One additional important point: Your husband will only be able to collect spousal benefits when YOU file for your retirement benefits. Since you're planning to wait until 70, he won't be able to receive spousal benefits until then, even if he's already retired from his federal job. There used to be a strategy called "file and suspend" that would have allowed him to collect while you delayed, but that option was eliminated in 2015 with the Bipartisan Budget Act. So factor that timing into your retirement plans.

Just wanted to add some clarity on the timing aspect that Matthew mentioned. Since your husband is retiring at 62 but you're waiting until 70, you might want to consider whether it makes sense for you to file earlier if the spousal benefit would be substantial for your household budget during those gap years. Remember that even if you file at your full retirement age instead of 70, you'd still get your full Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), and your husband could get up to 50% of that amount as a spousal benefit (assuming no GPO reduction as a FERS employee). You'd miss out on the delayed retirement credits that boost your benefit by 8% per year until 70, but you'd both have income coming in sooner. It's a trade-off calculation: your higher benefit at 70 vs. having both benefits starting earlier. A financial planner familiar with Social Security strategies might be helpful for running the numbers on your specific situation.

One more thing to consider: if you return to work, especially at a good salary like $55,000, you'll be adding to your lifetime earnings record. Social Security calculates your benefit amount based on your highest 35 years of earnings. If this new job would replace a lower-earning year or a zero in your calculation, you could actually increase your benefit amount going forward, beyond just the adjustment for withheld benefits.

Just want to add one practical tip that helped me when I was in a similar situation: consider asking your potential employer if there's any flexibility in when you start or how your compensation is structured. Some employers are willing to delay a start date by a few months if it helps with your Social Security situation, or they might be able to structure part of your compensation as benefits rather than salary (which wouldn't count toward the earnings test). It's worth having that conversation since many employers these days are more understanding about Social Security considerations for older workers. Good luck with whatever you decide!

I'm really sorry for your loss. Your mom is definitely in a good position to receive divorced widow's benefits based on what you've described. The 25-year marriage length far exceeds the 10-year minimum requirement, and his remarriage has zero impact on her eligibility. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - when your mom does apply, make sure she asks about potentially receiving any lump-sum death payment ($255) that might be available. It's a small amount but every bit helps during this transition. Also, since she's 62 now, she has the option to start benefits immediately at the reduced rate, or wait closer to her full retirement age to get a higher monthly amount. Given that you mentioned money might be tight with her limited work history, starting sooner rather than later probably makes the most sense. The process can feel overwhelming, but you're asking all the right questions. Your mom has earned these benefits through her marriage, so don't let anyone make you feel otherwise. Best of luck getting through to SSA - persistence pays off with them.

I'm sorry for your loss, Grace. Your mom is absolutely entitled to divorced widow's benefits in this situation. The key requirements she meets are: • Marriage lasted 25+ years (well over the 10-year minimum) • She's over 60 and hasn't remarried before age 60 • Your dad's remarriage doesn't affect her eligibility at all At 62, she'll receive about 71.5% of his full benefit amount. Since her work history is limited, this will likely be much more than any retirement benefit on her own record. My suggestion: Don't wait. Call SSA immediately to schedule an appointment (phone or in-person). Benefits can be retroactive to the month of his death, but only if she applies. Documents to gather first: - Marriage certificate - Divorce decree - His death certificate - Her birth certificate - Her Social Security card The phone system is frustrating, but this is absolutely worth pursuing. Your mom contributed to his Social Security earnings during their 25-year marriage - these benefits are rightfully hers regardless of his later remarriage. Both she and his current widow can receive benefits simultaneously without reducing each other's amounts.

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who's helped family members navigate this - definitely get all your paperwork together early! Beyond the marriage/divorce certificates, it's also helpful to have your ex's Social Security number if you have it (from old tax returns, etc.). While SSA can usually find records without it, having the SSN can speed up the process significantly. Also, if you're still several years away from retirement, consider that your own benefit might grow substantially if you continue working. I've seen cases where people assumed the ex-spouse benefit would be higher, but their own continued earnings made their personal benefit the better choice by the time they actually retired. The my Social Security account online is really useful for tracking your projected benefits over time. One more thing - if you're planning to claim at 62 (the earliest age for divorced spouse benefits), remember that you'll face the early retirement reduction, so you won't get the full 50% of your ex's benefit. Waiting until your full retirement age gets you the unreduced amount.

I'm in a similar boat with multiple divorces! One thing I learned from my experience is that you should also consider timing strategically if you're still working. Since you mentioned you're not planning to remarry, you have the flexibility to optimize when you claim. If you're earning good money now, it might make sense to delay claiming until your full retirement age (or even later) to avoid the earnings test and get the maximum benefit amount. Also, keep in mind that if you do decide to remarry after age 60, it won't affect your ability to claim on your first ex's record. I wish I had known all these nuances earlier - would have saved me a lot of stress! The SSA representatives are hit or miss with knowledge, so definitely do your homework beforehand.

This is exactly the kind of situation that makes me so frustrated with how SSA handles these cases! As others have mentioned, your mom is very likely missing out on significant money. The fact that she's only getting $875 when your dad gets $2,200 is a huge red flag. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here - when you do call SSA, try calling first thing in the morning (right at 8 AM when they open) or late in the afternoon. The wait times are usually shorter then. Also, if you get disconnected, don't start over - call back immediately and tell them you were disconnected from a previous call. Sometimes they can reconnect you faster. Make sure to get a case number for any inquiry you file about this. That way if you have to call back multiple times, each agent can see the history of what's been discussed. And definitely don't take "no" for an answer from the first person you talk to - escalate if needed. Your mom worked and paid into the system, and she deserves every penny she's entitled to. The potential back pay alone could be thousands of dollars if this has been going on for months or years. Keep us posted on how it goes!

I went through this exact situation with my parents last year! My mom was getting around $900 while dad got $2,400, and it turned out she was missing about $300/month in spousal benefits. The key thing that helped us was bringing a printed copy of dad's benefit statement to the SSA office - it showed his PIA clearly, which made it easier for the agent to calculate what mom should be getting. We ended up getting 8 months of back pay (about $2,400 total) because that's when the error started. The whole process took about 6 weeks from when we first called to when the corrected payments started. One tip: if you go to a local office instead of calling, bring both parents if possible. They seemed to process everything faster when both spouses were present to verify the marriage and benefit details. Don't give up on this - the math definitely looks wrong based on what you've shared, and that missing money really adds up over time!