I went through this exact same decision process about 6 months ago and can confirm what others have said - the benefits are calculated completely separately! I was also 63 when my husband passed and decided to take survivor benefits at 64. The SSA representative I worked with was very clear that my future retirement benefit wouldn't be affected at all by taking survivor benefits early. One thing I'd add is to get everything in writing when you apply. I asked for a written explanation of my benefit amounts and how they were calculated, which has been helpful to reference. Also, don't be surprised if different SSA representatives give you slightly different information - I talked to three different people and got three slightly different explanations, but the core message was always the same: the benefits don't affect each other's calculations. Your strategy sounds really smart, especially if your own benefit at 70 will be significantly higher than the reduced survivor benefit. Good luck with everything!

I'm also approaching a similar situation and have been researching this extensively. What I've learned from speaking with a Social Security attorney is that your plan is absolutely correct - survivor benefits and retirement benefits are two completely separate programs with separate calculations. The key thing to remember is that when you take survivor benefits at 64, you're essentially "stepping into your deceased spouse's shoes" for that benefit calculation, but your own work record and retirement benefit continue to grow independently. One additional consideration: make sure to factor in Medicare timing when you're planning your strategy. Since you'll be receiving Social Security benefits (survivor) before 65, you won't be automatically enrolled in Medicare - you'll need to sign up during your initial enrollment period when you turn 65. Just something to keep on your radar as you plan the next few years. Your numbers sound really solid, and waiting until 70 for your own benefit should definitely maximize your lifetime income. The difference between claiming at FRA vs 70 is substantial - those delayed retirement credits really add up!

Just wanted to add my recent experience - I applied for divorced spouse benefits 3 months ago and yes, they absolutely required a birth certificate. I tried to use my passport initially, but the SSA office said it was expired by just 2 months so they wouldn't accept it. Had to get a certified birth certificate copy from my state's vital records office online. The whole process took about 3 weeks from ordering to getting my benefits approved. One tip - when you order online, make sure to get the "long form" birth certificate if your state offers different versions, as SSA sometimes rejects the shorter abstract versions. Also, if you're planning to file online through my.ssa.gov, have all your documents ready to scan/upload because the system times out if you take too long between pages. Good luck with your application!

I work at a local SSA field office and can confirm what others have said - you definitely need either a birth certificate OR a valid unexpired passport for divorced spouse benefits. The REAL ID alone won't work because we need specific age verification documentation for benefit calculations. Since you don't have a passport, I'd strongly recommend ordering a certified copy of your birth certificate online from your birth state's vital records website rather than waiting for your sister to mail yours. Most states have this service now and it usually takes 1-2 weeks. Make sure to request the "certified" or "official" copy with the raised seal - photocopies or regular copies won't be accepted. Also, since you mentioned you're 66, you're smart to file now at your full retirement age to get the maximum divorced spouse benefit amount. The online application at ssa.gov is usually the fastest way to apply once you have all your documents ready to upload.

Regarding the inflation question - Social Security benefits receive annual Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) whether you've claimed benefits yet or not. Your calculated benefit at FRA includes all COLAs that occurred since you turned 62, even if you haven't started receiving benefits yet. So inflation doesn't reduce the advantage of waiting. The break-even analysis (when the total benefits received by waiting equals what you'd get by filing early) typically occurs in your early 80s. If your family has longevity as you mentioned, waiting is statistically advantageous.

I'm glad to see so many helpful responses here! Just wanted to add one practical tip - you can create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov to see your estimated benefits at different claiming ages. It will show you exactly how much you'd get at 63 vs your FRA vs age 70. This can help you make a more informed decision based on your actual numbers rather than general percentages. The account also shows your complete earnings history so you can verify that your 37 years of work are properly recorded. Good luck with your decision!

So glad you were able to get this resolved! It's frustrating that the system flagged your payment because of the previous fraud incident - you'd think they'd have better ways to verify without causing stress to beneficiaries who are already victims. The separate bank account idea is brilliant too. Thanks for updating us on what happened - this thread will be really helpful for others who run into similar issues.

This whole situation highlights a major problem with SSA's fraud prevention system - it seems like once you've been a victim of fraud, you're more likely to have future payments flagged and delayed. It's almost like they're punishing you for being victimized in the first place! I'm glad you got it sorted out with the Claimyr service, but it shouldn't take a third-party service to get basic answers about your own benefits. The fact that they can flag payments for "verification" without any notification to the beneficiary is really concerning, especially for people who depend on that money for basic living expenses.

This thread has been incredibly informative! As someone who's currently 63 and planning my own retirement strategy, I'm learning so much from everyone's experiences. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the importance of checking your Social Security statement for accuracy well before you plan to retire. I discovered last year that several years of my earnings from the early 2000s weren't properly recorded - apparently my employer had reported my name slightly differently on their W-2s. It took about 6 months to get it all straightened out with documentation from my old pay stubs and tax returns. If I had waited until I was ready to apply for benefits, it could have delayed my application significantly. So I'd recommend pulling your Social Security statement now and reviewing every year of earnings to make sure everything looks correct. If you spot any discrepancies, start the correction process early while you have time to gather the necessary paperwork without stress!

This has been such a comprehensive and helpful discussion! As a newcomer to this community, I'm amazed by the depth of knowledge everyone is sharing. I'm currently 58 and starting to think seriously about my own retirement timeline, and reading through all these responses has given me so many things to consider that I never would have thought of on my own. The point about separating work cessation from Social Security claiming is particularly eye-opening - I always assumed they had to happen at the same time. And all the practical advice about Medicare enrollment, checking earnings records early, organizing finances during transition periods, and even tax planning opportunities is incredibly valuable. It's clear that successful retirement planning involves so much more than just deciding when to stop working. Thank you all for creating such an informative resource for those of us navigating these important decisions!