I'm sorry for your loss, Zoe. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I'm facing a similar situation as my husband passed away 6 months ago and I'll be turning 60 in September 2025. Based on everyone's advice, I'm planning to apply in June. One thing I wanted to add that hasn't been mentioned yet - if your late husband ever worked for the railroad, make sure to check if he was covered under the Railroad Retirement system instead of regular Social Security. My neighbor discovered this after her husband passed, and it completely changed which benefits she was eligible for. Railroad Retirement has different rules and benefit amounts than SSA. Also, if your husband was a federal employee (CSRS/FERS), there might be additional survivor benefits to consider alongside Social Security. It's worth checking with OPM (Office of Personnel Management) if that applies to your situation. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - you've all made this process feel much more manageable!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Zoe. This entire thread has been incredibly informative and I wanted to add one more consideration that might be helpful. When you call SSA in August to apply, ask them specifically about the "deemed filing" rules for survivor benefits. Essentially, when you apply for survivor benefits, SSA will also check if you're eligible for retirement benefits on your own record and may automatically file for both if it's advantageous. However, since you mentioned planning to switch to your own higher retirement benefit later at 67, you want to make sure you understand exactly what you're filing for and when. Sometimes the deemed filing rules can affect your strategy, especially if your own benefit amount is close to the survivor benefit amount. It's worth having them walk through the scenarios so you can make the most informed decision. Also, keep in mind that once you start receiving survivor benefits, you'll get annual statements showing your projected retirement benefit amounts, which can help you plan the optimal time to switch. Best wishes with your application process!

Alberto, my heart goes out to you during this difficult time. I lost my spouse three years ago and remember how overwhelming all these benefit decisions felt while grieving. You've received such wonderful advice in this thread, and I wanted to add one small but important detail that helped me: when you go to your August appointment, consider asking the SSA representative to give you a written estimate of your monthly benefit amount both with and without the early filing reduction. Having those numbers side by side really helped me visualize the long-term impact of my decision. Also, don't be afraid to ask them to repeat information or explain things multiple times - they're used to working with people during difficult circumstances and should be patient with your questions. The 6-month retroactive benefit combined with starting at 66 sounds like a smart approach given your situation. You're doing everything right by researching thoroughly and asking all the right questions. Wishing you peace as you navigate this process.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Alberto. This thread has been incredibly educational - I had no idea about the 6-month retroactive option for survivor benefits! As someone who may face this decision in the future, I'm saving all this information. The advice about explicitly requesting the retroactive benefits when you apply seems crucial since it's not automatic. It's also reassuring to know that taking reduced survivor benefits doesn't permanently affect your own retirement benefits if you decide to switch later. Thank you for asking such an important question and creating this helpful discussion. The community's responses show just how valuable it is to have people share their real experiences with these complex Social Security rules. Best wishes for your appointment in August - you're clearly going in well-prepared!

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm in a similar situation - 64, on SSDI for 6 years, divorced after 14 years of marriage. What I'm taking away from all these responses is that it's definitely worth applying, even if the benefit increase is modest. The dual entitlement explanation really helped clarify how this works - I was confused about whether I'd lose my SSDI. I'm also relieved to learn that SSA can look up my ex's record without needing his SSN, since we haven't been in contact for years. I'm going to try the online appointment scheduling option rather than calling. For those who have successfully applied, did you notice any delay in receiving your first adjusted payment, or did it come through on your regular payment date once approved?

I've been following this discussion with great interest as someone who recently went through this exact process! I'm 65, was on SSDI for 8 years, and divorced after 18 years of marriage. I applied for ex-spousal benefits about 6 months ago and wanted to share my experience to help answer some of the questions that have come up. Regarding payment timing - once my application was approved (took about 10 weeks), my first adjusted payment came on my regular payment date. There wasn't any additional delay, which was a relief. They also paid me the retroactive benefits as a separate deposit about 2 weeks later. For those asking about the SSN issue - I didn't have my ex's SSN either, but SSA was able to locate his record easily using just his full name, birth date, and our marriage dates. They asked a few verification questions about where we lived during the marriage, but it was straightforward. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned much - keep copies of everything you submit and take notes during your appointment. The process involves a lot of technical details, and having your own records really helped when I had follow-up questions later. Also, don't be surprised if they need to contact you for additional information even after your initial appointment - this seems to be pretty normal and doesn't mean there's a problem with your application. The online appointment scheduling worked great for me too. Much easier than trying to call during busy hours!

As someone who just turned 64 and is facing a similar decision, this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I was actually considering filing for benefits next month while still working, but after reading through all these calculations and experiences, I'm now leaning toward waiting until my FRA at 67. The math seems pretty clear - if you're going to lose most of your benefits to the earnings test anyway, plus miss out on the delayed retirement credits, it really doesn't make financial sense to claim early while working full-time. The 33% increase in monthly benefits that Jamal mentioned for waiting from 63 to 67 is substantial when you think about it over 20+ years of retirement. One question though - for those who did withdraw their applications, how long did the process take? I want to understand the timeline in case I do file and then change my mind within that 12-month window.

I'm a federal employee nearing retirement and have been following this discussion with great interest. One additional consideration for government workers that hasn't been mentioned - if you're receiving a federal pension (CSRS or FERS), this does NOT count toward the earnings test limit since pension payments aren't considered "earned income" by SSA. However, if you're still actively employed by the government and receiving wages (not pension), those wages absolutely do count toward the $22,320 limit just like any other job. I've seen colleagues get confused about this distinction. Also, for those considering the withdrawal option, keep in mind that if you withdraw your Social Security application, you might want to double-check how this affects any spousal or family benefits that might be based on your record. Sometimes there are ripple effects that aren't immediately obvious. The complexity of these rules really highlights why so many people benefit from professional guidance when navigating Social Security timing decisions!

I'm in a similar situation and want to add something that might help with your decision-making process. Since you mentioned you have savings to live on, you might want to run a "break-even" analysis to see at what age waiting until 70 becomes more profitable than taking reduced benefits at 62. For example, if your benefit at 62 would be $1,200/month but waiting until 70 gets you $2,000/month, you'd collect $96,000 over 8 years by taking it early. But the higher benefit would "catch up" in about 12 years (around age 82). Given your family longevity, waiting could mean significantly more lifetime income. Also, don't forget that your Social Security benefits might be partially taxable depending on your other retirement income, so factor that into your calculations too. The SSA representatives should be able to help you with the benefit estimates, but they won't do the break-even math for you - that's something you'll need to calculate yourself or with a financial advisor. Good luck with your appointment! The wait times have gotten better at most offices lately.

There are actually several good online calculators that can help with Social Security break-even analysis! The AARP Social Security Calculator and the SSA's own retirement estimator are decent starting points, but for more detailed scenarios involving divorced spouse benefits, I'd recommend the calculators at FidSafe or Social Security Solutions. One thing to keep in mind with your break-even analysis - don't just look at the monthly benefit amounts. Also factor in potential cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) over time, since a higher base benefit means larger dollar increases each year when they adjust for inflation. Also, since you mentioned good family longevity, consider that Social Security benefits continue for life and include survivor protections that other investments don't offer. That guaranteed income stream becomes more valuable the longer you live, especially if healthcare costs increase as you age. The math can get complex, but once you have your actual benefit estimates from SSA, plug those numbers into a few different calculators to see if they give you consistent results. Most show that if you expect to live past your early 80s, delaying benefits usually wins out financially.