Thank you all for the responses! This has been incredibly helpful. I've made an appointment with SSA for next month and will specifically ask about surviving divorced spouse benefits. I'm gathering all my documents, including our marriage certificate, divorce decree, and her SSN. From what you've all shared, it sounds like I might be eligible since we were married over 10 years, even though we both remarried. I'll update once I learn more from SSA - this forum has already given me a much better starting point than I had before!

Just wanted to add that you should also ask SSA about the timing of when to claim these benefits. Since you're still working and have 3 years until FRA, you might want to understand how the earnings test works if you claim survivor benefits early (you can claim as early as 60, but at a reduced rate). Also, survivor benefits don't earn delayed retirement credits like your own retirement benefit does, so there's no advantage to waiting past your FRA to claim them. The strategy might be to claim survivor benefits at FRA and let your own retirement benefit grow until age 70 if that would result in higher lifetime benefits. Definitely worth discussing all the timing options with them!

Welcome to the community! As someone who just joined and is in a very similar situation, this entire thread has been incredibly reassuring. I'm 63 and recently started collecting Social Security while working part-time, and I was having the exact same concerns about travel reimbursements affecting my earnings limit. What I found most helpful from reading everyone's experiences is understanding the importance of how these reimbursements are classified by your employer. The distinction between accountable vs non-accountable plans was completely new to me, but it makes so much sense now why proper documentation matters. I'm definitely going to implement several of the suggestions shared here: checking with my HR department about our reimbursement policies, setting up that monthly tracking spreadsheet everyone mentioned, and organizing my expense receipts better. The peace of mind that comes from understanding these rules and staying organized seems well worth the effort. One thing I really appreciate about this community is how generous everyone has been with sharing their real-world experiences. The SSA website can be so confusing, but hearing from people who've actually navigated these situations successfully makes everything so much clearer. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this discussion - you've turned what felt like an overwhelming concern into something manageable with the right approach and documentation!

Welcome to the community! As someone who's also new here and recently started collecting Social Security at 64 while working part-time, I can completely relate to your anxiety about reimbursements and the earnings limit. I was in almost the exact same situation just a few months ago! After reading through this incredibly helpful thread, I feel so much more confident about how these rules work. The key insight that really put my mind at ease was learning that legitimate business expense reimbursements under an "accountable plan" (where you submit actual receipts and documentation) typically don't count toward your earnings limit because they're not included in Box 1 of your W-2. Since you mentioned your reimbursements vary based on actual travel expenses ($300-$700) and you're submitting receipts for hotels and mileage, it sounds like you're in great shape! I'd definitely recommend the advice others have shared here: check your pay stubs to confirm the reimbursements are listed separately from gross wages, verify with your employer that they use an accountable plan, and set up that monthly tracking spreadsheet everyone's been talking about. I implemented the tracking system myself and it's been a game-changer for peace of mind - knowing exactly where I stand relative to the $22,320 limit each month has eliminated so much stress! This community has been invaluable for getting practical, real-world guidance that you just can't find on the SSA website. Thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences - it's made navigating these confusing rules so much more manageable!

I went through something similar with my son who became disabled at 19. The key thing that helped us was getting everything in writing from SSA. When you do talk to them (whether through that Claimyr service someone mentioned or directly), ask them to send you a written summary of what benefits your daughter will be eligible for as a survivor. Also, since her father has other dependents, you might want to consider consulting with a disability attorney who specializes in Social Security cases. Many will do a free consultation and can help you understand exactly how the family maximum will affect her benefits. The peace of mind is worth it when you're dealing with your child's financial security. One more tip - start keeping detailed records of all her medical appointments and treatments now. If they do a continuing disability review after her father passes, having everything organized will make the process much smoother during what will already be a difficult time.

I work as a benefits counselor and see these situations frequently. Your daughter's benefits will definitely increase when her father passes away - she'll move from auxiliary benefits (50% of his PIA) to survivor benefits (75% of his PIA). The fact that you weren't married to her father doesn't matter since paternity was legally established. However, with his current wife and two minor children also eligible for survivor benefits, the family maximum will likely apply. Each survivor would normally get 75%, but if that total exceeds the family maximum (usually 150-180% of his benefit), everyone's benefit gets reduced proportionally. I'd strongly recommend getting a benefit estimate in writing from SSA before any changes occur. Also, make sure your daughter's disability onset date is clearly documented as before age 22 - this is crucial for maintaining her eligibility as a disabled adult child throughout these transitions.

One more important detail based on your situation: Since you're reaching FRA in January 2026, you'll be eligible for Medicare in January 2025 (Medicare eligibility starts at 65). The Initial Enrollment Period for Medicare starts 3 months before your 65th birthday month and extends 3 months after. So you'll need to decide about Medicare about a year before you reach FRA. If your employer has 20+ employees, you can decline Part B during this period without penalties, but you'll need to get that employer coverage verification I mentioned. Just be aware of this timeline so you're not caught off guard by Medicare decisions before your FRA.

I'm actually going through something very similar right now! I reached my FRA last month and have been researching this extensively. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet is to double-check with your HR department about how your employer handles Medicare coordination. Some employers automatically make you the primary insurance once you're Medicare-eligible, even if you don't enroll, which can create coverage gaps. Also, since you mentioned your part-time job has "pretty good" benefits, make sure to compare the actual coverage details with what Medicare would provide. Sometimes employer plans for part-time workers have higher deductibles or limited networks that might make Medicare + a supplement plan more attractive financially, even if the employer plan seems "free." The good news is you have plenty of time to research since you're not hitting FRA until January 2026. I'd recommend creating a timeline with key dates (Medicare eligibility, FRA, any employer benefit deadlines) so you can make informed decisions without rushing.

Update: I called SSA this morning and finally got through after trying for 3 days! The rep confirmed what many of you said - they look at net earnings for self-employment. She also explained that they'll take the adjustment from future benefits next year after I file my taxes. I'm going to track my hours and income more carefully going forward, and I might talk to my accountant about restructuring. Thanks everyone for your help!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you can request a waiver if the overpayment creates a financial hardship. I had to do this when I got hit with a $2,800 overpayment notice. You file Form SSA-632 and provide financial documentation showing that repaying would cause undue hardship. Also, keep detailed records of when you work vs. when you don't work each month. If you have months where you truly don't work at all in your consulting business, you can get full benefits for those months under the monthly earnings test that @Luca Bianchi mentioned. This saved me about $1,200 last year during the three months I took off due to a family emergency. The key is being proactive - don't wait for the overpayment notice. Report your estimated annual earnings to SSA early in the year so they can adjust your monthly payments accordingly.