I've been following this discussion with great interest as someone who recently went through this exact process! I'm 65, was on SSDI for 8 years, and divorced after 18 years of marriage. I applied for ex-spousal benefits about 6 months ago and wanted to share my experience to help answer some of the questions that have come up. Regarding payment timing - once my application was approved (took about 10 weeks), my first adjusted payment came on my regular payment date. There wasn't any additional delay, which was a relief. They also paid me the retroactive benefits as a separate deposit about 2 weeks later. For those asking about the SSN issue - I didn't have my ex's SSN either, but SSA was able to locate his record easily using just his full name, birth date, and our marriage dates. They asked a few verification questions about where we lived during the marriage, but it was straightforward. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned much - keep copies of everything you submit and take notes during your appointment. The process involves a lot of technical details, and having your own records really helped when I had follow-up questions later. Also, don't be surprised if they need to contact you for additional information even after your initial appointment - this seems to be pretty normal and doesn't mean there's a problem with your application. The online appointment scheduling worked great for me too. Much easier than trying to call during busy hours!

This entire thread has been incredibly educational! I'm 61, been on SSDI for 4 years, and divorced after 16 years of marriage in 2012. My ex-husband is 64 and still working. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me so much clarity about this process - I had no idea about dual entitlement or that SSDI recipients might be protected from early filing reductions. The real-world examples, especially from those who've successfully navigated this process, are invaluable. I'm planning to schedule an appointment online rather than dealing with phone wait times. One thing I'm wondering about that I haven't seen addressed - if I apply and get approved for ex-spousal benefits, does that notification or approval process involve any contact with my ex-husband, or is this completely handled between me and SSA? We've had no contact since the divorce and I'd prefer to keep it that way. Thanks to everyone who has shared their knowledge and experiences here!

dont trust SS to be there when u retire!!! my dad says the whole system is going bankrupt by 2034 and we'll all get reduced benefits anyway so what does it matter

Great question! As someone who's been helping people navigate Social Security planning, I'd add that there's another factor to consider: the "bend points" in the benefit formula change annually. The progressive nature means your first dollar of average monthly earnings gets a 90% return, but earnings above certain thresholds get much lower returns (32% and 15%). One thing people often overlook is that if you're married, you'll also want to consider spousal benefits and survivor benefits in your planning. The higher earner's benefit becomes especially important for the surviving spouse. Also worth noting: while maximizing earnings helps, don't sacrifice your health or family life just to boost SS benefits. The difference between a good salary and maximum salary might only translate to a modest increase in monthly benefits due to that progressive formula structure.

As someone who just went through this exact situation 6 months ago, I can confirm what everyone else is saying - your high income years will NOT reduce your Social Security benefits! I had similar anxiety about filing after having my best earning years right before retirement. What I learned is that Social Security uses a completely different calculation than Medicare IRMAA. Your SS benefit is based on your highest 35 years of indexed earnings, so those $185K years will likely INCREASE your monthly payment by replacing lower-earning years from earlier in your career. The confusion is totally understandable since both programs look at your income, but they use it very differently. IRMAA is just a surcharge on your Medicare premiums based on recent tax returns, while your SS benefit calculation looks at your entire work history. Since you're filing at your FRA and not working anymore, you're in the best possible position - no earnings test, no reduction in benefits, and those high-income years working in your favor. Go ahead and file with confidence!

I completely understand your confusion - this is one of the most common misconceptions about Social Security! The key thing to remember is that your pre-retirement income actually HELPS your Social Security benefit calculation, not hurts it. Social Security uses your highest 35 years of earnings (adjusted for inflation) to calculate your benefit. Those $185,000 years will likely replace some of your lower-earning years from earlier in your career, potentially giving you a higher monthly payment than you would have received otherwise. The IRMAA surcharges you mentioned are completely separate - they only affect your Medicare Part B and Part D premiums, not your actual Social Security benefit amount. It's an unfortunate naming similarity that causes a lot of confusion. Since you're filing at your Full Retirement Age (66) and you've stopped working, there's absolutely no reason to delay. You won't face any earnings test restrictions, and your benefit amount is locked in based on your work history. Those high-income consulting years were actually a gift to your future Social Security payments! I'd recommend going ahead and filing - you've earned those benefits and there's no penalty for having done well financially in your final working years.

I'm new to this community but dealing with a similar situation. Just wanted to add that if you do decide to use Ticket to Work, make sure you understand that while it provides great protections, you need to be making "timely progress" toward your employment goals to keep those protections. The Employment Network will work with you to set reasonable milestones, but it's not automatic - you have to actively participate. Also, I've found that having a relationship with a disability employment specialist has been invaluable. They understand both the medical and vocational aspects of returning to work with a disability. Many state vocational rehabilitation agencies offer these services for free. Your story really resonates with me - the fear of losing benefits while trying to improve your situation is so real, but hearing everyone's experiences here gives me hope that it's possible to work and maintain some safety net!

I'm a newcomer here but have been researching this exact topic for months as I consider returning to work. What really helped me understand the Medicare piece was learning that there are actually TWO different "disability determinations" - one for SSDI cash benefits and one for Medicare eligibility. Even when your cash benefits stop due to work earnings, SSA still considers you disabled for Medicare purposes during that 93+ month extended period. This means you don't have to go through a new disability determination to keep Medicare - it automatically continues as long as you were entitled to SSDI for at least 24 months before starting work. I found this buried in the SSA POMS (Program Operations Manual System) online when I was doing research. It's reassuring to know that Medicare protection is more robust than the cash benefits when it comes to work attempts!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you do decide to take this job and have your survivors benefits suspended, make sure you keep very detailed records of your earnings throughout each year. I learned this the hard way! SSA estimates your annual earnings at the beginning of each year to determine benefit withholding, but they reconcile this against your actual W-2 at the end of the year. If there's a discrepancy, it can create either an overpayment (if you earned less than projected) or underpayment (if you earned more) situation that takes months to sort out. Also, don't forget that the earnings limit applies to gross wages, not take-home pay. So factor in your full salary including any bonuses, overtime, or commissions when doing your calculations. Sounds like you're making a smart decision though - temporarily losing survivors benefits to build your career and potentially increase your own retirement benefit is exactly the kind of strategic thinking that pays off long-term!

I'm in a very similar situation - 64 and on survivors benefits with a potential job offer that would put me over the earnings limit. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! One question I haven't seen addressed: if my benefits get completely suspended for exceeding the limit, will I still get the annual COLA (cost of living adjustment) increases applied to my benefit amount? Or do those only apply while you're actively receiving payments? I'm wondering if when my benefits eventually resume (either when I reduce hours or reach FRA), will my benefit amount reflect all the COLA increases that happened during the suspension period? Also wanted to add my thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's so valuable to hear real examples rather than trying to decipher the official SSA publications!