I just went through a similar situation last year! I was on SSDI for 16 years and discovered I could get a higher benefit based on my ex-husband's record. Here's what I learned that might help you: First, definitely try the online application through your my Social Security account like Amina mentioned. I found it much easier than the phone maze. The system will automatically check all your options and tell you which gives the highest benefit. Second, with your $1,450 current benefit, you'd need your ex or current husband to have a monthly benefit of around $2,900+ for you to see any increase at age 62 (due to the early filing reduction). But if either of them had high earnings, it's definitely possible. Third, timing matters! If you do qualify for a higher spousal benefit, apply as soon as possible. I waited a few months thinking about it and realized I could have gotten those retroactive payments Amina mentioned. The online application took me about 45 minutes to complete, and I heard back within two weeks. Even though my increase was only $127/month, that's over $1,500 per year - definitely worth it! Don't let the complexity discourage you from at least checking your options.

Just wanted to add one more important consideration that I haven't seen mentioned yet - make sure you understand how Medicare premiums might be affected if your Social Security benefit increases. When you're on SSDI, your Medicare Part B premium is usually deducted from your monthly payment. If you switch to a higher spousal or ex-spousal benefit, your net increase might be slightly less than the gross increase due to how Medicare premiums are calculated based on income. Also, if you're receiving any other benefits like SNAP or Medicaid, a higher Social Security payment could potentially affect your eligibility for those programs. It's worth checking with those agencies too if you do end up qualifying for a higher benefit. That said, don't let this discourage you from pursuing it! In most cases, the Social Security increase will more than offset any other changes. Just good to know about these potential impacts ahead of time so there are no surprises.

One more important point - if your sister is planning to claim retirement on her own work record eventually, she needs to understand the strategy carefully. She can: 1. Take reduced survivor benefits now and later switch to her own retirement (which would continue growing until age 70) 2. Take her own reduced retirement at 62 and later switch to full survivor benefits at her full retirement age Which option is better depends on their respective earnings records. The local SSA office can run calculations to show which would give her more money long-term. Just make sure whoever she speaks with understands she wants to compare these two strategies.

I'm sorry for your family's loss. Based on what you've shared, your sister should definitely be eligible for survivor benefits since they were still legally married when he passed away. The separation doesn't matter - only the legal marital status counts. A few things to keep in mind: At 58, she can get reduced survivor benefits (around 71.5% of what she'd receive at full retirement age). However, since she's earning about $24,000, which is above the 2025 earnings limit of $22,320, her benefits will be reduced by $1 for every $2 she earns over that limit. She should apply as soon as possible since survivor benefits generally can't be paid retroactively before the application date. She'll need their marriage certificate, his death certificate, both Social Security numbers, and her birth certificate. Given her work history, it might be worth having SSA calculate whether it's better to take reduced survivor benefits now and switch to her own retirement benefit later, or take her own reduced retirement at 62 and switch to full survivor benefits at her full retirement age. The office can run these scenarios for her.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Natasha. My heart goes out to you during this incredibly difficult time. Having to navigate Social Security bureaucracy while grieving is just overwhelming. I wanted to add one more practical tip that helped me when I went through something similar with my late father's benefits: If you end up having trouble getting through to SSA by phone (which seems to be a common frustration based on what others have shared), try calling first thing in the morning right when they open at 8 AM local time, or late in the day around 4-5 PM. I found those times had shorter wait times. Also, when you do get your appointment scheduled, ask the representative to give you a written summary of what was discussed and the benefit amounts calculated. I learned the hard way that having everything documented prevents confusion later when the payments actually start. The advice everyone has given you here is spot-on - applying for the reduced survivor benefit now makes the most financial sense in your situation. That extra $900+ per month will provide real security and peace of mind, which is exactly what you need right now as you adjust to this major life change. Wishing you strength as you work through all of this. You're handling a very complicated situation with grace.

