I'm glad you found the information helpful! The widow's limit provision is definitely something worth asking about specifically - it's one of those complex rules that can make a real difference in your benefit amount but isn't always clearly explained. When you call SSA, I'd suggest having a list of specific questions ready: 1) Ask about the RIB-LIM/widow's limit provision and whether it applies to your case, 2) Get the exact monthly amount you'll receive including any COLA adjustments since 2022, and 3) Confirm whether you'll receive any retroactive payments and for what time period. It's frustrating how confusing the system can be, especially when you're dealing with the loss of a spouse. Don't hesitate to ask for clarification if anything doesn't make sense - you deserve clear answers about your benefits. Good luck with your call, and please do update us with what you learn!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Omar. Navigating Social Security benefits while grieving is incredibly difficult, and the system doesn't make it any easier with all these complex rules. Based on what others have shared here, it sounds like you should receive your husband's $1,880 monthly benefit (plus the COLA increases since 2022) since it's higher than your own $1,450. The fact that he took early retirement at 62 does mean you'll get his reduced amount rather than what he would have received at full retirement age - but that widow's limit provision that Zara mentioned could potentially help you. One thing I'd add to the great advice already given: when you do get through to SSA, ask them to mail you a written breakdown of how they calculated your benefit amount. Having it in writing can be really helpful if you need to reference it later or if there are any discrepancies. Sometimes the phone representatives make calculation errors, and having that documentation protects you. The 6-month retroactive limit is unfortunately standard policy, but don't let that discourage you from following up on the widow's limit provision - that could make a meaningful difference in your monthly payment going forward. Wishing you the best as you work through this process.

I'm so sorry for your loss and the financial stress you've been dealing with. As someone who went through a similar situation when my wife passed away, I completely understand your frustration about not knowing these rules earlier. Unfortunately, everyone here is correct about the 6-month retroactive limit - it's one of the most inflexible rules SSA has. Even if you have a compelling reason for not applying earlier (like not knowing you were eligible), they won't make exceptions. I tried everything when I was in your shoes, including getting my congressman's office involved, but the law is very clear on this point. That said, don't let this discourage you from applying immediately. At 62, even the reduced survivor benefit can provide significant financial relief, especially given what you've described about your current situation. And if your own retirement benefit would be higher at age 70, you can always switch strategies later. One tip: if you do decide to apply online, make sure you have a recent copy of your husband's Social Security statement if possible. It can help speed up the process. If you don't have it, SSA can look up his earnings record, but having documentation ready always helps. You've made it through three incredibly difficult years - you're stronger than you know. Getting these benefits will hopefully give you some breathing room while you plan your next steps.

I'm really sorry for your loss and what you've been going through financially. Unfortunately, as others have confirmed, the 6-month retroactive rule is absolute - even cases where people genuinely didn't know they were eligible don't get exceptions. I learned this when helping my sister navigate survivor benefits after her husband passed. Since you're 62 now and eligible for survivor benefits (even though reduced), I'd strongly encourage you to apply this week. Every month you delay is money you can't recover. The online application at ssa.gov is actually pretty straightforward - you'll need your marriage certificate, his death certificate, and his SSN. One thing to consider: run the numbers on taking survivor benefits now versus waiting until your FRA. If your own retirement benefit at 70 would be significantly higher than your survivor benefit, the "claim now, switch later" strategy might work well for your situation. You can create a my Social Security account to see your projected benefits. Given your current financial stress and the fact that you're earning under the limit, getting some monthly income flowing seems like the priority right now. You've already shown incredible resilience managing on your own for three years - this benefit can give you some breathing room while you plan your longer-term financial strategy.

I just helped my mom with this exact situation last month! She was applying for divorced spouse benefits after a 28-year marriage. We tried to argue that her REAL ID should be sufficient, but the SSA representative was very clear that they needed either a birth certificate OR a current passport for age verification. Since getting her birth certificate from out of state was going to take forever, we ended up ordering a certified copy online from her birth state's vital records website. Most states have online ordering now - it cost about $20-30 and took 10-14 business days. Way faster and less stressful than trying to coordinate with relatives! The online application let us upload the documents once we had them, which made the whole process much smoother. Don't let the birth certificate requirement delay your application - just order a fresh certified copy and you'll be all set!

Just wanted to add my recent experience - I applied for divorced spouse benefits 3 months ago and yes, they absolutely required a birth certificate. I tried to use my passport initially, but the SSA office said it was expired by just 2 months so they wouldn't accept it. Had to get a certified birth certificate copy from my state's vital records office online. The whole process took about 3 weeks from ordering to getting my benefits approved. One tip - when you order online, make sure to get the "long form" birth certificate if your state offers different versions, as SSA sometimes rejects the shorter abstract versions. Also, if you're planning to file online through my.ssa.gov, have all your documents ready to scan/upload because the system times out if you take too long between pages. Good luck with your application!

To clarify about file and suspend: The "file and suspend" strategy that allowed spouses to claim on a suspended record was eliminated in 2016. However, you can still file for benefits and then later request to suspend them to earn delayed retirement credits. The difference is that NO ONE can receive benefits on your record while your benefits are suspended. Regarding the original question - one more consideration is that if your wife works until her own Full Retirement Age, she can choose to take either her own retirement benefit or the spousal benefit, whichever is higher. If she files before her FRA, she doesn't get this choice - she's deemed to have filed for both and gets essentially the higher amount.

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who's been researching this extensively for my own situation. One thing that might help with your decision is to use the SSA's online benefit calculators to model different scenarios. You can create "what if" scenarios showing your benefits at 62 vs your FRA, and estimate your wife's spousal benefits under each scenario. Also consider that if you're in good health and have longevity in your family, the break-even point for waiting vs filing early is usually around age 78-80. If you expect to live beyond that, waiting typically pays off financially. But if you need the income now or have health concerns, filing at 62 might make more sense despite the reduced benefits. The peace of mind factor is real too - having guaranteed income starting at 62 vs waiting and hoping the system doesn't change can be worth something that's hard to quantify in dollars.

Thank you for this summary. I think my next step is definitely to get accurate numbers from SSA about my ex's FRA benefit amount and then make some calculations. Really appreciate everyone's insights!

One thing I'd add to this great discussion is that you should also consider what happens if your own retirement benefit (based on your work record) might eventually exceed the spousal benefit. If you're still working and earning credits, your own benefit continues to grow until age 70 with delayed retirement credits. Even though you're receiving spousal benefits now, Social Security will automatically switch you to your own higher benefit if it becomes larger. So while you're weighing the spousal benefit decision, don't forget to factor in what your own benefit might look like at 70 - especially since you mentioned you're still earning around $21,500/year. This could potentially change the math significantly depending on your work history and future earnings!