I'm going through a very similar situation and this discussion has been incredibly enlightening! My ex-husband is 3 years younger than me and won't turn 62 until early 2027. We were married for 14 years, and I've been collecting my own modest retirement benefits for about 18 months now. One thing I wanted to ask - has anyone here had experience with getting an estimate of what their divorced spouse benefit might be before actually applying? I know SSA can provide benefit estimates, but I'm not sure if they can estimate the divorced spouse benefit amount without my ex's cooperation or knowledge. It would be helpful to know roughly what increase I might expect so I can plan my finances better. Also, I've been keeping detailed records of all my interactions with SSA representatives, including names, dates, and what they told me. Given how many people here have mentioned getting different answers from different reps, I figure having a paper trail might be useful when I eventually apply. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences and knowledge - this thread should be bookmarked by anyone dealing with divorced spouse benefits!

I'm a benefits counselor who works with divorced individuals navigating Social Security, and I wanted to add a few clarifications to this excellent discussion. First, you're absolutely correct that your ex must be 62 before you can claim divorced spouse benefits, regardless of whether he's actually collecting. The confusion often comes from the fact that for CURRENT spouse benefits, the worker must be receiving benefits, but for DIVORCED spouse benefits, they only need to be eligible (age 62+). A few additional points that might help: - When you do apply in December 2025, consider filing the application in the month he turns 62, not necessarily waiting until after his birthday. SSA can process it to begin payments the month he reaches 62. - If you're receiving survivors benefits from a previous spouse who died, divorced spouse benefits might not increase your total payment due to how SSA coordinates different benefit types. - Keep your divorce decree easily accessible - SSA will need to verify the marriage duration and that the divorce is final. The system can be frustrating with inconsistent phone responses, but the core rules are clear: 10+ year marriage, both spouses 62+, and you must be unmarried. You're well-prepared with your 22-year marriage and having his SSN ready!

I just want to add one more important consideration that I learned the hard way - make sure you understand exactly when your survivor benefits will start if you apply at 67. There can be a delay between when you file and when you receive your first payment, and the timing matters for your strategy. Also, keep detailed records of everything! When I was navigating this process after my spouse passed, having documentation of all my conversations with SSA representatives was incredibly helpful. Different reps sometimes gave slightly different information, so being able to reference previous conversations helped me stay consistent with my plan. Your strategy sounds exactly right based on what you've described. The fact that you're still working and have a solid earnings record puts you in a great position to maximize this approach. Just make sure to file for the survivor benefits a few months before you turn 67 so there are no delays in getting that income stream started while you wait for your own benefit to grow.

One more thing to keep in mind - if you're planning to continue working until 67 while collecting survivor benefits, make sure you understand how the earnings test works. Since you'll be at your FRA when you start collecting survivor benefits, your earnings won't reduce those benefits. But it's worth double-checking this with SSA since the rules can be tricky. Also, I'd recommend getting everything in writing when you speak with SSA representatives. You can request written confirmation of your benefit estimates and the timing for switching from survivor benefits to your own retirement benefit at 70. This creates a paper trail in case there are any questions or discrepancies later. Your approach is definitely one of the smartest strategies for maximizing lifetime Social Security income as a widow. The key is just making sure all the numbers work in your favor before you commit to the plan. It sounds like you're doing all the right research!

I'm also currently navigating the SSDI process - filed about 4 months ago after lupus made it impossible to continue my work as a teacher. My Social Security statement estimated $2,298, but after reading through all these detailed experiences, I'm definitely preparing myself for the possibility that the actual amount could be quite different. What's been most valuable from this discussion is learning about all the factors that can influence the final calculation that I had never heard of before - the disability freeze provision, how onset dates are determined, workers comp offsets, and how gaps in recent employment are handled. It's clear that the estimates are just a starting point and there are many variables that can affect the final amount. The waiting period has been incredibly stressful both financially and emotionally. I've had to move back in with my parents at age 34, which is humbling but necessary. The uncertainty about timing and benefit amounts makes it almost impossible to plan for the future when you're already dealing with a chronic illness that requires ongoing medical care. I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service that several people mentioned - I've spent hours on hold with SSA only to get disconnected or transferred endlessly. It's frustrating that we need third-party services just to get basic information about our own cases. Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences here. This thread has been more informative than months of trying to decode official SSA materials. For those of us still in the waiting process, it helps so much to know we're not alone in this challenging journey.

