I'm really sorry you're going through this difficult situation. As someone who works in immigration law, I see identity discrepancy cases fairly regularly, and you're definitely not alone in this. A few additional points to consider: 1. **Timing**: There's generally no strict deadline for filing survivor benefits, but you can only receive retroactive payments for up to 6 months before your application date, so don't delay too long. 2. **Documentation strategy**: When you go in person, organize your documents chronologically - marriage certificate (1982), any documents showing his identity changes, divorce decree, death certificate. This helps the claims specialist follow the timeline. 3. **Earnings record**: The SSA will need to verify which Social Security number and identity was used for his work history. If he worked under the assumed identity for many years, that's likely the record they'll use for benefit calculations. 4. **Your protection**: Since you were legally married under the identity he used at that time, your marriage is valid regardless of his original name discrepancy. You had no way of knowing about the identity issue. Don't let anyone make you feel like you did something wrong. Focus on getting that in-person appointment - phone representatives often can't handle complex cases like this effectively. Bring a friend or family member for support if needed.

I'm a benefits coordinator and wanted to add that when you do get your appointment scheduled, ask specifically to speak with a "technical expert" or "complex case specialist" rather than a general claims representative. This type of identity verification case requires someone with experience in these situations. Also, don't be surprised if they need to put a temporary hold on processing while they investigate the earnings record. This is standard procedure and doesn't mean you've done anything wrong. The investigation typically involves cross-referencing work history, tax records, and immigration documents to establish the correct identity for benefit purposes. One more thing - if his current widow files for benefits first, it won't affect your eligibility as an ex-spouse. Your claims are processed independently of each other, which is different from how current spouse benefits work.

For what it's worth, I'd recommend calculating roughly what you'll owe before picking your withholding percentage. You can use the IRS worksheet in Publication 915 to estimate how much of your SS benefits will be taxable based on your total income. That way you're not over-withholding and giving the government an interest-free loan all year. I made that mistake my first year - had them withhold 22% when I only needed about 8% based on my actual tax situation.

Just wanted to add that if you're still having trouble finding the tax withholding option in your mySocialSecurity account, try logging out completely and logging back in. Sometimes the new features don't show up right away due to browser cache issues. Also, make sure you're looking under the "Benefits & Payment Details" section - that's where I found the tax withholding request option after my benefits started. The interface isn't super intuitive, but it's definitely there now for most people who are already receiving payments.

Thank you all for the helpful information. I didn't realize how complicated this would be! So if I understand correctly: 1. If we both claim at 62 and my husband passes away before his FRA (which is 67), I'd get the larger of either 82.5% of his PIA or what he was actually receiving at 62 2. If he passes after his FRA, I'd just get what he was actually receiving 3. My own claiming decision creates separate reductions if I'm not at my FRA when applying for survivor benefits Based on this, should we reconsider our plan? Maybe he should wait longer even if I claim early? I really appreciate all the guidance.

This is such a helpful discussion! I'm in a similar situation but haven't made any decisions yet. One thing I'm wondering about - if AstroAce's husband delays claiming but she takes benefits at 62, what happens to her own retirement benefit when she eventually switches to survivor benefits? Does she lose her own benefit completely, or does SSA somehow combine them? Also, are there any tax implications to consider when switching from your own retirement benefit to survivor benefits? I know Social Security can be taxable depending on your total income, but I'm not sure if the type of benefit matters.

As someone who just went through this exact decision process last year, I wanted to share my experience. I was in a very similar situation - eligible for pension at 65, substantial 401k balance, and FRA of 67. After reading through all the great advice here, I ultimately decided to wait until my FRA to claim Social Security. Instead, I'm living off my pension ($1,800/month) plus strategic withdrawals from my 401k. Yes, it means dipping into my retirement accounts earlier, but the permanent 13.3% reduction in SS benefits for claiming at 65 just didn't make financial sense given my family's longevity. One thing that helped me make the decision: I calculated my "break-even" point. For me, if I live past age 78, waiting until FRA will have provided more total lifetime benefits despite getting payments for 2 fewer years. Given that both my parents lived well into their 80s, the math favored waiting. The peace of mind knowing I'll get my full Social Security benefit for life was worth the temporary inconvenience of managing retirement account withdrawals for those two years. Just another perspective to consider as you make this important decision!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar boat but about 5 years out from making this decision. Reading through everyone's experiences and advice has been incredibly educational. One thing I'm curious about - for those of you who have pensions, did you have the option to take a lump sum instead of monthly payments? I'm wondering if there are any advantages to taking a lump sum and rolling it into an IRA versus taking the monthly pension payments when it comes to Social Security planning and tax management. Also, @Yuki Tanaka, your break-even analysis is brilliant. Did you use any specific tools or calculators to run those numbers, or did you work it out manually? I'd love to start doing similar projections for my own situation. Thanks to everyone for sharing so openly about their retirement planning strategies. This kind of real-world advice is so much more valuable than trying to decode the SSA website!

This thread has been absolutely incredible to follow! I'm blown away by the depth of knowledge and genuine care everyone has shown. As someone who's dealt with government bureaucracy before (though not SSA specifically), I can't emphasize enough how valuable all this practical advice is. A few things really stood out to me that I think are worth highlighting for anyone else who might find this thread later: 1. The distinction between POA and benefit eligibility - this seems to be a common source of confusion that was cleared up brilliantly here 2. The importance of being your own advocate and not accepting vague answers 3. The multiple backup strategies (phone, in-person, services like Claimyr, local office numbers) 4. Documentation is key - keeping logs, bringing all relevant paperwork, asking for written summaries 5. There are SO many assistance programs available that most people don't know about What strikes me most is how this went from one person's specific crisis to an incredibly comprehensive guide that could help countless others. The combination of professional expertise (retired SSA employee, benefits counselor, nonprofit worker) with real personal experiences creates such a valuable resource. To the original poster - you should feel proud of how proactively you've approached this difficult situation. You've turned what seemed like an overwhelming crisis into a clear action plan, and you've created a resource that will help many other people facing similar challenges. I'm really hoping your appointment goes smoothly and you get the financial relief you need and deserve. Please do update us - I think everyone who contributed here would love to hear about your success! This is exactly why online communities like this are so powerful. Thank you to everyone who shared their time, knowledge, and encouragement!

I just wanted to add something that might be helpful based on my experience working with seniors - when you're gathering all your documents for the SSA appointment, make copies of everything before you go. Sometimes they'll want to keep certain documents, and having your own copies ensures you don't lose important paperwork. Also, if your local SSA office has online appointment scheduling, that can sometimes be faster than calling, though I know not all offices offer this option yet. One thing I haven't seen mentioned is that you might want to ask about expedited processing given your financial hardship situation. SSA does have provisions for expediting certain cases when there's severe financial need, though I'm not sure if it applies to spousal benefits specifically. It's worth asking about since you mentioned you're really struggling with your current income. This thread has been such an amazing example of community support - seeing everyone share their knowledge and experiences to help you through this difficult situation has been really heartwarming. You're clearly taking all the right steps, and I'm confident you're going to get this resolved. Best of luck with your appointment!