This is such valuable information! I'm 61 and in a similar situation - divorced after 15 years, ex-spouse passed away 8 years ago. I've been wondering about this exact strategy but wasn't sure if it was allowed. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful. I especially appreciate the tips about using specific terminology like "restricted application for survivor benefits only" and the reminder about gathering all the necessary documents early. One question I have - has anyone here actually gone through this process recently? I'm curious about how long it takes from application to receiving the first benefit payment. Also, does SSA automatically send you reminders when you're approaching 70 to switch to your own benefits, or is it really up to you to remember and initiate that change?

I'm 58 and recently widowed after being divorced from my ex-husband for 6 years. We were married for 14 years before the divorce. Reading through this thread has given me hope that I might have some options when I get older! I had no idea that divorced spouses could be eligible for survivor benefits. Does anyone know if there are any special considerations for people who become widows/widowers closer to age 60? I'm wondering if I should start gathering documents now or if there are other benefits I might be eligible for sooner than the full retirement age strategy discussed here. Also, is there a difference between being a "surviving divorced spouse" versus a regular surviving spouse in terms of benefit amounts? This is all so overwhelming but everyone's shared experiences here are really helping me understand what might be possible.

I'm in a similar situation and found that creating a simple spreadsheet really helped clarify things. I made columns for each claiming age (62, 67, 70) and calculated cumulative benefits received at different future ages (75, 80, 85, 90). What really opened my eyes was including a "health span" factor - not just life expectancy, but how many years I might realistically enjoy the money. Also, don't underestimate the psychological factor. My neighbor claimed at 62 and says the peace of mind of having guaranteed income (even if smaller) has been worth more than any break-even calculation. On the flip side, my dad waited until 70 and feels great about his larger checks, but he was fortunate to have other income sources during the wait. Have you considered doing a "test run" where you calculate your monthly budget needs at different benefit levels? Sometimes seeing the actual dollar impact on your lifestyle makes the decision clearer than abstract break-even ages.

Reading through all these responses has been incredibly eye-opening! As someone who's also approaching this decision (I'll be 63 next year), I wanted to share what I learned from my financial advisor that might help. She had me create what she called a "regret minimization framework." Basically, I imagined myself at 85 looking back - would I regret having taken smaller checks for 23 years, or would I regret having missed out on 3-8 years of benefits entirely if I don't live as long as expected? For me, the answer was clear once I framed it that way. My dad died at 74, and while I'm healthier than he was, I realized I'd rather have 20+ years of guaranteed income (even if smaller) than potentially miss out on years of benefits chasing a mathematically optimal solution. Also, something that hasn't been mentioned yet - consider your spouse's situation if you're married. The survivor gets the higher of the two benefits, so if you're the higher earner, delaying might make more sense to protect your spouse. But if you're the lower earner, claiming early while your spouse delays could provide household income without sacrificing the survivor benefit potential. @AstroExplorer given your family history, I'd seriously consider claiming sooner rather than later. Peace of mind has real value too.

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this worry. The financial gap between ages 55-60 is unfortunately very real and affects many widows. Here are a few additional things to consider while you're planning: 1. Look into whether you'd be eligible for any spousal benefits on your own work record before age 60 - even if you haven't worked recently, you might have enough credits from earlier employment. 2. Consider whether it makes sense for your husband to delay his Social Security to increase the survivor benefit you'd eventually receive (though this is complex and depends on your ages and health). 3. Some employers offer survivor benefits through pension plans that might kick in earlier than Social Security. The life insurance suggestion others mentioned is crucial - term life insurance specifically for this 5-year gap period might be more affordable than permanent coverage. You're being smart to think about this now rather than after it's too late to plan.

