Welcome to the community! I'm new here but have been reading through this thread with great interest as someone who's also navigating the complex world of Social Security benefits. Your situation really highlights how challenging these family maximum benefit calculations can be, especially when you have multiple types of beneficiaries like you do. The advice you've received here has been incredibly comprehensive - from specific document names to request, to technical rules that might apply, to the potential issues with your base FMB calculation. What really stands out to me is how this thread demonstrates the importance of persistence and preparation when dealing with SSA. The fact that you now have specific POMS sections to reference, technical terms to use, and detailed questions to ask should make a huge difference in getting accurate answers. I'm particularly intrigued by Olivia's point about the Combined Family Maximum rule for DAC benefits - that seems like it could be a significant factor that's been overlooked in your case. The combination of that plus the potential bend point calculation errors could explain why your numbers don't match expectations. Best of luck with your upcoming Technical Expert appointment! I hope you get the clear answers and correct calculations you deserve. Please do keep us posted - your experience will undoubtedly help other community members facing similar complex family benefit situations.

I'm new to this community but have been following your situation closely, and I wanted to share some additional perspective that might help. As someone who recently navigated a complex family benefit situation myself, I think you've received absolutely excellent advice in this thread. The technical details about Combined Family Maximum rules, bend point calculations, and the various documentation you should request are spot-on. One thing I'd add based on my own experience: when you do get that face-to-face appointment with a Technical Expert, consider asking them to walk through a "what-if" scenario for when your son ages out. Having them calculate those future benefit amounts in real-time (rather than just getting a written estimate later) can help you catch any calculation errors while you're still there with someone who understands the system. Also, given the complexity of your situation with the SSI-to-DAC transition, staggered approval dates, and multiple beneficiary types, you might want to ask if there are any "protective filing" issues that could affect retroactive payments or benefit start dates. Sometimes when applications are processed at different times, there can be gaps or overlaps that create calculation problems. The level of preparation you now have - with specific POMS sections, technical terminology, and detailed questions - should make a huge difference. Don't let them rush through the appointment or give you vague explanations. You deserve clear, detailed answers with the actual mathematical breakdowns. Wishing you the best of luck getting this resolved! Please keep us updated on how it goes.

I've been lurking on this thread and finally decided to share what worked for me after literally 3 weeks of trying! The combination approach really is key - I ended up calling at exactly 7:59 AM on a Thursday (set my alarm and everything), and when I got the busy signal, I used the auto-redial every 15 minutes until I finally got through around 9:30 AM. What really made the difference was having a backup plan ready. When the agent told me their earliest appointment was 5 weeks out, I asked about their cancellation list AND if they had any phone-only appointments available for simpler issues. Turns out they could handle part of what I needed over the phone that same day, which saved me from needing the in-person visit! Also want to add - if you're calling about name changes or address updates, those can often be done completely online through your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. I wasted 2 weeks trying to get a phone appointment for something I could have handled in 10 minutes online 🤦‍♂️ The system is definitely broken, but this community sharing strategies has been a lifesaver. Keep pushing through everyone - the agents really are helpful once you finally reach them!

I'm dealing with the exact same frustration right now! Been trying for almost two weeks to get through to schedule an appointment and it's driving me crazy. This thread is honestly a goldmine of strategies - I had no idea about so many of these approaches. I'm definitely going to try the 8:00 AM sharp on Wednesday approach with all my documents ready. The auto-redial app suggestion sounds like a game changer too. I think my biggest mistake has been calling at random times and giving up after one busy signal. One thing I'm curious about - for those who've successfully gotten appointments, did you find certain types of requests get scheduled faster than others? I need help with updating my earnings record, so wondering if that's considered urgent or routine. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences here. It's frustrating that we need a whole strategy guide just to talk to a government agency, but at least we're helping each other navigate this broken system! 💪

Thank you all for the helpful information! It seems clear that my ex-wife has no claim to benefits on my record as long as she remains married. That's a relief to know. My current wife and I are satisfied with our benefit decisions, even though she's receiving a reduced amount by claiming early. One follow-up question - if my ex-wife's current marriage ends and she then claims on my record when she's eligible, would I be notified by SSA? Or would that happen without my knowledge?

Just wanted to add some clarity on the timing aspects since I see some questions about this. Your ex-wife would need to wait until she's at least 62 to claim any ex-spouse benefits (assuming she becomes eligible by being unmarried at that time). Since she's currently 55, that's still 7 years away. Also, regarding notification - you're correct that SSA won't notify you if she ever does file. This is standard practice to protect privacy. The system is designed so that ex-spouse claims are completely separate from your benefits and don't require any input or awareness from you. One small correction to an earlier comment - the 10-year marriage requirement is measured from the date of marriage to the date the divorce was finalized, not just separated. Since you mentioned 19 years of marriage, that requirement is definitely met if the situation ever changes.

