receive benefits on your own work record plus a spousal top-up, only the spousal portion counts against the family maximum on your spouse's record 2. At FRA, you can file for your own retirement first, then apply for the spousal benefit if it would result in a higher total benefit 3. The SSA will not automatically recalculate other family members' benefits when your benefit source changes - you must request this recalculation 4. Consider the long-term impact of claiming strategies - maximizing benefits now might reduce lifetime benefits if delaying until 70 would be more advantageous 5. Document all conversations with SSA representatives and get explanations in writing when possible 6. If WEP potentially applies due to non-covered employment, that adds another layer of complexity requiring specialized assistance
Thank you for this clear summary! I'm going to print this out and bring it with me when I go to my local Social Security office for an in-person appointment. I've decided that's probably the best way to get consistent information and make sure everything is documented correctly.
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Something important to remember about Social Security benefits - they're recalculated annually for COLA (Cost of Living Adjustments). For 2025, the COLA will likely be around 2.5-3.0% based on current inflation trends. This means both of your benefits will increase automatically each year. While your benefit structure is already optimized based on what everyone has explained, you'll still see those yearly increases that help (somewhat) with rising costs.
Those COLAs are a JOKE compared to how much prices are actually going up!!! My grocery bill has doubled but my SS check only went up a tiny bit. They use some ridiculous formula that doesn't reflect REAL expenses for seniors. Just another way they shortchange us after we've worked our whole lives!!
My parents had similar ages to you guys! Dad was much older than mom too. When he passed at 92, mom did get his higher benefit as a survivor. But in your case it sounds like you'd just keep your own since it's higher anyway. The SS rules are so confusing sometimes! Glad you asked about this.
I'm sorry about your dad. Thank you for sharing your parents' experience - that helps me understand the survivor benefits better. You're right that the rules are confusing! I'm grateful for all the explanations here.
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I had a similar situation 2 years ago. Bad health, income dropped, worried about SS calculation. What I found is that Social Security replaces more of your income if you're a lower earner (it's progressive). So the calculation isn't strictly proportional. Someone earning $30k doesn't get exactly half the benefit of someone earning $60k. The lower earner actually gets more than half.
That's interesting and makes me feel a bit better. I'd been thinking it was a straight percentage calculation, but it sounds like there's a bit of a safety net built in for lower-earning years. Thanks for sharing your experience.
After reading all this advice, what are you thinking you'll do? It's good to get different perspectives, but ultimately it's a personal decision based on your unique circumstances.
I think I'm leaning toward waiting until my actual FRA next year. The earnings test would definitely be an issue if I filed early, and it sounds like one lower-earning year won't drastically reduce my benefit. Plus, I'm back to good health now, so no reason to rush into claiming early. Thanks to everyone for the helpful advice!
Isabella Costa
Update: We submitted the SSA-521 form yesterday! Thank you everyone for your advice. The rep we spoke with initially tried to tell us we couldn't withdraw after FRA, but we politely asked to speak with a technical expert and showed them the regulation numbers that were mentioned here. The technical expert confirmed we're within our rights to withdraw within the 12-month window regardless of FRA status. Now we're just waiting for the repayment letter so we know exactly how much to send back. I'll update again once everything is processed!
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Ravi Malhotra
Good job being persistent! That's exactly the right approach - politely escalate when you know the rules. Please do update us on how it goes. Make sure to keep copies of EVERYTHING, including certified mail receipts if you mail the payment.
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Isabella Costa
•Will do! And yes, we're creating a folder with copies of everything. The technical expert said we should receive the repayment letter within 2-3 weeks, and then the reapplication should be processed within 30 days after they receive our repayment. Fingers crossed it all goes smoothly from here.
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