I've been helping people navigate Social Security for over 20 years, and your concern is completely valid. The 55-60 gap is one of the harshest aspects of the survivor benefit system. A few things to add to the excellent advice already given: 1. **File immediately when the time comes** - Even though you can't get benefits until 60, you should still report your husband's death to SSA right away to get that $255 lump sum and establish your case in their system. 2. **Consider working part-time** - If you do end up needing income during that gap period, even part-time work could help you earn additional Social Security credits for your own future benefits. 3. **Don't overlook COBRA** - If your husband has employer health insurance, you may be able to continue coverage through COBRA, which could be crucial during those gap years. 4. **State programs vary widely** - Some states have emergency assistance programs for widows. Contact your local Department of Social Services to ask about any state-specific programs. The system isn't perfect, but planning ahead like you're doing puts you in a much better position than most people who face this situation unexpectedly. Document everything and keep good records - it will help when you do apply for benefits.

I'm new here but experiencing this exact same frustrating issue! I'm about 6 months from filing for early retirement and getting wildly different estimates. My online MySocialSecurity calculator shows $1,975/month, but when I called SSA last week, the rep quoted me only $1,785 - nearly a $200 difference that's really throwing off my retirement planning. What's particularly frustrating is how unhelpful the phone rep was when I asked about the discrepancy. She basically just said "the computer system is more accurate than the website" but couldn't explain WHY there's such a huge gap between SSA's own tools. Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly eye-opening - I had no idea this was such a widespread problem! The explanations about the Master Beneficiary Record system versus the simplified online calculators really help me understand what's happening. It sounds like I need to call back (using that 8 AM tip!) and specifically ask for a step-by-step breakdown of their calculation. I'm definitely going to request that written benefit verification letter everyone's mentioning. It's ridiculous that we have to become investigators just to get accurate information about our own benefits, but at least now I know there's a path forward. Has anyone found that multiple phone calls eventually led to more consistent quotes, or do different reps tend to give different numbers even when using the same system?

I'm new to this community and facing a very similar situation! I'm about 2 years from my planned early retirement and just discovered a $190 discrepancy between my MySocialSecurity online estimate ($1,940) and what a phone rep quoted me ($1,750). What really strikes me about this thread is how consistent these discrepancies are - it seems like almost everyone is seeing $150-250 differences between the online tools and phone quotes. That suggests this is a systematic issue with how SSA's different systems work rather than random errors. I'm particularly grateful for the explanations about the Master Beneficiary Record system that phone reps use versus the simplified online calculators. As a newcomer to Social Security planning, I had no idea there were such fundamental differences between their various tools. It's frustrating that SSA doesn't clearly explain these limitations on their website. I'm definitely going to follow the advice here about calling at 8 AM for shorter wait times and requesting a written benefit verification letter. It sounds like that's really the only way to get an official, reliable number to plan with. One question for the group - for those who eventually filed, did your actual benefit amount end up matching the phone rep's quote pretty closely? I'm trying to figure out how much uncertainty to build into my retirement budget planning. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this has been incredibly helpful for understanding what seemed like a confusing and isolated problem!

I went through this exact situation with my mother's estate last year. A few things that might help: First, definitely go with the SSA-1724 form that AstroAce mentioned - they're spot on about that being the correct form for underpayments. Second, when you go to the SSA office, try to get there early in the morning (like right when they open) - the wait times are usually much shorter. Third, make sure you have your letters of testamentary or whatever court documents show you're the executor, because some offices are stricter about this than others. The whole process took me about 3 weeks from start to finish once I got the appointment, and they were actually pretty helpful once I got to speak with someone in person. The phone system is absolutely useless, but the in-person staff generally know what they're doing. Good luck!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now with my late mother's estate. One additional thing to consider - if your father had any automatic bill payments coming out of his Social Security, those companies might have tried to process payments after his death and received returned payment notices. I discovered this when going through my mom's mail and found several "payment returned" notices from her utility companies. It's worth checking his mail for a few months after you resolve the uncashed check issue, just to make sure there aren't any other financial loose ends. Also, some banks will hold returned direct deposits for a certain period before sending them back to SSA, so there might be a delay in when those show up in their system. The SSA office should be able to tell you about any returned payments when you go in for your appointment.