good luck!!! make sure u send it certified mail so they cant say they never got it. thats what happened to my mom the first time!

That's a smart idea! I'll definitely send it certified mail. I wouldn't put it past them to

I'm sorry to hear about your spouse's health situation. This is such a difficult time to be making these kinds of financial decisions. From what I understand reading through the responses, it sounds like you have a solid grasp of your options. Since your benefit is already higher than your spouse's, continuing the suspension until 70 would likely maximize your lifetime benefits even if the worst happens. Those delayed retirement credits really add up - that's an extra 32% on top of your FRA amount by age 70. One thing I'd suggest is getting exact benefit projections from SSA for both scenarios (your benefit at 70 vs. potential survivor benefits) so you can see the actual dollar amounts. Sometimes the numbers can surprise you, especially if there are cost-of-living adjustments or other factors you haven't considered. Also, given the complexity of your situation with the SSDI conversion, suspension, and potential survivor benefits, it might be worth consulting with a fee-only financial advisor who specializes in Social Security planning. They can help you model different scenarios and make sure you're not missing anything important. Wishing you and your spouse all the best during this challenging time.

I'm so sorry to hear about your spouse's diagnosis - that must be incredibly overwhelming to deal with while trying to navigate these complex benefit decisions. Based on what others have shared, it sounds like you have the right understanding of your options. Since you mentioned your SSDI benefit is already higher than your spouse's Social Security, the math likely favors continuing your suspension until 70 even if the unthinkable happens before then. Those delayed retirement credits could increase your benefit by up to 32%, which would probably exceed any survivor benefit amount. One additional consideration: if you do decide to suspend at FRA, make sure you understand how that affects your Medicare Part B premiums. You'll still need to pay those even while your cash benefits are suspended, so factor that into your budget planning during the suspension period. I'd also echo what others said about getting everything in writing from SSA. With a situation this complex involving SSDI conversion, suspension, and potential survivor benefits, you want to make sure you have documentation of exactly what your options are. Take care of yourself during this difficult time. These financial decisions are stressful enough without the added emotional burden you're carrying.

I went through this exact situation with my employer's car allowance program about 6 months ago. Here's what I learned after consulting with both my tax preparer and calling SSA directly: if your employer reports it in Box 1 of your W-2 (which they almost certainly will for a flat $750/month allowance), then SSA will count it toward the earnings test regardless of what your HR department calls it. The only way around this is if they can restructure it as a true accountable plan where you submit actual receipts and only get reimbursed for documented expenses. I ended up having to decline the allowance because it would have pushed me over the limit by about $3,000, which would have cost me $1,500 in reduced benefits. My advice is to get clarity from HR about whether they can switch to a receipt-based reimbursement system, and if not, do the math to see if it's still worth it financially given the benefit reduction formula.

I work for a benefits consulting firm and deal with these situations frequently. The distinction everyone is making between allowances and reimbursements is absolutely correct, but I wanted to add one more consideration: timing. If you do end up going over the earnings limit, SSA typically doesn't catch it until they get your W-2 information the following year. This means you could potentially receive a full year of benefits and then face a large overpayment demand later. Given that you're only 64, you have several more years before FRA where this could be an ongoing issue. I'd strongly recommend either getting that accountable plan structure in place or declining the allowance altogether. The peace of mind is worth more than the hassle of dealing with SSA overpayment collections, which can be a nightmare to resolve.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm 69 and planning to file for Social Security in a few months when I turn 70. I had no idea that the comments section was where you request retroactive benefits on the online application - I would have been just as confused as you were, Drew. Reading everyone's experiences gives me so much more confidence about the online application process. It sounds like the key things to remember are: 1) Use the comments section for retroactive requests, 2) Keep all confirmation emails and documentation, 3) Follow up with a phone call in a few weeks to specifically confirm the retroactive months were processed, and 4) Consider requesting the full 6 months you're entitled to rather than just a few months. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice you can't get from the SSA website itself!

I just went through this exact same process last year at age 70! Like you, I was completely confused about where to put the retroactive benefits request in the online application. The SSA website really doesn't make this clear at all. I also ended up putting my request in the comments section and was worried they'd overlook it. But it worked out perfectly - they processed my retroactive benefits without any issues. The comments section is genuinely the right place for this request, even though it feels wrong when you're doing it. Since you already got confirmation from an SSA agent that your application looks good, you're definitely on the right track. One thing I learned after the fact - you might want to ask about getting the full 6 months of retroactive benefits (back to April 2024) instead of just October and November. At 70, your benefits are already maximized, so there's no penalty for claiming the full retroactive period you're entitled to. I wish I had known this when I first applied! The retroactive payment came as a separate lump sum about 3 weeks after my regular monthly benefits started. Keep that confirmation email handy and don't hesitate to call in a few weeks to double-check everything was processed correctly. You handled this perfectly!

Oh, and regarding your specific concern about being paperless - you will still need to check your physical mail. Some communications from SSA are only sent by mail for security reasons, especially anything involving direct deposit changes or benefit verification. They're slowly improving their online services, but they're not completely paperless yet.

I work at a local SSA field office and can confirm what others have said - your earnings record absolutely stays accessible after you file for benefits. The main changes to your online account are: 1) The benefit estimator tools are replaced with actual payment information, 2) You get access to benefit verification letters and tax documents, and 3) The message center becomes more active with payment-related notices. Regarding paperless communication - we're moving in that direction but aren't fully there yet. Important notices like annual COLA announcements, Medicare enrollment info, and some legal documents still come by mail for regulatory compliance reasons. Pro tip: Set up text alerts in addition to email notifications - they're more reliable for urgent account updates. And definitely keep your contact info current in the system!