I'm new to this community and currently going through my own SSDI journey - filed 7 months ago after Type 1 diabetes complications led to severe neuropathy that made it impossible to continue my job as a graphic designer. My Social Security statement estimated $2,445, but after reading through all these experiences, I'm realizing I need to prepare for potential variations in either direction. What really strikes me about this thread is how the accuracy of estimates seems to depend on so many factors that aren't clearly explained upfront. Some people got very close to their projected amounts while others saw significant differences. The complexity of factors like onset date determinations, the disability freeze provision, and how work gaps affect calculations is something I wish I had understood better when I first applied. The waiting period while managing diabetes complications has been incredibly challenging - the stress of uncertainty definitely doesn't help with blood sugar management! I've had to completely restructure my finances and rely heavily on family support, which adds another emotional layer to an already difficult situation. I'm definitely going to look into the Claimyr service that several people mentioned. Like many others here, I've spent countless hours trying to get through to SSA with no success. It's frustrating that we need third-party solutions just to get basic updates on our own cases. Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences - this has been more informative than anything I've found in official resources. For those of us still waiting, it really helps to know we're not going through this alone.

As a newcomer to this community, I've been absolutely amazed by the depth of knowledge and real-world experience shared in this thread! I'm 61 and still trying to figure out my optimal Social Security strategy, and reading through everyone's explanations of the AERO process has been incredibly enlightening. What really strikes me is how the system makes perfect sense once you understand the data flow dependencies - SSA can't use earnings they don't have access to yet, and the IRS processing timeline drives everything. The one-year delay isn't bureaucratic inefficiency, it's just the reality of how tax data gets processed and shared between agencies. I'm particularly encouraged by the stories of people seeing meaningful benefit increases when high-earning years replace lower ones from their calculation. As someone who had some challenging financial years in my 30s and 40s, it's reassuring to know that strong recent earnings can help offset those earlier low-income periods. The tip about using the online benefit calculators to estimate potential impacts is something I'm definitely going to try. Having some sense of whether future good years might make a meaningful difference would really help with my retirement planning decisions. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and knowledge here - this is exactly the kind of practical, peer-to-peer guidance that makes these complex government programs more understandable!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm 59 and still working, planning to delay collecting until 70 for the delayed retirement credits. Reading everyone's experiences with the AERO process really helps me understand what to expect when I do start collecting. One thing I'm curious about - since the recalculation happens every October for people already collecting, does this mean that if I start collecting at 70, my initial benefit calculation will already include earnings from the year before I start? Or do I need to wait until the following October to see any impact from my final working years? I'm trying to decide whether it makes sense to have one final high-earning year right before I start collecting, or if the timing of when I start relative to the AERO cycle affects how quickly those earnings get factored in. The delayed retirement credits combined with high final earning years could make a significant difference in my monthly benefit. Thanks again to everyone who has shared their knowledge here - this community is such a valuable resource for understanding these complex timing issues!

I'm planning to file for my benefits in a few months and this whole discussion has been incredibly enlightening! The consensus around the hybrid approach really makes sense, especially for those of us with any complexity in our work history. One thing I'm curious about that hasn't been covered much - for those who did the hybrid approach, how long was the gap between filing online and your follow-up appointment? I'm wondering about timing since I'd want to catch any issues before my benefits are supposed to start. Also, @Natalie Khan, thank you for that international operations phone number! That's going to save me a lot of headaches. I worked in Japan for a couple years in the early 2000s and wasn't sure how to handle that piece of the puzzle. The documentation advice throughout this thread has been gold too. I'm starting a folder now with all my tax returns, birth certificate, and what Japanese employment records I can find. Better to be over-prepared than scrambling later!

As someone who just completed this process last month, I can't emphasize enough how valuable the hybrid approach has been that everyone's discussing here. I filed online initially but then scheduled a phone appointment two weeks later to review everything - and I'm so glad I did! The online system worked smoothly for the basic application, but during my follow-up call, the SSA representative discovered that I was eligible for delayed retirement credits from a previous partial application I had started but never completed years ago. This added about $180/month to my benefit amount - money I would have completely missed if I had just filed online and walked away. The key insight I gained is that the online system is great for straightforward cases, but it doesn't always connect the dots between different pieces of your Social Security history. A human reviewer can spot patterns and opportunities that the automated system simply isn't programmed to catch. For your situation with overseas work, I'd definitely recommend calling that international operations number @Natalie Khan provided before you even start your application. Having clarity on how your Germany work credits will be handled can save you from potential headaches later in the process. One practical tip: when you do your follow-up appointment (whether by phone or in person), come prepared with specific questions. Don't just ask "did I do everything right?" - ask about spousal benefits, survivor benefits, the impact of your overseas work, and whether there are any other benefit programs you might qualify for. The more specific your questions, the more helpful their review will be.