I went through something similar with my late husband's benefits. One thing I learned that might help you - when you have your SSA phone appointment, ask them to send you a written summary of what you discussed via mail or secure message in your mySSA account. This creates a paper trail if there are any disputes later. Also, since your husband's PIA is significantly higher than yours ($3,600 vs $2,100), you'll likely be eligible for a decent spousal excess benefit now. But more importantly, if he passes away, your survivor benefit at FRA would be based on his full $3,600 amount - that's a substantial increase from your current reduced benefit. The peace of mind knowing you can delay survivor benefits until 67 is worth protecting. Don't let anyone pressure you into making immediate decisions if that unfortunate situation arises.

I'm in a somewhat similar situation and have been researching this extensively. What I've learned from speaking with multiple SSA representatives and reading the actual regulations is that you have complete flexibility with survivor benefits regardless of your current benefit status. The key point that hasn't been mentioned yet is that when your husband passes (hopefully many years from now), you'll actually want to do a careful calculation. At that time, you'll need to compare: 1. Your current reduced retirement benefit plus any spousal excess 2. The survivor benefit amount (reduced if taken before FRA, full if taken at FRA) Sometimes it's actually better to keep your own benefit even past FRA if the survivor benefit isn't significantly higher. Since your husband's PIA is $3,600 and yours is $2,100, the survivor benefit will likely be much better, but it's still worth running the numbers. Also, one practical tip - if you do end up in this situation, you can actually file a "protective filing" for survivor benefits to preserve your right to back benefits while you decide on timing. This gives you some breathing room to make the best financial decision without losing potential money.

Just to add another perspective - you might want to consider the tax implications too. Social Security benefits become taxable once your combined income (AGI + nontaxable interest + half your SS benefits) exceeds certain thresholds. If you're still working and earning income, you could end up paying taxes on up to 85% of your SS benefits. This is separate from the earnings test but another factor to consider in your overall strategy. Sometimes it makes more sense to delay benefits until you stop working entirely, especially if you're in a higher tax bracket now than you expect to be in full retirement.

I've been following this discussion and wanted to add something that might help with your decision-making process. Since you're an accountant, you probably already know this, but it's worth considering the opportunity cost of claiming early versus investing that money if you don't immediately need the SS income. If you can afford to wait and continue working without claiming benefits, you could potentially invest what you would have received in SS benefits. Given that your benefit increases by about 8% per year if you delay (plus potential cost of living adjustments), you'd need pretty strong investment returns to beat that guaranteed increase. Also, since you mentioned you're at an accounting firm, have you looked into whether your employer offers any phased retirement options? Some firms allow senior staff to gradually reduce hours over several years, which might give you more control over staying under the earnings limit if you do decide to claim early. The complexity of all these moving parts (earnings test, taxation of benefits, delayed retirement credits, investment opportunities) really shows why there's no one-size-fits-all answer. It might be worth running some detailed projections with different scenarios to see what works best for your specific situation.

This thread has been incredibly informative! As someone who's going through a similar situation (my ex moved to Japan), I'm grateful for all the practical advice shared here. I wanted to add one more resource that helped me: the American Citizens Services (ACS) unit at US embassies abroad often maintains informal networks with local hospitals and morgues that serve expat communities. While it's not an official notification system, these relationships sometimes result in quicker reporting of American deaths. I also discovered that many expats abroad maintain US-based emergency contacts through their banks, insurance companies, or even online services like ICE (In Case of Emergency) apps. If your ex is the type to be organized about these things, there might be multiple potential notification pathways you're not even aware of. The key seems to be casting a wide net of preparation rather than relying on any single system. I'm going to follow everyone's advice here and start building my own documentation folder and contact list. It's a bit sobering to plan for these scenarios, but so much better than being caught unprepared later.

