To summarize what everyone has shared, here's what you should do:1. Contact SSA right away to notify them of your ex-husband's death and your potential eligibility for survivor benefits2. Bring marriage certificate, divorce decree, and his death certificate if you go in person3. Ask them to calculate both amounts: what you'd get if you switch to survivor benefits now (reduced) versus waiting until your FRA (full amount)4. Make your decision based on those calculations and your financial needsOne more thing: there's a time limit for applying for some Social Security benefits that can affect retroactive payments, so don't delay in at least making initial contact with SSA.

Thank you so much! This is a great checklist of what I need to do. I've gathered my documents and will try to connect with SSA this week to get the process started. I really appreciate everyone's help!

be careful what you do with that $$ because my sister inlaw spent her husbands last check and then 6 MONTHS LATER social security demanded it back and she didnt have it any more!!!

One more thing to be aware of - if your father-in-law had a surviving spouse, they might be eligible for survivor benefits. The surviving spouse should contact SSA to determine if their own benefit would increase by switching to survivor benefits. This is often overlooked but can sometimes result in a higher monthly payment, especially if your father-in-law's benefit was larger than his spouse's current benefit.

have u checked your my social security account? might show ur exact fra date on there

To summarize what's been discussed and provide clear direction: 1. Since you were born in 1959, your FRA for survivor benefits is indeed 66 and 10 months 2. Apply 3-4 months before reaching that age to ensure timely processing 3. Gather all your documentation now: marriage certificate, spouse's death certificate, birth certificates, possibly prior marriage/divorce papers, and recent tax returns 4. With your current part-time income of $35,000, you should be under the earnings limit and won't face benefit reductions 5. After you reach your FRA of 66 and 10 months, you can earn unlimited income without affecting your survivor benefits You're doing the right thing by researching this in advance. Planning ahead will make the process much smoother!

One strategy to consider for the gap until you reach 60: check if you have enough in retirement savings that you could use. If you have a 401(k) or traditional IRA, you can actually access funds before 59½ without the 10% early withdrawal penalty through what's called Rule 72(t) periodic payments. This lets you take substantially equal periodic payments based on your life expectancy. It's complex, so you'd want to consult with a financial advisor, but it might help bridge the gap until survivor benefits become available.

another thing - when u do apply at 60, apply like 3 months before ur birthday. they dont backdate survivor benefits very far and u dont wanna lose any payments

My wife signed up for SSDI last year and her first check was late too. But SSI gets paid on different days than retirement doesnt it? So confused about all these different programs and payment schedules!

Thanks everyone for the helpful information! I feel much better now understanding that his January 2025 benefit will arrive in February, specifically on the third Wednesday since his birthday is on the 17th. We'll make sure to budget accordingly and not expect anything in January. I'll have him check his my SSA account regularly to track any updates too.

One additional consideration for your planning: While your husband's spousal benefit would be reduced if he files early, his survivor benefit (if you were to pass away) would NOT be affected by his decision to take his own benefit early. As a survivor, he could receive up to 100% of whatever benefit amount you were receiving at death (including your delayed retirement credits to age 70). This is an important distinction because it might influence your decision-making. If maximizing his potential survivor benefit is important, your plan to delay until 70 is excellent because it maximizes that potential survivor benefit, regardless of when he takes his own retirement benefit.

One more thing to think about - how long can you guys go without him filing? If money's tight and you NEED the income at 64, sometmes you just gotta take what you can get. No point suffering for years just to get a bit more later. Gotta balance the math with real life needs.

my condolences on ur loss. i was in similar boat last yr. the paperwork is crazy!! bring EVERYTHING to ur interview - marriage cert, death cert, ur ID, birth cert, tax returns, even divorce papers from previous marriages if applicable. they rejected my first application cuz i didnt have my ex-husband's death certificate even tho we'd been divorced 20 yrs! make copies of everything b4 u go

Is anyone else FURIOUS about how complicated they make this whole system?? I worked as an accountant for 30 years and even I struggle to understand all the rules. My sister-in-law got completely different survivor benefits than expected because no one explained the Government Pension Offset to her. The whole system needs to be simplified!

DONT TRUST THE SSA CALCULATORS they haven't updated them properly with all the rule changes. My neighbor used it and got a completely wrong estimate. Then when she went to apply they told her something completely different. TYPICAL GOVERNMENT INCOMPETENCE!!!!

Thank you all so much for the helpful responses! This is much more complicated than I thought, but I understand better now. I'm going to run some calculations to see whether taking my small benefit early is worth the permanent reduction to my eventual spousal benefit. Since we have some savings, I might be able to wait until my FRA. I'll definitely try to speak with SSA directly to get exact numbers for my situation before making a final decision.

The whole GPO/WEP situation is a nightmare for so many retirees. I've helped several friends navigate this exact situation. One important point - make sure you understand the difference between: 1. Lump Sum Death Benefit ($255) - one-time payment 2. Survivor Benefits - monthly payments based on your deceased spouse's record The GPO only affects the monthly survivor benefits, not the lump sum payment. Also, the GPO reduction is specifically 2/3 of your government pension amount before any conversions or rollovers. For anyone in this situation, I strongly recommend consulting with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security claiming strategies with WEP/GPO considerations. Standard SSA reps often provide incomplete information on these complicated scenarios.

Contacting your congressional representatives might also help. The Social Security Fairness Act has gained more support recently, and constituent stories like yours could help push it forward. The more they hear from people directly affected by GPO/WEP, the more pressure there is to finally pass this legislation.

my sister just went thru this she stopped work at 60 and waited till 67 to claim and she got WAY more!!! so waiting is definitely better trust me on this

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.