this might sound stupid but i thought survivor benefits were only for ppl who never worked? if u were working and getting ssdi on ur own record why would u even qualify for anything from his record?

After reading through this thread, I'd like to add one important point: even if it turns out you can't get retroactive payments, you should still pursue this because if your survivor benefit is higher than your current benefit, you can switch to it now and increase your monthly payment going forward. At age 70, that could mean many years of higher benefits. One strategy to consider: when you contact SSA, first ask for an explanation of what your husband's benefit would have been if he had lived to claiming age, with all applicable COLAs. Get that specific number before discussing any retroactive claim issues. This separates the question of "what should I be receiving now" from the more complicated question of "what should I have received in the past.

She asked her accountant for a recommendation. Be careful though - make sure they're a fiduciary (legally obligated to act in your best interest) and not just someone selling retirement products!

One more thing to consider - if you're still working, you might want to delay claiming until you fully retire or reach your FRA. Benefits claimed at 62 are reduced by about 30% permanently compared to claiming at 67 (your FRA). However, if you wait until 70, you get an 8% increase for each year after FRA. That's a potential range from 70% of your full benefit (claiming at 62) to 124% (claiming at 70). This is why getting a personalized analysis is so important. For some people, claiming early makes sense; for others, waiting is better. It depends on your health, longevity in your family, other income sources, and immediate financial needs.

Just to give you a concrete example with numbers to help with your planning: If your combined income is $65,000 (including half of her SS benefits of $9,000), then you'd be well into the range where 85% of her benefits would be taxable. With a $1,500 monthly benefit: - $1,500 × 12 = $18,000 annual SS benefit - 85% of $18,000 = $15,300 taxable amount - At a 12% federal tax bracket, that's roughly $1,836 in taxes on her benefits for the year - Monthly equivalent: about $153/month in taxes So if she chooses 10% withholding ($150/month), she'd receive $1,350 monthly and be very close to covering the tax liability on the benefits.

Don't forget that the $1500 benefit amount on the SSA website assumes you continue working until your FRA with the same income. If she's retiring completely at 62, the actual benefit might be a bit lower than what's estimated. Might be worth checking with SSA directly to get a more accurate figure before you finalize your budget.

I think you all are making this WAY more complicated than it needs to be. Just take the survivor benefits now AND keep working. Then when you hit 70, switch to your own benefit. That way you get the most money overall. My financial advisor told me Social Security is all about getting the most money over your lifetime.

To summarize the excellent points made here: 1. Due to the earnings test, with your income level, you'd have most or all survivor benefits withheld until you reach FRA anyway 2. Waiting until FRA means you get 100% of your husband's benefit amount versus a reduced amount now 3. You can take survivor benefits at FRA and then switch to your own higher benefit at 70 (this is still allowed) 4. When you eventually collect survivor benefits, they'll be taxed based on your overall income; potentially less tax impact if your income is lower by then Given these factors, waiting until FRA to apply for survivor benefits appears to be the optimal strategy in your specific situation.

Anybody else think its messed up that people have to jump through all these hoops just to afford medication?? My sister is going through the same mess with her MS meds. This is why I'm terrified of retiring even though my back is killing me from 40 years of construction work...

I wanted to add one more important point: When your husband applies in January 2025, make absolutely sure that on the application he specifies January 2025 as his "benefit start date" even though he's requesting retroactive benefits. This prevents any confusion in the processing center. Also, keep documentation of everything - when you applied, what you requested, etc. If the pharmaceutical program requires income verification during the year, you may need to explain your strategy to them as well.