One thing no one mentioned - if your daughter qualifies for SSI, she might be eligible for subsidized housing which could help with your living situation. There are often long waiting lists but some areas prioritize disabled applicants. Just something to look into while you're working on the SSI application.

I'm so sorry you and your daughter are going through this difficult situation. As someone who navigated the SSI process with a family member, I wanted to add a few practical tips that might help: 1. Document everything NOW - keep a daily log of her symptoms, episodes, and how they affect her daily functioning. This becomes crucial evidence later. 2. When you do get her to a psychiatrist, ask them specifically about completing a "Medical Source Statement" or RFC (Residual Functional Capacity) form - these carry significant weight in disability decisions. 3. Consider reaching out to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) in your area - they often have support groups for families and can connect you with local resources you might not know about. 4. If she's had any emergency room visits for mental health crises, those records can be valuable documentation even if they're older. The waiting and uncertainty is exhausting, but don't give up. Many people with bipolar disorder do qualify for SSI, especially when it significantly impacts their ability to work consistently. You're doing the right thing by advocating for her.

Thank you all SO much for the helpful information! I clearly had some major misconceptions about how all this works. I'm going to: 1. Look into volunteering first before jumping into paid work 2. Contact the WIPA program to understand my specific situation better 3. Research the Ticket to Work program 4. Rest easy knowing my husband's Medicare won't disappear when his SSDI converts It's such a relief to understand this better now. The anxiety of potentially losing healthcare coverage was really weighing on me. I appreciate everyone taking the time to explain things so clearly!

You're absolutely on the right track with your plan! One additional resource that might be helpful is your local SSA office - they can provide personalized guidance about your specific situation. Also, when you contact WIPA, ask them about "benefit planners" - they can actually run scenarios showing exactly how different earnings levels would affect your benefits. Since you mentioned being a stay-at-home mom for years, it's worth noting that if you do eventually return to work, even part-time earnings could potentially help fill in some zero-earning years in your Social Security record, which might boost your future retirement benefits. The healthcare piece is really the biggest hurdle for most people in your situation, so it's great that you now know Medicare continues seamlessly. That knowledge alone should help you sleep better! Best of luck with whatever path you choose.

Just to clarify something important that might not be obvious from the other responses - when you do eventually claim survivor benefits, you'll need to apply for them. Social Security doesn't automatically switch you over or start paying them when your husband passes away. You'll need to contact SSA (or visit a local office) with the death certificate, marriage certificate, and other documentation to start the process. Also, survivor benefits can be paid retroactively for up to 6 months from the date you apply, so don't worry if there's a delay in getting the paperwork together during what's already a difficult time. The key is to apply as soon as you reasonably can after the loss.

I just want to echo what others have said about the importance of planning ahead and having those conversations with SSA. My situation is similar to yours - I'm 61 and my husband is 64, and his estimated benefit is quite a bit higher than mine too. One thing I learned when I called SSA last month is that they can actually run hypothetical scenarios for you over the phone. They were able to tell me exactly what my survivor benefit would be at different claiming ages, and how it would compare to my own retirement benefit if I delayed claiming. It really helped me understand my options better than just trying to figure it out from the website. The representative I spoke with was very patient and walked me through several "what if" scenarios. If you do call, I'd suggest having both of your Social Security statements handy so they can give you the most accurate information for your specific situation.

Well EXCUSE ME for trying to help!!!!! I was just saying she should look into ALL options!!!! Some people have very little in savings after a spouse dies!!!! 🙄

I'm so sorry for your loss, Miguel. Losing a spouse suddenly is devastating, and navigating the benefits system while grieving makes it even harder. Based on what others have shared, here's a quick summary to help you plan: **Your options:** - Age 60: Reduced survivor benefits (about 71.5% of his full amount) - Age 67: Full survivor benefits (100% of what he would have received) **Key things to remember:** - The reduction is permanent if you claim early - You can't collect both survivor and your own retirement benefits simultaneously - Since you have some work credits, you might benefit from the "claim one, switch later" strategy others mentioned **Next steps I'd suggest:** 1. Check your Social Security statement online (ssa.gov/myaccount) to see your exact work credits 2. Get an estimate of both your potential survivor benefit and your own retirement benefit 3. Consider whether you can work part-time now to build up more credits The strategy Liam and Amara mentioned about claiming survivor benefits at 60 then potentially switching to your own benefit later (if higher) could be really valuable in your situation. Hang in there - you've got this! 💙

As someone who just went through this exact process with my Swedish wife last year, I can confirm that the agent you spoke with gave you completely incorrect information on both points! 1. The tax withholding: Yes, there's typically 30% withholding for non-US citizens, BUT Germany has a tax treaty with the US that should eliminate this. You'll need to file Form W-8BEN to claim the treaty benefits. We did this for Sweden and my wife pays no US taxes on her spousal benefits. 2. The residency requirement: This is 100% FALSE. There is absolutely no requirement for your wife to spend any time in the US to receive spousal benefits. We've been living in Stockholm for 8 years and my wife has never had to return to the US for her benefits. I'd strongly recommend calling the Office of International Operations directly rather than the general SSA line. The regular agents often have no clue about international cases, but the international specialists know exactly how these situations work. The misinformation you received is unfortunately very common - we went through three different agents before getting accurate information. Your wife should qualify for spousal benefits without any residency strings attached. Don't let bad information from an uninformed agent discourage you from pursuing what you're entitled to!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation for my Canadian spouse and can confirm that the agent gave you completely wrong information! We've been living in Toronto for 7 years and my wife receives her spousal benefits with zero issues and no residency requirements whatsoever. The 30% withholding is standard for non-US citizens, but as others have mentioned, the US-Canada tax treaty eliminates this. We filed the W-8BEN form and now she receives her full benefits without any withholding. The process was straightforward once we got connected with someone who actually understood international cases. That "2 months in the US" requirement is absolute nonsense - I've never heard anything so ridiculous! My wife hasn't been to the US in over 3 years and her payments continue without interruption. It sounds like you got an agent who was either completely new or just making things up. Definitely call the Office of International Operations at the number Victoria provided. They sorted everything out for us in one phone call after we wasted weeks getting conflicting information from regular SSA agents. Don't let this bad experience discourage you - your wife is absolutely entitled to those benefits without jumping through imaginary hoops!