Thank you all for the helpful responses! I feel much better prepared now. I'm going to make sure I stay under that $23,340 limit to avoid any reductions. I'll also make sure to be very clear about my expected earnings when I apply, and keep track of everything with a spreadsheet as suggested. The timing of payments is also good to know for my budget planning. Really appreciate all the advice!

One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned - if you're planning to work part-time specifically for health insurance, you might want to check if you qualify for any subsidies on the marketplace. Sometimes the cost of marketplace insurance plus the subsidy can be less than what you lose in reduced survivor benefits from working. I know someone who did the math and found they could actually come out ahead by not working and getting marketplace coverage instead. Worth running the numbers both ways before you commit to a work schedule!

Same issue here! I'm living in Germany and my March 3rd payment is also missing. This is really stressful since I budget everything around that monthly deposit. Reading through the comments, it sounds like this is related to the SSA system maintenance from last week and payments are starting to trickle through now. I'm going to wait until Friday (March 7th) before contacting anyone, based on the advice from folks who clearly know what they're talking about. It's reassuring to see that @Mei Zhang and @Jamal Brown got their payments yesterday, so hopefully mine will show up in the next day or two. For anyone still waiting - let's keep each other posted! This community has been super helpful in understanding what's going on.

I'm in the same boat here in the UK! My March 3rd payment is missing too. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I was starting to panic thinking there was something wrong with my specific account or that SSA had somehow flagged me for living abroad. It's reassuring to see this is a widespread issue related to the system maintenance, and that payments are starting to come through for people. I'm going to follow the advice here and wait until Friday before contacting the embassy. The international calling situation to SSA really is a nightmare - I've been through that before and it's almost impossible to get through. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and especially to those with SSA background knowledge for explaining what's actually happening. This community is a lifesaver when dealing with these stressful situations!

I'm sorry for your loss, Grace. Your mom is absolutely entitled to divorced widow's benefits in this situation. The key requirements she meets are: • Marriage lasted 25+ years (well over the 10-year minimum) • She's over 60 and hasn't remarried before age 60 • Your dad's remarriage doesn't affect her eligibility at all At 62, she'll receive about 71.5% of his full benefit amount. Since her work history is limited, this will likely be much more than any retirement benefit on her own record. My suggestion: Don't wait. Call SSA immediately to schedule an appointment (phone or in-person). Benefits can be retroactive to the month of his death, but only if she applies. Documents to gather first: - Marriage certificate - Divorce decree - His death certificate - Her birth certificate - Her Social Security card The phone system is frustrating, but this is absolutely worth pursuing. Your mom contributed to his Social Security earnings during their 25-year marriage - these benefits are rightfully hers regardless of his later remarriage. Both she and his current widow can receive benefits simultaneously without reducing each other's amounts.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Grace. Your situation is actually pretty straightforward - your mom absolutely qualifies for divorced widow's benefits! The fact that she was married to your dad for 25 years (way more than the required 10), is over 60, and never remarried means she meets all the criteria. His remarriage doesn't impact her eligibility whatsoever - it's a common misconception that it would. A few practical tips from someone who's helped family members through this: 1. Call SSA first thing in the morning (around 8 AM) for shorter wait times 2. Have her Social Security number ready when you call 3. Be prepared for the agent to schedule a phone interview rather than handling everything on the first call 4. If you get disconnected, don't give up - keep calling back Also, make sure to ask about filing for both survivor benefits AND checking what her own retirement benefit might be. Sometimes there are strategic timing considerations, though given her limited work history, the survivor benefit is probably the better option. The process can be frustrating, but your mom earned these benefits through 25 years of marriage. Don't let bureaucratic hurdles discourage you from pursuing what she's entitled to. Hang in there!

I understand how scary this situation is - facing potential loss of your home while trying to navigate complex disability rules. Here are some additional options to consider beyond just working: 1. **Housing assistance programs**: Contact your local housing authority about emergency rental/mortgage assistance, especially programs for disabled individuals. Many areas have specific programs for people at risk of foreclosure. 2. **Utility assistance**: If you're behind on utilities too, programs like LIHEAP can help free up money for your mortgage. 3. **Food assistance**: Maximizing SNAP benefits and using food banks can free up more of your SSDI for housing costs. 4. **Disability advocacy organizations**: They often know about local emergency assistance funds specifically for people with disabilities facing housing crises. 5. **Credit counseling**: Non-profit housing counselors can sometimes negotiate with mortgage companies for modified payment plans or forbearance. The roommate suggestion is also excellent - rental income typically doesn't affect SSDI benefits as long as it's not considered "work activity." If you do decide to work, definitely get that WIPA counseling first. But explore these other options too - sometimes there are resources available that people don't know about.

I'm new to this community and this situation hits close to home for me. I've been on SSDI for about 3 years now and have been too scared to even consider working because of all the conflicting information out there. Reading through everyone's responses here has been really eye-opening - especially learning that the Trial Work Period is actually designed to HELP us test our ability to work, not punish us for trying. @Amina Bah your list of housing assistance resources is amazing. I had no idea there were specific programs for disabled individuals facing housing crises. One thing I wanted to add - I recently discovered that some states have "Work Incentives Planning and Assistance" (WIPA) programs that will actually do a personalized benefits analysis for free. They can run scenarios showing exactly how different income levels would affect your specific situation. Might be worth looking into for your area, @Yara Nassar. Also, for anyone else reading this who's in a similar situation: the National Disability Rights Network website has a directory of local disability advocacy organizations that might know about emergency assistance funds in your area. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical advice people need when dealing with these complex systems.

I'm so sorry about your husband's condition - what a devastating situation to face. I work as a benefits counselor and wanted to add some important details about the withdrawal option others have mentioned. You're absolutely right to pursue this quickly. The 12-month withdrawal window is firm, and since your husband only filed 3 weeks ago, you have time but shouldn't delay. A few critical points: 1) The withdrawal completely erases his application - it's as if he never filed at all. 2) SSA will calculate survivor benefits based on his PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) plus any delayed retirement credits he would have earned up to his date of death. 3) You'll need to repay the gross amount of his benefit (before any deductions for Medicare, taxes, etc.). For the representative payee process, bring: medical POA, doctor's letter about incapacity, his Social Security card, your ID, and marriage certificate. If possible, try to get the doctor to specify that your husband cannot understand the nature and consequences of financial decisions. The math works strongly in your favor here - even accounting for the repayment, you'd break even in just a few months and then have hundreds more per month for the rest of your life. Don't let anyone at SSA tell you this isn't possible - it absolutely is under these circumstances.

I'm so sorry to hear about your husband's stroke and the difficult situation you're facing. Having gone through something similar with my father, I understand how overwhelming it can be to navigate these decisions while dealing with a medical crisis. I want to emphasize what others have said about the withdrawal option (Form SSA-521) - this could potentially save you thousands of dollars over your lifetime. Since your husband only filed 3 weeks ago, you're definitely within the 12-month window. The difference between $2,700 and approximately $3,132 monthly (with delayed credits to age 69) is $432 per month, which adds up to over $5,000 annually. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned: when you go to your SSA appointment, ask them to calculate the exact survivor benefit amount with delayed credits so you can see the precise numbers. Also, inquire about whether you can complete the withdrawal process the same day if you bring all required documentation and payment. Time is really of the essence here, so if your local office appointment is still a week away, consider trying to walk in earlier or see if they have any cancellations. Some offices take walk-ins for urgent situations like this. Thinking of you and your husband during this incredibly difficult time. The community here has given you excellent advice - please keep us updated on how things go.