My deepest condolences on the loss of your husband, Natasha. Having been through a similar situation myself about three years ago, I understand how overwhelming it can be to navigate these benefit decisions while grieving. Everyone here has given you excellent advice, and I want to reinforce that your decision to apply for survivor benefits now is absolutely the right one. The financial analysis is clear - you'll be significantly better off taking the reduced survivor benefit immediately rather than waiting. One thing I'd like to add from my own experience: when you go to your SSA appointment, ask them about the "deemed filing" rules. Sometimes people think they have to choose between their own retirement benefit OR survivor benefits, but actually you can be receiving both simultaneously - you just get paid the higher of the two amounts. The SSA will automatically pay you whichever benefit is larger each month. Also, make sure to ask about Medicare implications if you're not already enrolled. When your income increases from the higher survivor benefit, it might affect your Medicare premiums down the road, though this is usually a minor consideration compared to the substantial monthly increase you'll receive. The community support you've received here is wonderful, and I hope it helps ease some of the stress of this difficult transition. Your husband would want you to have this financial security.

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share some additional considerations based on what I've researched for similar situations. One aspect that hasn't been fully addressed is how the Social Security Fairness Act might actually work in your favor beyond just eliminating WEP. Since your husband has 30+ years of substantial earnings outside the fire department, his Primary Insurance Amount could be significantly higher than what he might have calculated under the old rules. This higher PIA would increase both his benefit and the family maximum threshold, potentially making the numbers work better for your family even if he claims early. However, I'd also suggest looking into something called "do-over" strategies. If your husband files at 62 and you later realize the family would benefit more from him having waited, he has a 12-month window to withdraw his application (paying back what was received) and refile later. It's not ideal, but it provides some flexibility if circumstances change or if you get better information about your daughter's benefit calculations. Another practical tip: when you do speak with SSA, ask specifically about "auxiliary benefits" and the "family maximum benefit" for your situation. Using these exact terms seems to help get you connected with representatives who are more familiar with complex family benefit scenarios rather than basic retirement questions. The fact that your daughter will be eligible for 11 years makes this decision really impactful financially - definitely worth getting professional help to optimize!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to add some perspective on the timing considerations that haven't been fully explored yet. Given that your daughter will be eligible for benefits until she turns 18 (so for 11 years), you might want to consider a hybrid approach: have your husband continue working and delay Social Security until at least his full retirement age, while living off his firefighter pension in the meantime. This could maximize the total lifetime benefits for your family. Here's why this might make sense: If your husband's PIA under the new Fairness Act rules is around $1,833/month (to get $1,375 at age 62), waiting until full retirement age would mean he gets the full $1,833, your daughter gets up to 50% of that ($916), and the family maximum would be calculated on the higher amount. Over 11 years, this difference could be substantial. Also, something to keep in mind - your daughter's benefits will automatically stop when she turns 18 (unless she's still in high school), but your husband's benefits continue for life. So the decision isn't just about the next 11 years, but also about his lifetime benefit amount. I'd definitely recommend getting that detailed SSA projection others mentioned, but also consider consulting with a financial planner who can model out different scenarios including your pension, Social Security timing, and your daughter's education costs. The complexity of government pensions plus the new Fairness Act rules really warrants professional analysis.

I'm in a very similar situation - turning 65 next year and born in 1960, so I'm also affected by this deemed filing rule. What's been most frustrating for me is that I keep finding outdated articles online that still talk about the restricted application strategy like it's available to everyone. I wasted months planning around that before I found out it doesn't apply to me! One thing I discovered that might help you is that you can create a my Social Security account online to see estimates of both your own benefit and potential spousal benefits. It's not as detailed as what you'd get from talking to an actual representative, but it gives you a ballpark idea of which might be higher. Also, if you do end up using Claimyr or getting through to SSA, ask them to explain the "break-even" analysis - basically at what age the cumulative benefits would be equal if you claim early versus waiting. That helped me understand whether delaying made sense in my case.

I'm also dealing with this same situation and wanted to add something that helped me understand the timing better. Even though we can't use the restricted application strategy anymore, the timing of when you file still matters a lot. I learned that if your own benefit will be higher than the ex-spousal benefit, you might still want to delay claiming until age 70 to get those delayed retirement credits (8% per year). But if the ex-spousal benefit is higher, there's no point waiting past your FRA since spousal benefits don't grow with delayed credits. What really helped me was calling and asking the SSA rep to run three scenarios: claiming at 62, at my FRA, and at 70, showing the monthly amounts and total lifetime benefits for each. They could see both my record and my ex's record and gave me the actual numbers instead of just estimates. It made the decision much clearer. Also, don't forget that you need to have been married for at least 10 years to qualify for ex-spousal benefits - sounds like you're good with 22 years, but worth mentioning for others reading this.