I've been following this discussion and wanted to share some additional resources that might help everyone here. For those struggling to get through to SSA by phone, you can also visit your local Social Security office in person - sometimes it's faster than waiting on hold for hours. You can find your nearest office at ssa.gov/locator. I'd recommend calling ahead to see if they require appointments, as some offices have shifted to appointment-only since COVID. Also, if you're trying to get benefit estimates, the online "my Social Security" account at ssa.gov is really helpful for seeing your own projected benefits, though as others mentioned, it won't show you what you might be eligible for from an ex-spouse's record. One more tip: if you do end up calling SSA, try calling right when they open at 7 AM local time - the wait times are usually much shorter in the morning. I've had good luck getting through within 15-20 minutes that way versus hours during peak times. The remarriage timing decisions you're all discussing are so important financially - it's worth the effort to get the official numbers to make informed choices!

This has been such an informative discussion! I'm 62 and went through this exact decision process 3 years ago. I was divorced after 14 years of marriage and had been with my current partner for 5 years when I had to decide about remarriage timing. I ended up waiting until after my 60th birthday to remarry, and I'm so glad I did. My ex-husband had significantly higher earnings than both myself and my new husband, so preserving the option to claim on his record was financially crucial. When I applied for benefits last year, I was able to choose the highest of the three options available to me. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier: even though everyone talks about the "age 60 rule," the actual claiming decision doesn't happen until you're 62+ anyway, so you have time after remarriage to really crunch the numbers and see which benefit source gives you the most money. For those of you still deciding on timing - it's worth doing the math with actual benefit estimates rather than guessing. The difference in my case was about $400/month between my ex's record versus my new husband's record, which adds up to almost $5,000 per year. Waiting two extra years to remarry was definitely worth it for that kind of financial security. Best of luck to everyone navigating these decisions!

Hi everyone! As a newcomer to this community, I've been following this discussion with great interest since my parents are in a very similar situation to Omar's. They're 64 and 66 respectively, and we've been trying to help them figure out their Social Security strategy. What I find most valuable about this thread is how it demonstrates the importance of looking at Social Security as a household strategy rather than individual decisions. The interplay between spousal benefits, survivor benefits, and timing really requires considering both spouses' situations together. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the tax implications of these decisions. Depending on your other retirement income sources, Social Security benefits can become taxable at different thresholds. If Omar and his wife have significant 401k or pension income, the timing of when his wife claims could affect their overall tax burden in retirement. Also, for anyone dealing with these complex scenarios, I'd recommend checking if your state has a SHINE (Serving Health Information Needs of Everyone) program or similar counseling service. These are usually free programs that help with Medicare and Social Security questions, and they often have counselors who really understand the nuances of spousal benefit strategies. Omar, it sounds like you've received excellent advice here about waiting until your wife's FRA. The combination of maximizing the spousal benefit amount plus getting COLAs applied to that higher base really does seem to make the patience worthwhile if you can manage financially. Thank you to everyone who has shared their knowledge and experiences - this community is providing such valuable real-world guidance that you just can't get from generic online calculators!

Hi everyone! I'm new to this community and have been reading through this fascinating discussion about spousal Social Security benefits. As someone just starting to learn about these strategies, this thread has been incredibly educational. What really impressed me is how the community has broken down such a complex topic into understandable pieces. The explanation about deemed filing rules and how the old "restricted application" strategy is no longer available was particularly helpful - I had been reading outdated information elsewhere that was quite confusing. Omar, your situation really highlights how important it is to run the actual numbers rather than relying on general rules of thumb. The break-even analysis discussion between you and CosmicCadet was so clear, and Diego's points about actuarial neutrality helped me understand the underlying logic of the system. I'm also grateful for all the practical resources people have shared - from the SSA publication Sean mentioned to the SHINE programs that Ahooker-Equator brought up. As a newcomer trying to prepare for similar decisions with my own family, having a roadmap of reliable resources is invaluable. One thing that strikes me is how these decisions really can't be made in isolation - the spousal benefits, survivor benefits, tax implications, and even health insurance considerations during the gap years all interconnect in complex ways. It's clear that professional guidance or at least thorough research using multiple sources is essential. Thank you to everyone who has contributed their knowledge and experiences to this discussion. This community provides such valuable real-world insights that go far beyond what you can find in generic online articles!