Does anybody know if this affects the amount HE gets? My friend's ex-wife started collecting on his record and he's worried they're gonna reduce his checks?

Just to summarize the key points for your situation: 1. You qualify for ex-spouse benefits because you were married over 10 years and divorced for at least 2 years 2. Your ex does NOT need to be collecting for you to claim on his record 3. Your ex will NOT be notified when you file 4. At your FRA, you'll get either your own benefit or up to 50% of his FRA amount, whichever is HIGHER (not both) 5. Waiting beyond FRA won't increase ex-spouse benefits 6. Bring complete documentation including marriage certificate, divorce decree, birth certificate, and photo ID when you apply Hope this helps clarify everything!

Just wanted to update - I called my local office and explained my situation with the deadline approaching. They actually had me fax the withdrawal form to them directly and confirmed receipt! Also sending a certified copy tomorrow just to be extra safe. Thanks everyone for your help!

i had to withdraw my application too! regretted filing early at 62. the extra $$ for waiting til 67 is worth it. good luck!!

The SSA should be paying you the highest benefit you're entitled to automatically, but in my experience they DON'T always do this correctly!! You need to specifically ask them to compare ALL your potential benefits. And get it in writing!! Don't trust verbal answers - I learned that the hard way.

I recommend asking SSA for a "what-if" analysis showing all three scenarios (retirement only, survivor only, and with ex-spouse benefits). Specifically, you'll want to know: 1. Your PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) based on your own work record 2. The survivor benefit amount (which should be up to 100% of your late husband's benefit at your FRA) 3. The potential divorced spouse benefit (up to 50% of your ex's PIA) The good news is that at FRA, your work income won't cause any benefit reductions. You'll just need to consider potential tax implications if your combined income exceeds certain thresholds.

One thing nobody mentioned - might have tax implications even if it doesn't affect your SS benefits! My accountant said unexpected income like this can sometimes push you into higher Medicare IRMAA brackets even if it doesn't count for the earnings test. Just something else to think about...

my mom got a backpayment from her old job and ss never even knew about it so maybe just dont tell them lol

this reminds me i need to figure out my own ss stuff, just turned 62 last month and got that packet in the mail but havent opened it yet lol

Thank you everyone for all the helpful responses! I feel much better knowing that our strategy is sound. I'll make sure to organize all our documentation in case something happens to me before I file at 70. I appreciate all your insights and personal experiences - this community is wonderful.

One thing I want to add - while you're considered FRA for the entire month of your birthday (except if born on the 1st), remember that your first payment will arrive the FOLLOWING month. So if you select October as your start month, you'll receive that payment in November. Also, if you're still working, once you reach FRA, the earnings test no longer applies. You can earn any amount without affecting your benefits.

did u finish ur application yet? curious what u decided

To provide some additional clarity: The reason you can't switch to SSDI at 68 is because disability benefits under Social Security are specifically designed to replace earnings before normal retirement age. Once you reach FRA, the system treats everyone as retired, regardless of disability status. If your disability had begun before your FRA (even while receiving early retirement), you could have applied for SSDI and potentially received your full primary insurance amount instead of the reduced amount. The only ways to increase your benefit now would be: 1. If you continued working after age 62 and had high earnings that might increase your benefit calculation 2. If you qualify for spousal or survivor benefits that might be higher than your own 3. If there are errors in your earnings record that could be corrected

my neighbor said she got extra $$ from SS by calling and asking for whats called a "benefit recalculation" after she stopped working. might be worth trying

to make this decishon she need to look at how long she expect to live and if she need money now. I took ss early cuz bird in hand better than 2 in bush lol

Based on all the discussion, here's a summary for your sister: 1. Applying in January for January benefits avoids the 2023 earnings test completely 2. The severance package counts as earnings in the year received (2023) 3. If she applies for any 2023 months, she'll likely see most or all benefits withheld due to her high earnings 4. While withheld benefits are eventually factored back in after FRA, it creates unnecessary complications 5. She should consider the early claiming reduction (about 20% at age 64) in her overall planning She should definitely apply 1-3 months before she wants benefits to begin, so if she's targeting January, she should start the application soon.

Just a quick update suggestion - when you visit the SSA office, try to go early in the morning (before they open if possible) and bring something to read/do. Wait times can be several hours, especially now with the recent COLA announcements bringing in more visitors. Also, many SSA offices now require appointments for all but the most urgent matters, so I'd recommend calling ahead or checking online to see if you need to schedule a visit. Most survivor benefits applications can be started online at ssa.gov, which might save some time before an in-person visit.

Thank you everyone for all this helpful information. I just checked mom's bank statements, and sure enough, there was never an increase after dad passed. She's been receiving the same amount this whole time. I've scheduled an appointment at our local SSA office next Tuesday. I'll make sure to: - Specifically ask for "survivor benefits" - Request an "Administrative Good Cause determination" - Bring all the documentation (death certificate, marriage certificate, IDs, etc.) - Inquire about Medicare premium reduction possibilities I'll update this thread after our appointment to let you know how it goes, in case it helps anyone else in a similar situation. Hopefully we can at least get some retroactive payments and the increased benefit going forward.

Can I just say how crazy it is that if you remarry at 59 years and 364 days, you lose benefits, but if you wait ONE DAY and remarry at age 60, you're fine??? These Social Security rules make NO sense sometimes. Why should remarriage matter AT ALL for benefits you earned through your deceased spouse??

To address your follow-up question - yes, you should still notify SSA of your remarriage even though it won't affect your eligibility for survivor benefits. The reason is that your marital status is part of your SSA record and needs to be kept up-to-date. You can report this change by: 1. Calling SSA directly at 1-800-772-1213 2. Visiting your local SSA office 3. In some cases, updating your information through your my Social Security online account Additionally, your new marital status might actually open up new benefit options (like spousal benefits on your new husband's record if that would be higher than your survivor benefit).