I'm so sorry for your loss, Hannah. Going through this at 62 while still working full-time makes an already difficult situation even more complex. You're absolutely right to be confused - the intersection of widow benefits, earnings limits, and delayed retirement credits is tricky. Here's what I understand from my own research when my sister went through something similar: Since your husband passed at 69, you would be entitled to his full benefit INCLUDING the delayed retirement credits he earned from age 66-69. That's roughly 24% more than his age 66 amount - a substantial difference. However, at 62 and earning $53K, you're way over the 2025 earnings limit (around $23,040). You'd lose about $15,000 in benefits annually to the earnings test, which might wipe out most of your widow benefit anyway. My sister's financial advisor suggested this approach: Keep working and wait until your FRA (67) to claim the widow benefit. At that point, no earnings test applies and you get 100% of what your husband earned with his delayed credits. The hardest part is the waiting, especially when you're grieving. But financially, it seems like the smart move given your current income. Have you been able to get any preliminary estimates from Social Security yet? Thinking of you during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Hannah. Losing your husband so young and having to navigate these complex Social Security rules while grieving is incredibly challenging. Everyone here has given you solid advice about the earnings test - with your $53K income, you'd definitely lose most of your widow benefit if you claim at 62. The 2025 earnings limit is around $23,040, so you'd be looking at losing about $15,000 in benefits annually. One thing I want to emphasize that others have touched on: your husband's benefit at 69 is significantly higher than what it would have been at his FRA of 66. Those delayed retirement credits from 66-69 add up to about 24% extra - that's a substantial amount that you don't want to leave on the table. Here's something practical that might help: before making any decisions, try to get a Social Security statement for both you and your husband (you'll need his death certificate and your marriage certificate). This will show you exactly what his benefit was worth at 69 and what yours would be at different claiming ages. Having those real numbers makes the decision much clearer. Given your situation, waiting until 67 to claim the widow benefit seems like the smartest financial move, even though I know waiting 5 years feels daunting right now. You can keep working without penalty and get 100% of what your husband earned with his delayed credits. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

My uncles neighbor kept working til he was 70 and his ss check went up by almost $1000 a month from his first estimate at 62!!!! they say wait if u can afford too

Just wanted to share my own experience with this! I had a similar situation - earned my highest salary at age 64 (about $85K compared to my usual $45-50K range). When I applied for benefits at my FRA, SSA included those earnings automatically in my calculation. My benefit statement online updated about 6 months after I filed my taxes, and I could see my estimated benefit had increased by about $60/month. It's not a huge jump due to the bend points others mentioned, but every bit helps! The key thing is that SSA does track all your earnings, even after 60, so those higher wages definitely aren't wasted effort.

This is such valuable information! I had no idea that divorced spouses could potentially receive benefits while on SSDI. I'm in a somewhat similar situation - I've been on SSDI for fibromyalgia for about 18 months, and my ex-husband will be eligible for retirement benefits in a couple of years. We were married for 14 years before divorcing. Reading through all these responses, it sounds like I should start preparing now by gathering my documents (marriage certificate, divorce decree, etc.) so I'm ready when the time comes. One thing I'm still unclear on - if my SSDI amount is higher than what I'd get from his divorced spouse benefits, would there be any point in applying? Or do they always supplement to bring you up to the higher amount regardless of which benefit is larger?

I want to add something important that might help others in this thread - make sure you understand the difference between divorced spouse benefits and divorced survivor benefits. While we're all talking about divorced spouse benefits (which you can get while your ex is alive and receiving/eligible for retirement), divorced survivor benefits are typically much higher and available if your ex passes away. The survivor benefit can be up to 100% of what your ex was receiving, compared to divorced spouse benefits which max out at 50% of their benefit. Just wanted to mention this since several people are in similar long-term situations where this distinction could matter down the road. Also, for those having trouble getting through to SSA - try calling right when they open at 7 AM local time. I've had much better luck getting through early in the morning before the phone lines get overwhelmed.

As someone who works in financial planning, I'd add that while the SSA estimates are generally reliable for basic planning, they shouldn't be your only tool. I always recommend clients use multiple sources - the SSA calculator, third-party retirement calculators, and ideally a consultation with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security optimization. One thing I see people miss is that the estimates don't factor in inflation's impact on your other retirement income sources. Your Social Security will get COLAs, but your 401k withdrawals won't automatically adjust. This can make Social Security a larger portion of your retirement income than you initially planned for. Also, if you're considering working past your FRA, remember that delayed retirement credits can increase your benefit by 8% per year until age 70. The calculator shows this, but many people don't realize how significant that boost can be - it's essentially a guaranteed 8% return on delaying your claim.

I've been through this exact process! I'm 62 and just started collecting benefits last year. My actual benefit amount was within about $75 of what the SSA calculator predicted when I was your age (57). The key things that helped me get accurate estimates were: 1) Regularly checking my earnings record on ssa.gov for errors (found two mistakes over the years), 2) Being realistic about future earnings - I used the detailed calculator and input my actual expected salary changes, and 3) Understanding that the estimates assume you'll work until your stated retirement age with similar earnings. One surprise I wasn't prepared for: even though my benefit amount was accurate, the taxes on Social Security were higher than I expected. The SSA calculators don't factor in federal or state taxes on your benefits, which can be significant depending on your other retirement income. Might be worth running some tax projections alongside the benefit estimates. Also, since you're 57, you still have 10 years to really fine-tune these numbers. Small changes in your earnings or retirement date can make a meaningful difference in your final benefit amount.

Thank you all for the incredibly helpful responses! I feel much more confident about my plan now. Just to summarize what I've learned: 1. Since I'm at FRA, working part-time won't trigger any benefit reductions 2. My benefit calculation uses my highest 35 years, so these part-time years probably won't impact my amount 3. Waiting to claim until 68-70 gives me a significant boost (8% per year) regardless of my current work situation 4. I should consider the tax implications of working while collecting I think I'll stick with my original plan to work part-time for a couple years, but I'll definitely look into getting confirmation from SSA about my specific earnings history. Thanks again everyone!

Great summary Sean! You've got a solid understanding now. One additional tip from my own experience - when you do eventually contact SSA to review your earnings record, ask them to show you your "earnings record" (Form SSA-7005) which lists all your years of earnings. This will help you see exactly which years are in your top 35 and whether any future part-time earnings might actually replace lower years from early in your career. Also, you can create a my Social Security account online at ssa.gov to view your earnings history and get benefit estimates anytime. It's really helpful for planning and you don't have to wait on hold! The online calculator will show you exactly how your benefits would change if you claim at different ages. Sounds like you're making a smart, well-informed decision. Enjoy your semi-retirement phase!