I'm going through something very similar with my mom's situation right now. She's been widowed for about 6 months, and when we were preparing for the survivor benefits application, we noticed the same kind of discrepancy on dad's old SSA statement - it showed about $400 less than what he was actually receiving. When mom applied, the SSA representative explained that those survivor benefit projections on the statements are often based on older data and don't always reflect the most current benefit amounts, especially if there have been recent cost-of-living adjustments or if delayed retirement credits were earned. The good news is that mom ended up receiving dad's full monthly amount, just like what others have shared here. The representative told us that surviving spouses at FRA are entitled to 100% of what the deceased spouse was actually receiving at the time of death, not what some outdated projection shows. I'd definitely recommend calling SSA or visiting a local office to get a current, accurate projection. Don't let that statement number worry you too much - from what I've learned, the actual survivor benefit process uses the real payment amounts, not those potentially outdated projections.

This is such a common concern and you're absolutely right to question that discrepancy! From what I've learned through my own research and talking with SSA representatives, those survivor benefit amounts on the statements are often calculated using older formulas or data that don't reflect current reality. Since your husband waited until 70 to claim his benefits, he earned delayed retirement credits that increased his monthly payment by 32% over his full retirement age amount. These credits should carry over to your survivor benefit, meaning you should receive his full $3,600 monthly amount, not the $3,000 shown on the statement. The statement projections seem to be particularly unreliable when it comes to benefits that include delayed retirement credits or recent cost-of-living adjustments. I'd suggest calling SSA and asking specifically about survivor benefits when delayed retirement credits are involved - they should be able to give you a more accurate projection based on his current benefit amount. You're in a good position having been married for 47 years and being past FRA yourself. Don't let that statement number worry you too much!

Just wanted to add one more consideration - make sure to keep detailed records of your earnings throughout the year. SSA will want documentation when they do their annual earnings review, and having everything organized will make the process much smoother. Also, if your income varies month to month, you might want to estimate conservatively and report any changes to SSA promptly. They can adjust the withholding mid-year if your circumstances change, which could help you avoid overpayment situations that need to be sorted out later.

One more thing to consider that hasn't been fully addressed - the timing of when benefits get withheld during the year. SSA doesn't spread the withholding evenly across 12 months. They typically withhold your entire monthly benefit starting in January until they've recovered the projected annual withholding amount. So if they calculate you'll have $30,000 withheld for the year and your monthly benefit is $2,600, they'll withhold your benefits for about 11-12 months, then you might get benefits again in November/December. This can create cash flow challenges if you're counting on any SS income during certain months. Just something to factor into your budgeting when you take that job!

One thing to keep in mind with the withdrawal option - make sure you have the cash flow to handle both paying back the 4 months of benefits AND potentially waiting several more months for your contract payments to come in. Contract work can sometimes have delayed payment schedules, and you don't want to be caught short on funds. Also, since you mentioned this is lucrative work, consider setting aside money for self-employment taxes (15.3% for Social Security and Medicare) if you'll be working as an independent contractor rather than an employee. The tax hit on a $60K contract can be pretty substantial when combined with repaying your SS benefits.

Just a heads up - when you file Form SSA-521 for withdrawal, SSA will send you a letter showing the exact amount you need to repay, including any interest. You typically have 60 days to make the repayment, but they may grant extensions if needed. The process usually takes 4-6 weeks from when they receive your form to when they send the repayment letter. Also, make sure to keep detailed records of everything - the withdrawal form, repayment documentation, and any correspondence with SSA. You'll need these for your taxes and when you eventually reapply for benefits. Some people forget that the repayment amount might include spousal or survivor benefits if applicable, so double-check all the details before proceeding.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share that I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago. Like you, I was absolutely determined not to receive any benefits connected to my ex-husband after a very difficult divorce. The terminology that finally worked for me was telling them I wanted to "withdraw my deemed filing" for spousal benefits and restrict my application to only my own retirement benefits. I had to call SSA four different times before I found a representative who knew how to process this correctly. What really helped was being very specific: "I understand I may be eligible for higher benefits on my ex-spouse's record, but I am voluntarily choosing to decline those benefits and receive only my own retirement benefits." They tried to talk me out of it multiple times, but I stayed firm. Eventually they processed it exactly as I requested. Don't give up - you absolutely have the right to make this choice, even if it takes persistence to find someone who knows how to handle it properly!

I'm a newcomer here but wanted to add my voice of support - you are absolutely making the right choice for yourself and your peace of mind. I haven't personally gone through this with SSA yet, but I completely understand your desire for complete independence from your ex. After reading through all these responses, it's clear that while SSA makes this process challenging, it's definitely possible. The advice about using specific terminology like "restrict the scope of my application," "voluntary restriction of benefits," and "withdraw my deemed filing" seems invaluable. What strikes me most is how many people here truly understand that this isn't about the money - it's about your right to complete autonomy and closure. The fact that you have to fight so hard for something that should be a simple personal choice is frustrating, but don't let SSA wear you down. Your mental health and independence are worth more than any additional monthly payment. Keep all the great advice from this thread handy when you call back, and remember that persistence will pay off!

I'm new to this community and just created an account because this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm 62 and in a very similar situation - trying to claim divorced spouse benefits but missing my ex-husband's SSN and birthdate from a marriage that ended 15 years ago. After reading through all these detailed experiences, I feel like I finally have a clear roadmap. The consistency of success stories when people go in-person, ask specifically for a "Claims Specialist," and use the term "numident search" is really encouraging. I had no idea there were internal search capabilities that phone representatives don't have access to - that explains so much about the contradictory information I've been getting! I'm planning to gather my marriage certificate, divorce decree, and dig through old files for any documents with his name (great tip about tax returns!), then make an appointment at my local office. The former SSA employee's explanation about this being standard procedure really gave me confidence that this is absolutely doable. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and timeline - it's amazing how this community has provided more practical guidance than months of official SSA interactions. I'll definitely report back on how my appointment goes and hopefully add another success story to this helpful collection!

I'm a newcomer to this community and just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I'm 63 and facing almost the exact same situation - I need to apply for divorced spouse benefits but I'm missing my second ex-husband's SSN and birthdate from a marriage that ended over 15 years ago. The advice here has been absolutely invaluable, especially learning about the "numident search" process and the importance of asking specifically for a Claims Specialist at the local office rather than dealing with phone representatives who clearly aren't trained on these internal procedures. The former SSA employee's explanation about this being routine procedure really gave me confidence that this is definitely solvable. I'm planning to follow the successful approach so many of you have outlined: make an in-person appointment, bring my marriage certificate and divorce decree along with any old documents I can find with his name, and use the specific terminology about needing assistance with a numident search for divorced spouse benefit purposes. It's amazing how this community has provided more practical, actionable guidance in one thread than months of frustrating phone calls with SSA. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and timelines - it's given me the confidence to finally tackle this process! I'll definitely report back on how my appointment goes.