As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for this incredibly detailed and helpful discussion! I'm 64 and recently divorced after 22 years of marriage, so I'm right in the middle of making these exact decisions myself. Reading through all these experiences has been both educational and sobering. The stories about the 2016 deemed filing rule changes really highlight how much the Social Security landscape has shifted - it's clear that many of the old strategies people used to rely on simply don't work anymore. @Madison Tipne, after reading everything here, I'd strongly echo what others have said about taking your time with this decision. The stories from @Kyle Wallace and others about getting stuck with permanently reduced benefits due to incorrect advice from SSA reps are genuinely frightening. It really shows how critical it is to get everything in writing and possibly seek professional guidance. One thing I've learned from my own research that might help - when you do schedule that SSA appointment, ask them to show you the specific regulation numbers for anything they tell you. I've found that asking for the actual rule references helps ensure you're getting accurate information and gives you something to verify independently later. The break-even analysis suggestion from @Natalie Chen is excellent too. In my case, I calculated that waiting until my FRA would mean about 14 years to break even, but given my family's longevity history, the math clearly favors patience. Thank you to everyone for sharing your experiences so openly - this thread should definitely be bookmarked by anyone facing these complex Social Security decisions!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for this incredibly comprehensive and enlightening discussion! I'm 58 and going through a divorce after 16 years of marriage, so I'll be facing these exact same decisions in a few years. What really stands out to me from reading all these experiences is how dramatically the 2016 deemed filing rule changes affected Social Security strategy, yet there's still so much confusion - even among SSA representatives themselves. The personal stories from @Kyle Wallace and others about getting permanently stuck with reduced benefits due to incorrect advice are genuinely alarming and really emphasize why this decision requires such careful research and documentation. @Madison Tipne, the collective wisdom from both experienced members and fellow newcomers seems overwhelmingly clear: take your time, get all benefit estimates in writing from SSA, run detailed break-even calculations considering your family's longevity history, document every interaction with SSA representatives, and seriously consider investing in a qualified Social Security claiming strategist given the potentially life-changing financial implications. The "practice run" suggestion with the online application is fantastic - I had no idea SSA offered that option to see actual benefit amounts before committing. @Ian Armstrong's tip about asking for specific regulation numbers is also brilliant for ensuring you get accurate information. For other newcomers following this thread, the key lessons seem to be: 1) The 2016 deemed filing rules eliminated the ability to switch strategies after filing, 2) Early filing reductions are permanent, 3) Never rely solely on verbal advice from SSA without written confirmation, 4) Professional consultation may be worth the cost given what's at stake financially, and 5) This decision requires careful consideration of health, longevity expectations, current financial needs, and personal risk tolerance. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences so openly and honestly - both the successes and the cautionary tales. This discussion has become an invaluable resource that should help many people navigate these complex and consequential decisions with greater confidence!

Thanks everyone for all the detailed explanations! This has been incredibly helpful. I was really stressed about accidentally going over some limit and losing benefits, but it sounds like I'm completely in the clear now that I've passed my FRA month in April. My HR department was definitely giving me wrong information - they kept saying I'd be penalized for the entire year if I earned too much at any point. It's frustrating how many people don't understand these rules! I feel much more confident now about my earnings for the rest of the year. Really appreciate this community for breaking it down so clearly.

This is such valuable information! As someone approaching my own FRA in a few months, I'm bookmarking this entire thread. The three-phase breakdown that Oliver provided is incredibly clear - I had no idea about the different limits and rules for each phase. It's really frustrating how common it seems to be for HR departments to give incorrect information about Social Security earnings rules. I've been getting mixed signals from my own workplace too. One quick question for the group: when they calculate those pre-FRA monthly earnings, do they include things like overtime pay and shift differentials, or just base salary? I work in healthcare and sometimes pick up extra shifts, so I want to make sure I'm calculating everything correctly for my planning.

After reading through this thread, I'd suggest scheduling an appointment at your local SSA office if possible. For complex situations involving survivor benefits and optimal claiming strategies, speaking face-to-face with a claims specialist is often more productive than phone calls. Bring as much documentation as possible: your husband's death certificate, both SSNs, marriage certificate, recent tax returns, and employment information. These appointments can be booked through the SSA website or by phone, though waits for appointments can be 2-3 weeks in some areas.

