After reading through this thread, I'd suggest scheduling an appointment at your local SSA office if possible. For complex situations involving survivor benefits and optimal claiming strategies, speaking face-to-face with a claims specialist is often more productive than phone calls. Bring as much documentation as possible: your husband's death certificate, both SSNs, marriage certificate, recent tax returns, and employment information. These appointments can be booked through the SSA website or by phone, though waits for appointments can be 2-3 weeks in some areas.

I'm a newcomer here but wanted to share what I learned when I went through this exact situation last year. The strategy your coworker mentioned absolutely works - I started taking my deceased husband's survivor benefits at 62 (with reduction) while continuing to work as a nurse. Yes, some benefits were withheld due to the earnings test, but like others mentioned, you get that back through higher payments once you reach FRA. The key is running the numbers first. I used the my Social Security account online to see my projected benefit at 70, then called SSA (took forever to get through!) to get my survivor benefit amounts. In my case, my own benefit at 70 would be about $2,800/month vs. my husband's unreduced survivor benefit of $2,400/month. So taking the reduced survivor benefit early and switching to my own at 70 made financial sense. Just make sure to keep detailed records of everything - SSA paperwork can get confusing and you want documentation of what they promised you!

Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses! I'm going to try to schedule an in-person appointment to file the restricted application for divorced spouse benefits. It sounds like I need to be really clear about what I'm asking for and bring all my documentation. I'm still not 100% certain if my own benefit at FRA would be higher than 50% of my ex's, but it's definitely worth checking. He had a pretty high-paying career, so it might work out in my favor. If I have trouble getting an appointment, I might try that Claimyr service someone mentioned. I just want to get this process started since I've already missed out on potential benefits for months!

Good luck with your appointment! Just wanted to add one more tip - if you're unsure whether your own benefit at FRA would be higher than 50% of your ex's benefit, you can request a Social Security Statement online at ssa.gov/myaccount to see your estimated benefits. This will help you know ahead of time if the divorced spouse benefit would actually pay you anything. Also, even if the divorced spouse benefit ends up being $0 because your own benefit is higher, filing the restricted application still serves a purpose - it formally establishes that you're NOT claiming your own retirement benefit yet, which protects you from any accidental processing errors that could start your own benefits early. Make sure to ask the rep to show you exactly what they're processing before you sign anything. Some people have had their own retirement benefits accidentally started when they only wanted the divorced spouse benefit. Better to double and triple check everything at the appointment!

I just wanted to add one more important point that I haven't seen mentioned yet - when you apply for DAC benefits, make sure you have all the medical documentation from when your son was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a child. Since DAC benefits require that the disability began before age 22, having those early medical records from the specialized hospitals where he received treatment will be crucial evidence. Also, don't be discouraged if the initial application process takes time. Sometimes there can be delays in processing, especially if they need to verify your late husband's work record or request additional medical documentation. But given that your son is already receiving SSI (which means SSA has already determined he meets their disability criteria), the medical aspect should be straightforward. The most important thing is getting this application started. Every month that passes is potentially money your son is missing out on. You're being a great advocate for him by pursuing this!

I'm sorry to hear about your confusion, but you're absolutely on the right track asking about this! As others have mentioned, your son should definitely apply for Disabled Adult Child (DAC) benefits on his father's record since his father passed away 3 years ago. One thing I'd add that might help speed up the process - when you gather those medical records from childhood, try to get a summary letter from one of the doctors who treated him early on that specifically states his cerebral palsy was present from birth/early childhood. Sometimes having a clear medical statement about the onset date can help streamline the review process. Also, don't worry too much about the 3-year gap since his father's death. While there are some time limits for certain types of claims, DAC benefits can often be claimed later, and you may still be eligible for some retroactive payments. The key is getting the application in now. Your son deserves these benefits, and it sounds like you have a strong case. The fact that he's already been found disabled for SSI purposes should definitely work in your favor for the DAC application. Good luck!

One more thing to consider - if you're planning to continue working in some capacity, you might want to wait until your Full Retirement Age to claim survivor benefits. That way you avoid the earnings test completely. The benefit would be 100% of her PIA instead of the reduced 71.5%, AND you wouldn't have any benefit withheld due to earnings. It's always a personal calculation based on your health, financial needs, and employment situation. But many people don't realize how significant the earnings test reduction can be if they're still working substantially.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Zane. Losing a spouse so young is devastating, and dealing with Social Security on top of grief is overwhelming. I wanted to add something that might be helpful - there's also a one-time death benefit of $255 that you're entitled to as the surviving spouse. It's not much, but it's something you should claim if you haven't already. Also, regarding your question about the benefit calculation - since your wife was receiving SSDI, that $2,450 is very likely her PIA (Primary Insurance Amount), which is what survivor benefits are based on. The key thing everyone's mentioned about the earnings test is crucial - at $50K income, you'd lose a significant portion of the survivor benefit due to the earnings limit. One strategy I've seen work well is to focus on building up your own retirement benefit by continuing to work until your FRA, then claiming your own higher benefit. Since you mentioned 35+ years of work history, your own benefit at FRA might actually exceed what you'd get from survivor benefits, even at 100%. Definitely get that appointment with SSA to run all the scenarios. They can show you exactly what each option would look like financially.

Just wanted to share my recent experience to hopefully ease some concerns! I applied online last month at age 67 and it was surprisingly smooth. The key things that helped me: 1) I gathered ALL my documents first before starting (birth certificate, marriage certificate, bank info, last year's tax return), 2) I called my local library and they have volunteers who help seniors with online government applications - maybe check if yours does too?, and 3) The "save and continue later" feature was a lifesaver when I got tired halfway through. The whole process from start to finish took about 3 weeks and my first payment came right on schedule. Don't let the technology intimidate you - if I can do it, anyone can! The SSA website is actually pretty user-friendly compared to other government sites I've used.

I just want to echo what others have said about applying online being the way to go! I was in a similar situation last year - worried about the technology aspect and initially planning to visit an office. But the online application really is designed well for people who aren't super tech-savvy. One thing that really helped me was doing a "practice run" first - I went through the application without submitting it just to see what information they were asking for. That way when I did it for real, I knew exactly what to expect and had everything ready. Also, don't worry if you make a mistake - you can go back and edit most sections before you submit. The whole experience was much less stressful than I anticipated!