Thank you all for the helpful responses! I've learned so much from this discussion. Just to summarize what I understand now: 1. My husband should go ahead and file for his own benefits when he turns 70. 2. He can't receive spousal benefits based on my record because his own benefit will be more than half of mine. 3. When I decide to file (likely at 70), I'll get my own benefit amount. 4. The higher benefit (mine) will become the survivor benefit if one of us passes away. I appreciate everyone taking the time to explain this. The Social Security rules can be so confusing!

You've got it exactly right, Zara! Your summary is spot on. One additional tip I'd suggest - since you're planning to wait until 70 to file, make sure to apply about 3-4 months before your 70th birthday to avoid any processing delays. Social Security benefits can be retroactive up to 6 months, but you don't want to miss out on any payments due to paperwork timing. Also, keep good records of both your and your husband's work history and earnings - it helps when you finally do file to make sure your benefits are calculated correctly. Good luck with your planning!

You're making a smart decision to wait it out, especially given the significant difference between reduced and full retirement benefits ($690/month is substantial over a lifetime). Since you already have legal representation, that puts you in a much better position than many applicants. One additional thing to consider - if your husband's condition has worsened since the initial application, make sure your lawyer documents any progression or new limitations. Sometimes cases get approved not just on the original condition but on how it has deteriorated during the waiting period. Also, keep detailed records of all your financial hardship during this waiting period (medical bills, lost income, etc.) as this documentation can be helpful both for expedite requests and potentially for calculating any additional backpay periods. The financial stress of waiting is real and legitimate grounds for requesting faster processing. Hang in there - 11 months is frustrating but not unusual, and having a lawyer significantly improves your odds at each stage of the process.

I went through a very similar situation with my father who applied for SSDI at 64 after a workplace injury. What helped us was understanding that you can actually request a "dire need" or "critical case" expedite if you're facing serious financial hardship - which it sounds like you definitely are. The key is having documentation ready: unpaid medical bills, utility shutoff notices, mortgage/rent arrears, etc. Your lawyer should be able to help request this expedite, but sometimes calling SSA directly (when you can get through) works better. Also, I learned that even if the decision comes after his FRA, the "protective filing date" from his original application protects his rights to full disability backpay from that original date. So you're not losing those months - they're just being delayed. One more thing - if your husband's medical condition has worsened during this waiting period, make sure your lawyer documents that progression. Sometimes cases that might not have been approved initially get approved based on how the condition has deteriorated over time. The waiting is absolutely brutal, but don't give up. The system is slow but it does eventually work for people with legitimate claims.

Maya, I just wanted to add one more consideration that hasn't been mentioned yet - timing. Since you're 63 and still 2 years from your Full Retirement Age, you might want to consider spreading out your investment income over multiple years if possible. For example, instead of investing all $400K at once in high-yield investments, you could stage your investments to keep your annual income below the IRMAA thresholds until you reach FRA. This could help you avoid the Medicare premium increases while still generating the supplemental income you need. Also, remember that the IRMAA calculations are based on your tax return from 2 years prior, so any income changes you make in 2025 won't affect your Medicare premiums until 2027. This gives you some time to plan strategically. Best of luck with your new chapter - it sounds like you're being very thoughtful about planning ahead!

Maya, I'm so glad you found this community to get clarity on your situation! As someone who went through a similar financial transition while on SSDI, I wanted to emphasize a few practical steps that helped me: 1. Document everything - keep detailed records of the home sale proceeds and how you invest the money. This will be helpful for tax purposes and if you ever need to provide information to SSA. 2. Consider working with a fee-only financial advisor who has experience with disability benefits. They can help you create a withdrawal strategy that minimizes tax implications while maximizing your income. 3. Don't forget about state taxes - depending on where you live, your state might have different rules about taxing Social Security benefits and investment income. The peace of mind you'll have knowing your SSDI is secure regardless of your assets is huge. You're being smart to plan ahead and ask these questions before making any major investment decisions. Wishing you all the best as you navigate this new financial chapter!

let us know what u find out! im curious what they tell u since ill be in the same boat in a couple years

Just wanted to add a quick tip from my own experience - when you do contact SSA, make sure you have your husband's Social Security statement handy too. They'll need his projected benefit amount to run the calculations for your potential spousal benefit. You can both create accounts at ssa.gov to access your statements if you don't have them already. Also, don't be surprised if different agents give you slightly different answers - I had to call twice to get consistent information, but it was worth it to understand exactly where we stood financially. The automatic adjustment when your husband files is nice though - one less thing to worry about!

Thank you all so much for the helpful information! I've made an appointment at my local SSA office for next week, and I'm gathering all the documents that were suggested. I'm going to explore that strategy of taking survivor benefits now and then possibly switching to my own later - that might work best for my situation. If I have trouble getting through to check on my application status after I apply, I might try that Claimyr service mentioned above. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and advice!

As a newcomer here, I wanted to share something that might help - when you go to your SSA appointment next week, ask them to run a benefit estimate for both scenarios (taking survivor benefits now vs. waiting). They can show you the exact dollar amounts which makes the decision much clearer. Also, don't be surprised if they try to schedule a phone appointment instead of in-person - many offices are still doing that for initial consultations. Good luck with everything, and I hope you get the financial relief you need during this difficult time.