I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago and can share my experience. My online estimate showed $1,847/month at age 62, and my actual first payment was $1,821 - so pretty darn close! The small difference was because I had one final paycheck that pushed my earnings slightly higher than what was in the system when I got the estimate. The key thing I learned is that the estimates are very accurate IF your work situation stays consistent with what they're projecting. Since you mentioned your construction work is slowing down and you might stop 8 months early, I'd definitely recommend getting that more detailed calculation Jasmine mentioned. In my case, stopping work a few months early didn't hurt much because I already had my 35 highest years locked in, but everyone's situation is different. The peace of mind from knowing the real numbers was worth the extra effort.

I'm in a very similar boat - also in construction and considering filing early due to family circumstances. This thread has been incredibly helpful! One thing I wanted to add from my research is that if you do decide to file at 62, make sure you understand the earnings test limits if you plan to do any work at all. For 2024, you can earn up to $22,320 without any benefit reduction, but they'll reduce your benefits by $1 for every $2 you earn above that limit. Since construction work can be sporadic and sometimes involves good-paying short-term projects, this could be something to factor into your decision. I've been tracking my MySocialSecurity estimates for the past year and they've been very consistent, which gives me more confidence in their accuracy. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - it's so much more valuable than just reading the official SSA explanations!

Just want to echo what others have said about your widow benefits situation - this is a game changer! I'm a retired benefits counselor and I've seen so many people miss out on thousands of dollars because they didn't know about this strategy. Since you're already getting survivor benefits, you have what's called "deemed filing" flexibility that most people don't have. You can literally let your own retirement benefit grow by about 8% per year (delayed retirement credits) from your Full Retirement Age until age 70, while continuing to collect the survivor benefit. That could potentially mean hundreds more per month for the rest of your life. Before you make any moves, definitely get the exact numbers from SSA on what your benefit would be at different ages - 62, your FRA, and age 70. Then you can make an informed decision based on your health, finances, and life expectancy. This is one of those situations where a few phone calls or meetings could literally be worth tens of thousands of dollars over your lifetime!

Yes, SSA can absolutely provide you with benefit projections at different claiming ages! When you call or visit a local office, ask them to run what's called a "benefit estimate" or "what-if" scenario. They can show you exactly what your retirement benefit would be at 62, at your Full Retirement Age, and at age 70, while you continue receiving your current survivor benefit. You can also get some of this information by creating a my Social Security account at ssa.gov - it will show your estimated retirement benefits at different ages. Just remember that as long as you're receiving survivor benefits, you have the luxury of time to let your own retirement benefit grow. Take advantage of having all the numbers before making your decision!

I'm dealing with a similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I wanted to add one more resource that really helped me understand my options: the Social Security Administration has a retirement estimator tool on their website that can help you project different benefit amounts. What I learned from using it is that you can actually model different claiming scenarios - like taking SSDI now, switching to survivor benefits at 60, or waiting until FRA. It helped me visualize the financial impact of each choice over my expected lifetime. Also, I found that writing down specific questions before calling SSA made a huge difference. Instead of asking "what are my options," I'd ask things like "Can I switch from SSDI to survivor benefits at age 60 even though I'm currently receiving SSDI?" The more specific your questions, the better answers you tend to get. Good luck with your planning - you're asking all the right questions now to maximize your benefits later!

I just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this whole discussion has been! As someone who's been navigating the SSA system for years due to my own disability issues, I can confirm that getting consistent information is like pulling teeth. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're planning to make any major decisions about switching benefits in the future, consider getting a written statement from SSA about your projected benefit amounts. I learned this the hard way when my verbal estimates turned out to be way off from what I actually received. You can request a detailed benefit statement that shows your survivor benefit amount at different ages (60, FRA, etc.) compared to your SSDI/retirement benefit projections. Also, @Aisha Abdullah, since you mentioned your husband never filed for Social Security before he passed, his benefit calculation might be more complex. Make sure any SSA representative you work with understands they need to calculate his "deemed" retirement benefit based on what he would have received at his FRA. This is different from cases where someone was already receiving benefits when they died. The fact that you're thinking about this now at 52 puts you way ahead of most people. You have 8 years to get all the right information and make an informed decision!

Just wanted to add one more thing that helped me when I applied - create your MySocialSecurity account online BEFORE you actually apply for benefits. This way you can familiarize yourself with the interface and also monitor your application status after you submit it. I created mine about 6 months before applying and it made the whole process much smoother. You can also use it to double-check your earnings history and benefit estimates before you commit to a start date. The account setup takes a few days to verify, so don't wait until the last minute!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - make sure you have all your documents ready before you apply! SSA will need your birth certificate, W-2s or tax returns, and bank account info for direct deposit. I applied online but then had to mail in documents which delayed my processing by almost 2 months. If you have everything uploaded or ready to mail when you submit your application, it'll go much smoother. Also keep copies of everything you send them - I learned that the hard way when they "lost" my birth certificate the first time!

I wanted to add something that might help streamline your process - when you gather your documents, also try to find any old Social Security statements from during your marriage if you still have them. These annual statements sometimes show estimated benefits for spouses, which could give you a rough idea of what to expect. Also, regarding the phone system issues everyone mentioned - I've found that using the SSA's online "my Social Security" portal can sometimes be more efficient than calling. You can't file for divorced spouse benefits online, but you can review your own earnings record and sometimes get benefit estimates that might help you prepare for your appointment. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is that if you're approved for divorced spouse benefits, you may also want to ask about Medicare implications. Since you're already on SSDI, you probably have Medicare, but sometimes changes in benefit amounts can affect Medicare premiums or eligibility for programs like Extra Help with prescription drug costs. Given everything you've shared - the 23-year marriage, his IT management career, and your current financial struggles - I really think this is worth pursuing. The worst case scenario is you find out you're not eligible for more money, but the potential upside could significantly improve your quality of life. Best of luck with your appointment!

I just want to echo what everyone else has said and add my own encouragement - definitely pursue this! I went through a very similar situation about 3 years ago. I was also on SSDI (due to a back injury) and had been divorced for over 2 years from my ex who was in a high-earning profession. The process was honestly easier than I expected once I got past the initial phone call hurdle. I ended up getting an extra $380/month, which has made such a difference in my ability to cover basic expenses. What really surprised me was that I qualified for about 8 months of retroactive payments since I had been eligible but just didn't know about it. One thing I'd suggest is to go into your appointment with realistic expectations but also don't be afraid to advocate for yourself. The first SSA representative I spoke with seemed to be discouraging me from applying, almost like it wasn't worth the paperwork. But I persisted and I'm so glad I did. Also, don't let anyone make you feel guilty about claiming benefits on your ex's record. You paid into the system during your marriage just like he did, and you're entitled to these benefits. It doesn't take anything away from him and he'll never even know unless you tell him. Good luck - I have a really good feeling this is going to work out well for you!