One thing nobody mentioned - when you switch to survivor benefits, you'll need his death certificate and marriage certificate. Get multiple certified copies of the death certificate (at least 5-10) when the time comes. Every organization will want one and some won't accept photocopies. Just a practical tip I wish someone had told me!

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who works with retirees - you might also want to consider the tax implications when making this decision. Your reduced retirement benefit at 65 will be taxed as income, but when you eventually switch to survivor benefits, that will also be taxable income (potentially at a higher amount). If you're still working or have other income sources, this could push you into a higher tax bracket. It's worth running the numbers with a tax professional to see how the timing affects your overall financial picture, especially if you're planning to work past 65.

My cousin went thru something similar. She was 63 and got disability. Only raised her payment like $75 a month but she said it was worth it. She got backpay too but I think that's cuz her disability started before she took retirement.

I went through almost the exact same situation at 63! Had taken early retirement and then found out I qualified for SSDI. The confusion between SSI and SSDI is SO common - even among SSA employees unfortunately. Here's what I learned: You CAN still apply for SSDI even though you're already getting retirement benefits. The key is proving your disability started BEFORE you took early retirement at 62. If approved, they'll remove that early retirement reduction penalty from your benefit calculation. In my case, it took about 14 months to get approved (had to appeal once), but I ended up with about $180 more per month plus some backpay. At your age, you're cutting it close with the timeline, but if your medical records clearly show disability onset before age 62, it might still be worth pursuing. As for the inheritance - definitely use it for necessities like your roof and car! That money has nothing to do with SSDI eligibility. The SSA rep who told you otherwise was confusing the two programs. Don't let misinformation stop you from taking care of essential needs.

Just wanted to update everyone and say THANK YOU for all the helpful responses! I showed my sister this thread and she's feeling much better. She's going to use that Claimyr service to confirm everything with SSA directly, but it's a huge relief to know her benefits should continue unchanged. You all have saved her so much worry and stress!

This is such valuable information! I'm bookmarking this thread because I work as a benefits counselor and get this exact question all the time. The automatic conversion from SSDI to retirement at FRA with no change in benefit amount is one of those things that causes so much unnecessary anxiety. It's great to see people sharing their actual experiences here - it really helps put minds at ease. Your sister is lucky to have you advocating for her and doing the research!

congrats on the pension! extra money is always nice 👍

I'm so glad to see this situation worked out well for you! As someone new to navigating Social Security benefits, this thread has been incredibly educational. The distinction between SSDI and SSI income rules is something I never understood before - it's helpful to know that private pensions don't affect SSDI at all. It's also reassuring to hear about services like Claimyr that can help people actually reach SSA representatives when needed. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences here - it's clear this community really looks out for each other!

For those still experiencing delays, I just saw on the SSA website that they've posted an official notice about the February payment delays. They're attributing it to a "processing anomaly" that affected approximately 8% of beneficiaries with payment dates between the 3rd and 8th. All payments should be processed by tomorrow (the 12th). In the meantime, if you have urgent needs, remember that local SSA offices can sometimes issue immediate payment in true hardship situations.

I'm so glad to see this discussion! As a newcomer to Social Security benefits, I was absolutely terrified when my first payment didn't show up on schedule. I kept thinking I had done something wrong with my application or bank setup. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - it's helpful to know that these delays do happen occasionally and that the money doesn't just disappear. The information about contacting local SSA offices for emergency payments is really valuable too. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge and updates. This community is such a great resource for navigating these situations!