I'm a newcomer here but wanted to share what I learned when I went through this exact situation last year. The strategy your coworker mentioned absolutely works - I started taking my deceased husband's survivor benefits at 62 (with reduction) while continuing to work as a nurse. Yes, some benefits were withheld due to the earnings test, but like others mentioned, you get that back through higher payments once you reach FRA. The key is running the numbers first. I used the my Social Security account online to see my projected benefit at 70, then called SSA (took forever to get through!) to get my survivor benefit amounts. In my case, my own benefit at 70 would be about $2,800/month vs. my husband's unreduced survivor benefit of $2,400/month. So taking the reduced survivor benefit early and switching to my own at 70 made financial sense. Just make sure to keep detailed records of everything - SSA paperwork can get confusing and you want documentation of what they promised you!

I'm so sorry for your loss. I can completely understand your confusion about not seeing survivor benefit information on your mySocialSecurity account - this was exactly my concern when my spouse passed away two years ago. What I learned from going through this process is that the mySocialSecurity portal is really designed to show only your personal work history and retirement projections. Survivor benefits are calculated from your deceased spouse's earnings record, which exists in a separate part of their system that isn't accessible through the online portal. The fact that you already received the $255 lump-sum death payment is actually the key indicator that everything is properly set up. That payment can only be processed when SSA has successfully linked your husband's death record to your account in their system. So you can feel confident that when you're ready to apply for survivor benefits in the future, all the necessary information will be there. One thing I wish I had known earlier is that you might want to request a copy of your husband's Social Security Statement (Form SSA-7005) for your records. While you can't access it online, SSA can provide this to you as his widow, and it will show his complete earnings history that your survivor benefits will be calculated from. This can be helpful for your own financial planning, even though you won't need it until you actually apply for benefits. You're being very smart to get organized now while you have time to plan your claiming strategy. No need to torture yourself with their phone system until you're actually ready to apply!

I'm so sorry for your loss. I can understand your confusion - I went through something similar when my mom passed last year and I was helping my dad navigate the survivor benefits process. Just to echo what others have said, the mySocialSecurity portal really only shows your own personal benefits information. It's not designed to display survivor benefit eligibility or calculations, which is honestly pretty confusing for people going through this situation. Since you already received the $255 death benefit, that's actually proof that SSA has properly recorded your husband's death and linked it to your record in their system. That's the main thing you need to have in place. When you do eventually apply for survivor benefits (whether at 60 or later), you'll need to call or visit an office anyway since they don't allow online applications for survivor benefits. At that point, they'll pull up all the necessary records and calculate your benefit amount based on your husband's earnings history. You're smart to be thinking about this now even though you have several years before you'll need to make any decisions. It gives you time to understand your options and plan the optimal claiming strategy for your situation.

I just wanted to add one more important point that I haven't seen mentioned yet - when you apply for DAC benefits, make sure you have all the medical documentation from when your son was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a child. Since DAC benefits require that the disability began before age 22, having those early medical records from the specialized hospitals where he received treatment will be crucial evidence. Also, don't be discouraged if the initial application process takes time. Sometimes there can be delays in processing, especially if they need to verify your late husband's work record or request additional medical documentation. But given that your son is already receiving SSI (which means SSA has already determined he meets their disability criteria), the medical aspect should be straightforward. The most important thing is getting this application started. Every month that passes is potentially money your son is missing out on. You're being a great advocate for him by pursuing this!

I'm sorry to hear about your confusion, but you're absolutely on the right track asking about this! As others have mentioned, your son should definitely apply for Disabled Adult Child (DAC) benefits on his father's record since his father passed away 3 years ago. One thing I'd add that might help speed up the process - when you gather those medical records from childhood, try to get a summary letter from one of the doctors who treated him early on that specifically states his cerebral palsy was present from birth/early childhood. Sometimes having a clear medical statement about the onset date can help streamline the review process. Also, don't worry too much about the 3-year gap since his father's death. While there are some time limits for certain types of claims, DAC benefits can often be claimed later, and you may still be eligible for some retroactive payments. The key is getting the application in now. Your son deserves these benefits, and it sounds like you have a strong case. The fact that he's already been found disabled for SSI purposes should definitely work in your favor for the DAC application. Good luck!