I'm so sorry for your loss, Lindsey. Navigating Social Security decisions during such a difficult time is incredibly overwhelming. I wanted to share something that might help while you're trying to reach SSA - you can create an account on ssa.gov and access your Social Security Statement online, which will show your estimated benefits at different claiming ages. While it won't give you the exact survivor benefit calculations (since that requires your husband's record), it will at least show you what your own retirement benefit would look like at age 70. One thing I learned from my own experience with widow benefits is that timing really matters with the earnings test. If you're planning to work part-time and your income will be close to that $22,320 limit, you might want to consider the timing of when you claim and when you earn that income within the calendar year. Sometimes it's worth adjusting work schedules around benefit claiming to minimize the earnings test impact. Also, don't feel pressured to make this decision immediately when you turn 60. You have flexibility in when you file for survivor benefits - you don't have to claim them the moment you're eligible. Taking a few extra months to get solid information and run the numbers might be worth it for such an important long-term decision. The strategy you're considering is definitely used successfully by many widows, but as everyone has emphasized, the math really depends on your specific situation. Hang in there - you'll figure this out!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Lindsey. Having gone through a similar situation myself, I understand how overwhelming it can be to make these important financial decisions during such a difficult time. One additional resource that might be helpful while you're trying to connect with SSA is your local Social Security office. Sometimes it's easier to schedule an in-person appointment than to get through on the phone. You can find your local office on ssa.gov and many allow you to schedule appointments online now. Also, I wanted to mention something about the strategy you're considering - make sure you understand that if you do switch from survivor benefits to your own retirement benefit at 70, you can't switch back. Once you make that change, you're locked into whichever benefit you choose. So it's really important to be absolutely certain that your own benefit at 70 will indeed be higher than your survivor benefit. The good news is that this strategy has helped many widows maximize their lifetime benefits. Just take your time getting all the information you need to make the best decision for your specific situation. You don't have to rush into anything right when you turn 60. Thinking of you during this challenging time!

I'm new to this community and found this discussion really helpful as I'm facing similar decisions. Just wanted to add that for anyone in a similar situation, it might also be worth considering the tax implications of claiming early vs. waiting. If you're both receiving benefits simultaneously, you could end up in a higher tax bracket on your combined Social Security income plus any other retirement income. But if the survivor benefit strategy works out as described here (getting the higher amount), the tax situation might actually improve for the surviving spouse since they'd be filing as single with potentially lower overall income. Just another angle to consider when making these timing decisions!

As someone who recently went through the Social Security claiming decision process myself, I wanted to share a few additional considerations that might be helpful. First, while everyone has correctly explained that you'd receive the higher benefit amount ($2,850 in your case), don't forget about Medicare premiums - they're automatically deducted from your Social Security benefit, so your actual take-home amount will be slightly less. Second, if you have any pension income or are still working part-time, there could be earnings test implications if you claim before your FRA that are worth discussing with SSA. Finally, I'd suggest running the numbers on your total household income for the next few years - sometimes claiming early makes sense from a cash flow perspective even if it's not optimal from a pure benefit maximization standpoint. The peace of mind of having that income stream can be worth something too. Best of luck with your decision!

I'm experiencing the exact same issue! My estimate dropped by $156/month about 6 weeks ago with no changes on my end. I'm 62 and planning to retire at 66, so this is really concerning for my financial planning. After reading all these responses, I'm realizing this might be more of a systemic issue with their estimation system than something specific to individual accounts. I'm definitely going to try the detailed Retirement Estimator that StarStrider mentioned and start documenting my estimates monthly like PaulineW suggested. It's frustrating that we can't rely on these tools for accurate retirement planning, but I'm glad to see I'm not the only one dealing with this. Has anyone had success getting a clear explanation from SSA about why these fluctuations happen so frequently?

I'm also new to this community and dealing with a very similar situation! My estimate just dropped by $98/month last week with no changes to my work history or retirement plans. I'm 61 and planning to retire at 65. Reading through all these experiences is both reassuring (that I'm not alone) and alarming (that this seems to be such a widespread problem). I'm definitely going to start tracking my estimates monthly and try the detailed Retirement Estimator that several people have mentioned. It's really concerning that something so critical for retirement planning can fluctuate this much without explanation. Has anyone tried contacting their local SSA office in person rather than calling? I'm wondering if face-to-face might yield better results than the phone system that seems to be so problematic. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it's helping me understand this isn't necessarily a mistake on my account specifically.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really impressed by the depth of knowledge and willingness to help that everyone has shown in this thread! I'm just starting to navigate Social Security planning for my own family and had no idea how complicated the spousal benefit calculations could be. The distinction between PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) and actual benefit amounts with delayed retirement credits is something I completely misunderstood before reading these responses. I always assumed that if someone delayed benefits and got a higher monthly payment, that would also increase what their spouse could receive - but learning that spousal benefits are always based on the PIA regardless of when the primary beneficiary actually claimed is eye-opening. For others who might be in a similar situation, it sounds like the key steps are: 1. Find your PIA through the Benefit Verification Letter in your online account 2. Remember that spousal benefit = 50% of PIA at spouse's FRA (not 50% of your increased benefit) 3. Factor in reductions if spouse claims before their own FRA 4. Compare spousal benefit to spouse's own work record benefit Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and practical tips. This kind of community support makes these complex government systems so much more manageable for those of us just starting to figure it all out!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really grateful for all the detailed advice shared here! I'm in a similar situation trying to understand spousal benefits and this thread has been incredibly helpful. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - I recently discovered that if you're having trouble finding your PIA online or getting through to SSA by phone, you can also request your "Social Security Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement" by creating an account at ssa.gov and filling out Form SSA-7004. This form specifically asks for your complete earnings history and benefit calculations, including your PIA. It takes a few weeks to receive by mail, but it's an official document that shows exactly what you need. I found this option when I was struggling with the online portal and kept getting busy signals when calling. Also, for anyone whose spouse might be affected by the Government Pension Offset (GPO) that was mentioned earlier - definitely ask SSA to explain how that would impact the spousal benefit calculation. I learned the hard way that having a teacher's pension can significantly reduce spousal Social Security benefits, and it's better to know about this ahead of time for planning purposes. This community is such a valuable resource for navigating these complex systems!

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I'm going to gather all my documentation (marriage and divorce certificates for both marriages) and try to speak with someone at SSA who can look at all three potential benefit amounts. I appreciate the tip about Claimyr since I've been struggling to get through on the phone. It sounds like I need to wait until my Full Retirement Age to get the maximum ex-spouse benefit, and there's no advantage to waiting beyond that point if I'm claiming on an ex's record. I'm relieved to know I don't need to contact either ex-husband about this process!

I work at a local Social Security field office and wanted to clarify a few things I'm seeing in the responses. You're absolutely right that you can only receive ONE benefit at a time - whichever is highest among your own retirement benefit or 50% of either ex-spouse's full retirement age benefit. One thing to add: when you apply, SSA will automatically calculate all your eligible benefits and pay you the highest one. You don't need to guess which ex-spouse has the higher benefit - we'll figure that out for you when you file. Also, regarding documentation, you'll need certified copies of both marriage certificates AND divorce decrees. Make sure the divorce papers clearly show the marriage lasted 10+ years. Sometimes there are delays between separation and final decree that can affect the 10-year requirement. Pro tip: If you're planning to file in the next year, start gathering those documents now. County clerks can be slow, especially for older records. And yes, you're correct that your ex-spouses don't need to be notified or involved in this process at all.