I'm sorry for your loss, Kristian. I just went through this process last year when my father passed away. One thing I wanted to mention that I didn't see covered yet - if you're mailing the Form 1724, I'd strongly recommend sending it via certified mail with return receipt requested. It gives you proof that SSA received your application and a tracking number to reference if there are any issues. I learned this the hard way when my first application seemed to disappear into the void for weeks before I could prove I had actually submitted it. Also, keep photocopies of everything you send for your own records. The whole process can take months, so having your own complete file helps when you need to reference dates or details later. Hope this helps!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Kristian. I went through a very similar situation when my mom passed away last year, including dealing with a reluctant executor sibling. You're absolutely right that you can file Form 1724 yourself - any eligible child can apply for survivor benefits regardless of who the executor is. For the name change section, I simply wrote on a separate sheet: "Jane Doe was born Jane Smith and changed her name upon marriage to John Doe on [date]" for each affected sibling. SSA accepted this without requesting marriage certificates upfront, though I kept copies handy just in case. One thing to double-check: make sure your 19-year-old sister is still in high school, as college students aren't eligible for survivor benefits (that changed back in the 1980s). If she's graduated high school, she unfortunately won't qualify unless she has a qualifying disability. The processing time can be lengthy (mine took about 4 months), so definitely send everything certified mail with tracking. Good luck, and feel free to ask if you have more questions!

One more important point - when your mother applies, she should specifically ask about the Lump Sum Death Payment as well. This is a one-time $255 payment that she might be eligible for, even as a divorced spouse, if she wasn't remarried before your father's death. Many people don't know to ask about this. While $255 isn't a large sum, it's still beneficial. Also, make sure she asks SSA to run a complete benefits calculation to ensure she's receiving all benefits she's entitled to. Sometimes people are eligible for multiple benefit types, and SSA is required to pay the highest benefit amount.

Just wanted to add another perspective here - I work as a benefits counselor and see this situation frequently. Your mom should definitely pursue this, but I'd recommend she also consider reaching out to her local Area Agency on Aging or a nonprofit benefits counseling service. Many offer free assistance with Social Security claims and can help navigate the paperwork and phone calls. They're often more familiar with common documentation issues and can advocate for her if there are any complications. The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) counselors are particularly good at this type of benefits review. Having someone experienced guide her through the process could save a lot of frustration and ensure she doesn't miss any potential benefits she's entitled to.

For what it's worth, you should apply 3 months before you want benefits to begin, regardless of whether that's at your FRA or slightly before. So if you decide to start benefits at 66+8 (slightly early) or wait until 66+10 (your actual FRA), in either case you should apply 3 months before your intended start date. The application process is the same.

I'm glad to see you figured out the birth year error in your account! That's actually more common than people realize. Just wanted to add that when you do call SSA to correct your birth year, make sure to have your original birth certificate handy - they'll likely need the document number and issuing authority to verify the correction. Also, after they fix it, I'd recommend taking a screenshot of your updated MySocialSecurity account showing the correct FRA, just for your records. It's smart that you're planning to wait for your full FRA at 66+10 rather than taking the early reduction. That extra 1.1% might seem small now, but over 20+ years of retirement it really adds up!

I'm in a similar boat - turning 62 in about 8 months with several zero years from raising kids. Reading through all these responses has been super enlightening! The math that Zoe broke down really opened my eyes to how much those zero years are costing me. One question I haven't seen addressed: does it matter WHICH zero years you replace? Like if I have zeros from 1995-1999 versus zeros from 2010-2015, does Social Security prioritize replacing the more recent ones, or does it automatically use your highest 35 years regardless of when they occurred? Also, for those who decided to work longer - how did you handle the physical and mental demands of working into your mid-60s? I'm in decent health but definitely feel more tired than I did at 50. Any tips for making those extra working years more manageable?

This is such a valuable discussion! As someone who's been helping folks navigate Social Security decisions for years, I want to emphasize that your situation with 7 zero years makes you an ideal candidate for working longer. The responses here have covered the key points well, but let me add one practical tip: consider requesting a detailed benefit estimate from SSA that shows projections for different retirement ages AND different earning scenarios. Also, since you mentioned being in decent health, don't underestimate the non-financial benefits of working a few more years - staying mentally engaged, maintaining social connections, and having structure can be just as valuable as the increased benefits. Many people find the transition to retirement easier when they do it gradually rather than stopping work abruptly at 62. The math really is compelling in your case - between replacing those zero years and avoiding the early claiming reduction, you could potentially see a benefit that's 60-80% higher than what you'd get at 62. That extra monthly income compounds over your entire retirement!

Another important thing to consider: claiming survivor benefits at 63/64 means you'll get approximately 79-82% of the full survivor benefit (rather than 100% if you waited until your full retirement age). But since you're planning to switch to your own benefit later anyway, it often makes financial sense to take the reduced survivor benefit now rather than waiting. Just be aware of the reduction.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Olivia. I went through something very similar when my ex-husband passed away unexpectedly two years ago. We were married for 14 years and I was 62 at the time. The good news is that everyone here is correct - you CAN absolutely collect survivor benefits from your ex-husband now while letting your own retirement benefit grow until you reach full retirement age (or even until 70 for maximum delayed retirement credits). This strategy saved me thousands of dollars. A few practical tips from my experience: 1. Apply in person at your local SSA office if possible - I found they were less likely to make mistakes than over the phone 2. Bring ALL documentation: marriage certificate, divorce decree, death certificate, your Social Security card, and photo ID 3. Be crystal clear that you are ONLY applying for survivor benefits, not retirement benefits 4. Ask them to put a note in your file that you plan to switch to your own retirement benefit later One thing to keep in mind - since you mentioned your daughter is already receiving survivor benefits, there might be a family maximum that applies. Typically this doesn't reduce individual survivor benefits much, but it's worth asking about when you apply. The whole process took about 6 weeks from application to first payment for me. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do this - it's absolutely allowed and a smart financial strategy in your situation!