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!

One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're planning to work past your FRA while collecting ex-spouse benefits, be aware of the earnings test. While there's no earnings limit once you reach FRA for your own retirement benefits, if you're collecting divorced spouse benefits and still working, the earnings test may still apply in some situations. Also, keep in mind that if you remarry, you'll lose eligibility for ex-spouse benefits (unless that subsequent marriage also ends). But you can remarry after age 60 and still be eligible for divorced spouse benefits. The SSA website has a great benefit calculator tool where you can get estimates of both your own retirement benefit and potential ex-spouse benefits to help you plan - definitely worth checking out before your appointment!

This exactly why im waiting until my FRA to file! Too many gotchas with the earnings test. My neighbor had to pay back almost $7000 because her employer paid out a bonus in January that was earned the previous year. The whole system seems designed to trip people up.

I'm in a similar situation and just wanted to share what I learned from my experience. I retired mid-year at 62 and got burned by the earnings test too. The key thing I wish I'd understood is that SSA has two different tests in your retirement year - you can use whichever is more favorable. One thing that might help: if you haven't already, request a detailed breakdown from SSA showing exactly how they're calculating your earnings test. Sometimes they make errors in how they allocate earnings to specific months, especially with lump sum payments like PTO. Also, don't feel bad about the conflicting information from SSA reps. I called 4 times about my situation and got 3 different answers. It's unfortunately very common. The system is incredibly complex and even their own staff struggle with the nuances. Have you considered consulting with a Social Security attorney? Many offer free consultations and might be able to help you navigate the appeals process if SSA made an error based on their initial guidance to you.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Alexander. This is such a difficult time to have to navigate these complex decisions. I went through something similar when my spouse passed away two years ago. One thing that really helped me was using the SSA's online benefit calculators at ssa.gov/benefits/calculators/ - they have a survivor benefits estimator that can give you rough projections based on your husband's earnings record. Also, since you mentioned you're still working part-time, make sure to factor in that if you earn more than the annual earnings limit ($22,320 for 2025), they'll temporarily withhold $1 of benefits for every $2 over that limit until you reach full retirement age. But like others mentioned, this gets paid back to you later through benefit recalculation. The flexibility to switch between survivor and retirement benefits is really valuable - not everyone knows about this option. Take your time with the decision and don't let anyone pressure you either way. Wishing you all the best during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Alexander. This is an incredibly difficult situation to navigate during such a challenging time. I wanted to add one important consideration that might affect your decision: if you're considering the strategy of taking survivor benefits now and switching to your own retirement benefit later, make sure to get a Social Security Statement (available at ssa.gov/myaccount) to see your projected retirement benefits at different ages. Since you're still working part-time at the hospital, those earnings are continuing to build your own Social Security record, which could potentially increase your future retirement benefit. The extra years of earnings might make the "claim survivor benefits now, switch to retirement at 70" strategy even more beneficial in your case. Also, don't forget that as a surviving spouse, you may be eligible for Medicare at 65 even if you're not yet claiming Social Security benefits, which could be important for your healthcare planning. The community here has given you excellent advice about the benefit calculations and strategies. Take your time with the decision, gather all the numbers, and remember that there's no universally "right" choice - only what works best for your specific financial situation and needs.

Since you mentioned the earnings difference, here's something to consider: When you're both alive, the optimal claiming strategy can be complex. But for survivor benefits, the key thing to understand is that when one spouse dies, the survivor gets to keep the HIGHER of the two benefit amounts, not both. So if your wife has the higher benefit, you might want her to delay claiming as long as possible (up to age 70) to maximize the survivor benefit you'd receive if she passes first. Her benefit grows 8% per year from FRA to age 70, and that growth would pass to you as the survivor. For your own benefit, the claiming strategy might be different depending on your health, other income sources, and when you plan to stop working.

I'm new to this community but dealing with a similar situation. My husband and I have been living separately for about 8 years now (different states actually - he's in Arizona, I'm in Oregon) but we're still legally married. Reading through all these responses is really helpful! One thing I wanted to add based on my research: if you're thinking about filing for your own Social Security benefits while still married, you might also be eligible for spousal benefits if your spouse is already receiving their retirement benefits. Sometimes the spousal benefit (50% of your spouse's benefit at full retirement age) can be higher than your own benefit, even if you're living apart. Just another angle to consider when you're doing your benefit planning. The living situation really doesn't seem to matter to SSA as long as the marriage is still legal.

To give you some additional information: for your wife to receive spousal benefits as a non-US citizen living abroad, she must meet one of these requirements: 1. Have been married to you for at least 5 years, OR 2. Be entitled to some type of German social security benefit, OR 3. Have lived in the US for at least 5 years during which the marital relationship existed Based on your 13 years overseas, I'm assuming you meet the first condition. When you apply, make sure to have your marriage certificate and her German identification documents ready. The application will need to be processed through the Federal Benefits Unit responsible for Germany, which operates out of the US Consulate in Frankfurt. The tax treaty is handled separately from eligibility, so don't let an uninformed agent confuse these issues.

This is exactly why I joined this community - dealing with SSA misinformation is so frustrating! I'm in a similar situation with my British spouse and we're considering moving to the UK. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly eye-opening. It's clear that the regular SSA phone agents often don't understand international cases at all. @Victoria Brown - your expertise as a former SSA claims specialist is invaluable here. Thank you for providing such detailed, accurate information. It's shocking how much bad advice gets given out by people who should know better. For anyone else dealing with international spousal benefits, it seems like the key takeaways are: 1. There are NO residency requirements for non-citizen spouses to visit the US 2. Tax treaties can eliminate or reduce the 30% withholding 3. Always ask to speak with the Office of International Operations or Foreign Benefits Unit 4. Don't trust the first agent you speak with if something sounds wrong Has anyone else had success with getting accurate information on their first call, or is it always a battle to reach someone knowledgeable?