After reading everyone's responses, I think I need to reconsider my approach. The risks to my current husband's financial security seem too great with the divorce-remarry strategy. I'm going to use that Claimyr service to connect with SSA and discuss my specific situation. Maybe there are options I haven't considered. Does anyone know if there's a financial advisor who specializes in these complex Social Security cases? I'm willing to pay for professional advice given how much money is at stake over our lifetimes.

Yes, there are financial advisors who specialize in Social Security optimization! Look for fee-only advisors who are specifically trained in Social Security claiming strategies. The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) has a search tool where you can filter for advisors with Social Security expertise. Also consider Registered Social Security Analysts (RSSA) - they have specialized training in these complex scenarios. Given the potential $1000/month difference you mentioned, paying $500-1000 for professional analysis could easily pay for itself within the first year. Before meeting with any advisor, document all the key details: both spouses' earnings records, projected benefits at different claiming ages, health status, and your financial goals. This will help them run accurate scenarios for you. The fact that you're thinking about your current husband's protection shows you're approaching this thoughtfully. A good advisor will help you weigh the financial trade-offs against the risks we've all mentioned here.

quick question sorta related - does anyone know if the same rules apply to life insurance payouts? my mom named me as beneficiary on her policy and im on ssdi too

I'm so sorry to hear about your father's condition. What a stressful situation to navigate while dealing with family illness. Just wanted to add one more perspective - if your daughter ever decides to work in the future (even part-time), SSDI has work incentives that allow her to earn income without immediately losing benefits. Having that inheritance as a financial cushion could actually give her more freedom to explore work opportunities through programs like Trial Work Period without the pressure of losing her safety net. The inheritance won't count against any of those work incentive calculations either since SSDI doesn't consider assets. Wishing your family peace during this difficult time.

One more important point - you mentioned having a permanent disability but not qualifying for SSDI. If your disability meets SSA's criteria but you were denied because of insufficient recent work credits (which happens when people develop disabilities after being out of the workforce), you might want to explore SSI (Supplemental Security Income). It's needs-based rather than work-based, and while the benefit is typically lower than SSDI, it could provide some income before you turn 62. SSI has strict asset and income limits, but it's worth investigating if your resources are limited while waiting to reach 62.

Based on everyone's responses, it sounds like you have a pretty clear picture now of your options. Since you can't file until 62 and will be deemed filing for both benefits, the key is really comparing those numbers from your SSA account. One thing I haven't seen mentioned - have you considered whether you might be eligible for any other benefits in the meantime? Some states have disability programs, and you might qualify for COBRA continuation or marketplace health insurance subsidies if you haven't explored those options. The gap between now and 62 is significant, so it's worth looking at all possible income sources. Also, regarding the SSDI denial - disability law can be complex, and many people get approved on appeal with proper representation. If your condition truly prevents you from working, it might be worth consulting with a disability attorney who works on contingency. They only get paid if you win, and they're often more successful than self-representation. Just a thought, since getting SSDI would change your whole timeline and potentially give you higher benefits.

I'm in a very similar situation! I reach my FRA in July 2025 and have been worried about the same thing. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea the earnings test only applied to the months before FRA rather than the entire year. One thing I'm curious about - for those who've been through this process, do you need to proactively notify Social Security about your earnings timeline, or do they automatically figure it out based on when you file and your reported income? I want to make sure I don't get caught up in any administrative mix-ups like some folks mentioned here. Also, has anyone dealt with self-employment income in this situation? I have both W-2 wages and some 1099 income, so I'm wondering if the timing gets more complicated when part of your pre-FRA earnings come from self-employment.

Great question about the self-employment income timing! I dealt with this exact situation last year when I hit my FRA in September. For self-employment earnings, Social Security counts the income when it's earned, not when you receive payment. So if you do work in March but don't get paid until August, that income counts toward your pre-FRA earnings limit. I kept a detailed log of when I actually performed the work versus when I received payments, which turned out to be really helpful when I had to explain the timing to SSA. They were actually pretty good about understanding the distinction once I provided documentation. The key is being able to prove WHEN the work was performed for any 1099 income that might cross your FRA date. Contracts, invoices with service dates, and project timelines all help establish this. Much more complex than W-2 wages where the pay period dates make it clearer!

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I think I understand now that since my benefit will be about double his, and his SSDI is likely equal to his PIA, he probably won't qualify for any spousal top-up. I'll definitely verify his exact PIA figure though. I appreciate all the explanations - this stuff is so complicated!

You're welcome! Just to add one more thing - even though it looks like your husband won't get a spousal top-up based on the numbers you've shared, it's still worth having SSA run the calculation when you file for retirement benefits. Sometimes there can be small differences in how benefits were calculated originally, or other factors that aren't immediately obvious. Plus, once you start receiving retirement benefits, your husband will automatically be checked for spousal eligibility, so you don't have to do anything extra to make sure he gets the maximum he's entitled to.