This is such a comprehensive thread with excellent advice! I work in international law and deal with cross-border estate issues regularly. Your situation highlights a real systemic problem that affects thousands of divorced Americans whose ex-spouses live abroad. One additional angle worth considering: if your ex-husband has any ongoing US tax obligations (which most US citizens abroad do), the IRS sometimes becomes aware of deaths through incomplete filings or estate tax matters. The IRS shares certain death information with SSA, though this pathway can take months or even years to trigger. I'd also suggest documenting his approximate location in Thailand if you know it. Different regions have varying relationships with US consular services. Bangkok and major tourist areas tend to have better reporting protocols than rural areas. Finally, consider reaching out to an elder law attorney who specializes in Social Security benefits. They can help you formally document your potential claim now and may have insights into the appeals process if you ever face delays in benefit approval due to documentation issues. Many offer free consultations for planning purposes. The fact that you're thinking about this now, while there's no immediate urgency, puts you way ahead of most people who face this situation. Well done on being so proactive!

As someone who works in retirement planning, I want to emphasize a few key points that haven't been fully covered yet: 1. **Timing matters for maximizing benefits**: If your husband is still working or has other income, he might benefit from delaying his Social Security until age 70 to get delayed retirement credits (8% per year). This would increase the survivor benefit you'd eventually receive. 2. **Consider your filing strategy now**: Since you're both already receiving benefits, this ship has sailed, but for others reading - sometimes it makes sense for the higher earner to delay benefits to maximize the eventual survivor benefit. 3. **Medicare implications**: When you become a widow, you'll need to evaluate your Medicare coverage. If you're on your husband's employer plan as a retiree, you may lose that coverage and need to make decisions about Medicare supplements. 4. **Document everything**: Keep copies of your marriage certificate, both of your Social Security cards, and any military service records if applicable. Having these ready will make the process smoother when the time comes. The survivor benefit is really one of Social Security's most important protections for older Americans - it helps ensure the surviving spouse doesn't face financial hardship on top of grief.

I'm in a similar situation and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! My husband and I are 71 and 68, and I honestly had no idea about most of these details. A few things I'm taking away: 1. Report the death IMMEDIATELY to avoid overpayment issues 2. You have to actually APPLY for survivor benefits - they don't automatically switch you 3. Keep all important documents organized and ready 4. Expect long wait times when calling SSA (that Claimyr service sounds like a lifesaver) One question I haven't seen addressed - if the surviving spouse remarries, does that affect the survivor benefits? I'm happily married and not planning anything, but I'm curious about the rules since I have a widowed friend who's been hesitant to remarry partly because of benefit concerns. Also, thank you to everyone who shared their personal experiences. It really helps to hear real stories rather than just the official policy explanations.

As someone who just went through this process myself, I can confirm everyone here is absolutely correct - Social Security uses your highest 35 years of earnings, not your last 5 years. I was in a similar situation where I reduced my hours in my late 50s due to health issues and was worried it would tank my benefits. What really helped me was not just looking at the earnings record on ssa.gov, but also understanding that they "index" your older earnings for inflation. So that $15,000 you made in 1985 might be worth $40,000+ in today's calculation. This indexing process ensures your older full-time earnings aren't unfairly penalized compared to recent years. One tip: if you have any years showing zero earnings that you think should show income, definitely contact SSA to get those corrected. Missing or incorrect earnings records can definitely impact your benefit calculation since they need those 35 years of data.

I'm so glad you asked this question because I was told something similar by a family member and it had me panicking too! It's incredible how widespread this misinformation is about Social Security calculations. Just to add one more perspective - I actually spoke with a Social Security representative last month when I had questions about my own benefits, and they confirmed what everyone here is saying. The 35-year calculation has been the standard for decades. They also mentioned that this is one of the most common misconceptions they hear from people approaching retirement age. What's really helpful is that once you create your my Social Security account, you can actually see how different scenarios would affect your benefits. For example, you can see what would happen if you worked a few more years versus claiming early. It's a great tool for planning, especially when you're dealing with health issues like you mentioned. Don't let your buddy's misinformation stress you out - sounds like you're in a much better position than you thought!