Based on what you've shared, your own benefit at FRA ($1,850) is actually higher than what you'd get as an ex-spouse benefit (50% of $3,400 = $1,700). And remember that filing at 62 means you'd only get about 70% of either amount. This is a critical point many people miss: SSA doesn't give you both benefits added together. They give you the higher of the two. So in your case, you'd likely just get your own reduced retirement benefit if you file at 62. If you can afford to wait until your FRA or even age 70, your own benefit would grow substantially and almost certainly exceed anything you'd get on your ex's record.

I went through this exact situation about 3 years ago! The key thing to remember is that you CAN file for divorced spouse benefits even if your ex hasn't filed yet, as long as you've been divorced for at least 2 years and he's at least 62 (which you both meet). However, here's what I wish someone had told me: based on your numbers, your own benefit at FRA ($1,850) is actually HIGHER than what you'd get as a divorced spouse benefit (50% of his $3,400 = $1,700). So you'd end up getting your own benefit anyway, not his! My advice? Create that my Social Security account online ASAP to see your exact projections. I was surprised to find that waiting until my FRA made way more sense than filing early, even though I was tempted by the immediate income. The reduction for filing at 62 is pretty steep - you'd only get about 70% of your full benefit amount. Also, don't let the SSA phone struggles discourage you from getting proper information. The online account will give you most of what you need to make an informed decision.

One additional resource that might be helpful as you work through all these calculations is the Social Security Administration's publication "How Work Affects Your Benefits" (Publication No. 05-10069). It has detailed examples of how the earnings test works and includes scenarios for people with pensions. Also, since you're dealing with both WEP and earnings limit questions, you might want to ask SSA about getting a "benefit verification letter" once you start receiving benefits. This letter will show exactly how your benefit amount was calculated, including any WEP reductions, which can be helpful for tax planning and general record-keeping. Given all the great strategic advice in this thread about potentially delaying benefits, one thing to keep in mind is that you can always change your mind. You could start benefits at 62 and then if your financial situation changes, you have the option within the first 12 months to withdraw your application and pay back what you've received, essentially giving you a "do-over" to wait for a higher benefit amount. It's not something most people use, but it's good to know the option exists as you're weighing your timing decision.

I just wanted to add that you should also consider the tax implications of your timing decision. Since you'll have multiple income streams (pension, part-time wages, and Social Security), the timing of when you start SS benefits could affect how much of your benefits become taxable. With your pension income of $2,800/month ($33,600/year) plus part-time wages of about $13,200, you're already at $46,800 in annual income before Social Security. Once you add SS benefits, you'll likely cross the thresholds where up to 85% of your Social Security becomes taxable (the thresholds are $25,000 for single filers and $32,000 for married filing jointly for the first tier). This doesn't mean you shouldn't claim benefits - just that you might want to factor the tax impact into your decision about when to start claiming. Sometimes delaying benefits not only gives you a higher monthly amount but can also result in better overall tax efficiency depending on your total retirement income picture. You might want to run some tax scenarios or consult with a tax professional who understands Social Security taxation rules as part of your planning process.

Thanks everyone for all the great information! Based on everyone's advice, I'll plan to apply in February 2025 (4 months before my birthday) and specify June 2025 as my benefit start month. I'll make sure to have all my documents ready and save all confirmation screens. I'll try the online application first, but if I have trouble getting through on the phone for questions, I'll check out that Claimyr service. Really appreciate all the help!

You've got a solid plan there, Katherine! Just one additional tip - when you apply online in February, you might want to create your my Social Security account ahead of time if you don't already have one. It makes the application process smoother and you can check the status of your application online afterwards. Also, if you run into any issues during the online application, don't abandon it completely - you can save your progress and come back to it later. The system will hold your partially completed application for 30 days. Good luck with everything!

Great to hear you got through to SSA and got confirmation! I'm a newcomer here but dealing with something similar - I switched from disability to retirement benefits mid-year and only seeing one 1099 online. Based on everyone's advice here, it sounds like I should expect a separate mailed form for the disability benefits portion. This thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding how SSA handles multiple benefit types. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's reassuring to know this is a common issue and not something wrong with our accounts!

Welcome to the community @Butch! Your situation with disability to retirement benefits is very similar to what Mateo experienced. I went through the exact same thing two years ago when I transitioned from SSDI to retirement benefits mid-year. You're absolutely right that you should expect two separate 1099s - one for each benefit type. The disability 1099 will definitely come by mail and won't show up in your MySSA account, which is incredibly frustrating but unfortunately normal. I'd recommend calling SSA if you don't receive the disability 1099 by mid-February, or better yet, visit your local office in person since they can print it immediately. Keep both forms together when you file your taxes since the IRS will be expecting to see both amounts reported. Good luck getting everything sorted out for tax season!

Welcome to the community, Maya! You've gotten some excellent advice here. I went through a very similar decision process last year and also chose to wait until FRA - best financial decision I made. One additional tip: since you're planning to wait until June, consider setting up a my Social Security account online at ssa.gov if you haven't already. You can verify your earnings record is accurate and get updated benefit estimates. Sometimes there are errors in their records that can affect your benefit amount, and it's much easier to correct them before you apply. Also, don't forget that once you reach FRA, you can earn as much as you want without any benefit reduction - so if you decide to pick up extra hours or take on additional work after June, it won't affect your Social Security at all. That flexibility alone is worth the wait!

Maya, I'm glad you found all this advice helpful! As someone who's been through the SS maze myself, I wanted to add one more thing that might be useful. Since you're waiting until June and mentioned home repairs, you might want to consider whether any of those repairs could qualify for tax credits (like energy efficiency improvements). With your increased SS income starting in June, you'll want to think about the tax implications of both the benefits and any potential credits. Also, I noticed someone mentioned the my Social Security account - definitely do this! I found an error in my earnings record from 2019 that would have cost me about $30/month in benefits. SSA fixed it quickly once I reported it, but I shudder to think what would have happened if I hadn't checked. The online account also lets you see exactly how your benefits will be calculated, which helped me feel more confident about my timing decision. You're making a smart choice by waiting - the peace of mind alone is worth it!