Glad you got the information you needed! This is exactly why I always recommend speaking directly with SSA about your specific situation. The rules around these benefits can be quite complex with different programs interacting in ways that aren't always obvious. One additional suggestion - make sure to keep documentation of your reporting (date, time, name of representative if possible). If there's ever a question in the future about whether you reported the change, having that documentation can be invaluable. SSA's internal notes systems aren't always perfect.

Great advice from everyone here! Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - if you do decide to cash out the pension, consider consulting with a tax professional beforehand. Lump sum pension distributions can have significant tax implications, especially if it pushes you into a higher tax bracket for that year. You might end up owing more in taxes than expected, which could eat into the funds you need for the medical equipment. Some people find it beneficial to roll part of the pension into an IRA to spread out the tax burden. Just another consideration for your financial planning!

The recalculation at FRA is supposed to be automatic, but like everything with SSA, it's good to follow up. I'd recommend checking your benefit amount in the month after you reach FRA to make sure it increased appropriately. And back to the original question - I want to emphasize for the consultant situation that it's net earnings from self-employment that count. That means what you report on Schedule SE after applying the appropriate adjustments to your Schedule C net profit. This actually works in your favor since only about 92.35% of your net profit counts as net earnings from self-employment (due to the self-employment tax calculation).

Just wanted to add one more important point that I learned from my own experience - make sure you report your earnings to SSA accurately and on time! They require you to report any changes in your work situation, and if you're self-employed, you'll need to estimate your annual earnings. If you underestimate and go over the limit, you could face an overpayment that you'll have to pay back. I use their online reporting system at ssa.gov which makes it much easier than calling. Also, keep detailed records of all your consulting income and expenses throughout the year - not just for taxes but in case SSA ever questions your earnings calculations.

To answer your follow-up question about resources, SSA Publication No. 05-10084 "Benefits For Your Divorced Spouse" is very helpful. You can find it on the SSA website. Also, regarding documents, yes - you'll need to provide marriage certificates and divorce decrees for both marriages to prove they each lasted at least 10 years. If you don't have them, you can request them from the county courthouse where the divorce was finalized. When you're comparing benefits, remember these key points: 1. You must be at least 62 to claim ex-spouse benefits 2. You'll get the higher of: your own benefit OR 50% of either ex-spouse's PIA 3. If you claim before your FRA, your benefit amount will be permanently reduced 4. You cannot receive ex-spouse benefits if you're currently married (unless your current marriage occurred after age 60) I recommend creating a my Social Security account online if you haven't already. This will show you your estimated benefit based on your own work record, which is crucial for comparing your options.

I went through this exact same situation a few years ago! One thing that really helped me was requesting a "benefit estimate" from SSA for each ex-spouse's record. You can do this by calling or visiting a local office with both of their Social Security numbers and your divorce paperwork. They'll give you a written estimate showing what 50% of each ex's PIA would be, which makes it much easier to compare. Just be prepared - it can take a few weeks to get the estimates back. Also, don't forget that if you're born in 1954 or later, your Full Retirement Age is 66+ (not 65), so make sure you know your exact FRA when planning your claiming strategy. The SSA website has a chart that shows FRA by birth year. One last tip: if you end up choosing to claim on an ex-spouse's record, you can still delay your own retirement benefit until age 70 to earn delayed retirement credits (8% per year). Then at 70, you could potentially switch to your own higher benefit if it ends up being more than the ex-spouse benefit. It's like having a backup plan!

Something nobody mentioned - if your husband passes, MAKE SURE you contact SSA immediately. My mother didn't report my father's death quickly, kept receiving his benefits, and had to pay everything back plus penalties. They don't automatically know about the death, and they will demand every penny back if they keep paying his benefits!

I'm in a similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Just wanted to add that you might want to consider meeting with a financial planner who specializes in Social Security to run some scenarios. They can help you understand not just the survivor benefits, but also things like potential tax implications and Medicare considerations if your household income changes significantly. My advisor helped me realize there are some planning strategies around timing and tax withholdings that can make a difference in the long run, even if the benefit amount itself doesn't change. Worth the consultation fee for peace of mind!

Wow! I took my grandmother to the SSA so she could finally file, and receive SS Spousal benefits, which my grandparents have never receiv any SS benefits bc my GF was part of the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), after working 30 years for the SSA, but jow my GM was excited she could even get some retroactive benefits due to the Social Security Fairness Act law that passed in 2025, repealing the WEP and GPO dowanfall bc like my GM, workers (spouse) were told there was not enough points to receive any spousal benefits. Okay, now I am back on track...However, after making a trip to the SSA office with my 93-year-old GM, only to be told we had to make an appointment, for such benefits, and appointment can only be made by contacting local SSA office that we were leaving. Two days later, we scheduled a video-call appointment for 3 weeks later, and we would receive a confirmation letter via USPS, an email with video pin to get into Teams appointment, and we would receive a call at 1:40 pm from SSA in case we had trouble getting logged onto Teams...not one of the three things promised happened and neither has the the either of the other two promises from SSA, with benefits to happen and retroactive benefits to be funded immediately. My grandmother does not believe she will live to even receive a penny, let alone enjoy the peace-of-mind, as her days get harder. I called on 3 different days of last week, with no return call yet. I am going to call first thing tomorrow morning, bc she cannot complete an online application without an agent, not sure why, but I have faith they do everything for good reason. Thank you for allowing me to vent. Kindly, Mia

This is incredibly frustrating but unfortunately very common right now. I'm dealing with a similar issue with my disability review - had a scheduled phone appointment that never happened, and like you I had all the confirmations. From what I've learned lurking in SSA groups, their phone system is completely overwhelmed and appointments are getting dropped left and right. The key things everyone seems to agree on: 1. Don't wait for them to reschedule - they won't 2. Call the 1-800 number first thing in the morning (8am sharp) 3. Have all your confirmation numbers ready 4. Be prepared to explain this was THEIR error, not yours The spousal benefit definitely won't process automatically even though they know you're married from Medicare. You need that appointment to complete the application process. I'd also suggest checking if your local SSA office takes walk-ins for urgent issues. Some people have had better luck going in person when phone appointments get missed. Good luck - this whole system is such a mess right now!