I'm a newcomer to this community but have been dealing with this exact same concern! Reading through all these detailed responses has been incredibly reassuring. It's amazing how many people have faced this identical situation - I was starting to feel like I was the only one who couldn't remember if I'd set up an account years ago. The consensus around using the "Forgot Username" approach first is really compelling, especially with the confirmation from the SSA employee about the built-in duplicate prevention safeguards. I've been hesitating to tackle this for weeks because I was worried about accidentally causing problems with my account, but hearing so many success stories where the process only took 5-10 minutes has given me the confidence to finally try it. The tip about checking old emails first is brilliant too - I'm going to search for any SSA communications before attempting the username recovery. Thanks to everyone for creating such a helpful thread for those of us dealing with this common but stressful situation!

I just want to add my voice to the chorus of people saying the "Forgot Username" approach works perfectly! I was in this exact situation about 6 months ago - couldn't remember if I had created an account when I first started receiving my widow's benefits in 2020. I kept putting it off because I was terrified of accidentally creating a duplicate or getting my account locked. Finally tried the username recovery option and it found my account immediately! The system sent me a username reminder email and let me reset my password - the whole process was maybe 8 minutes total. What really struck me was how the SSA has clearly optimized their system for this exact scenario since it's so common. For anyone still hesitating, just go for it - the "Forgot Username" path is completely safe and you'll get a definitive answer either way. Don't let anxiety keep you from accessing your benefits information like I did!

I'm 64 and have been lurking on this forum for months trying to figure out my own Social Security strategy! This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had the same confusion about whether I needed to file some kind of paperwork at 65 even if I'm planning to wait. One thing I wanted to add that I learned from my financial advisor: if you're planning to wait until 70, it might be worth doing a "practice run" with the online SSA application when you turn 69, just to see what documents and information you'll need, without actually submitting it. That way when you're ready to file for real, you won't have any surprises about missing paperwork or documentation. Also, I've been tracking my earnings on the SSA website quarterly instead of just annually - caught a small error last year where one of my part-time employers reported my wages incorrectly. Better to catch these things early! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is so much more helpful than the official government resources!

I'm 66 and just went through this decision myself! One thing that really helped me was understanding that Social Security has what they call "do-over" rules in certain situations. If you claim benefits and then change your mind within the first 12 months, you can actually withdraw your application (though you have to pay back everything you received). It's not something you'd want to plan on, but it gave me peace of mind knowing there was a small safety net if I made the wrong timing decision. Also, since you mentioned you're still working part-time, make sure to factor in how Social Security benefits might affect your tax situation. Depending on your total income, up to 85% of your Social Security benefits could be taxable. Sometimes it makes sense to coordinate the timing of benefit claims with other retirement account withdrawals to manage your tax bracket. The Medicare enrollment is definitely separate and urgent - don't delay that! But for the retirement benefits, take your time and make the decision that works best for your specific financial situation. The system is designed to be flexible for exactly this reason.

This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm 61 and approaching my application next year, and reading through everyone's real experiences has given me so much more confidence about the process than any official website ever could. The consistent pattern from all these stories is really eye-opening - while divorce papers aren't technically required upfront for your own retirement benefits, the reality is that SSA's verification systems will almost certainly flag applications when there's work history under different names. The 6-8 week delay stories really put the cost-benefit in perspective - spending $30 now versus potentially losing thousands in delayed benefits is such a no-brainer! I had no idea about checking your earnings record on the "my Social Security" website first - that's such a smart way to see exactly what you're dealing with before applying. And the tip about online county court portals making document requests easier is really encouraging since my divorce was also finalized in another state. Diego, you asked one simple question and this community has given you (and all of us lurking newcomers!) a complete roadmap. The generosity of everyone sharing specific timelines, costs, and real experiences rather than just generic advice has made this thread an absolute goldmine. Thank you to everyone for creating such a helpful resource for those of us navigating this process for the first time!

As someone who just went through this process 6 months ago, I can confirm what everyone is saying here! I was in almost the exact same situation - divorced 11 years ago after a 16-year marriage, applying for my own retirement benefits at 62. I initially thought I wouldn't need my divorce papers since I was applying on my own work record, but SSA requested them about 5 weeks after I submitted my application. The reason? My earnings record showed work under both my maiden name and married name, which triggered their verification system. The delay was really stressful because I had to scramble to get a certified copy from the courthouse in my former state. It ended up taking an additional 6 weeks to get my benefits started, which meant losing out on almost 2 months of payments while waiting. My advice: definitely get that divorce decree from Texas before you apply! Most Texas counties have online portals now where you can request certified copies for around $25-35. Just search for "[your county] district clerk records" and you should find their request system. The small upfront cost is absolutely worth avoiding the delays and stress later. Plus, having a certified copy on hand is useful for other situations too - I've needed mine for updating beneficiaries and some property matters since then. You're smart to be thinking about this ahead of time. Good luck with your application next month - sounds like you're going to be well-prepared thanks to all the great advice in this thread!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Mei. This has been such an educational thread about the RIB-LIM rule! As someone who's also navigating Social Security benefits as a widow, I wanted to share another tip that helped me. When you do get through to SSA, ask them to explain the "deemed filing" rules too. Since you're 64 and taking survivors benefits, you want to make sure they didn't accidentally deem you to have filed for your own retirement benefit as well (which would prevent it from growing until 70). This is a separate issue from RIB-LIM, but it's another one of those complex rules that can trip people up. Also, if you have any of your husband's old Social Security statements, bring those to your appointment. They can help verify that his earnings history was recorded correctly, which affects the PIA calculation that RIB-LIM is applied to. You're doing everything right by taking survivors benefits now and planning to switch at 70. Even with the RIB-LIM reduction, this strategy will maximize your lifetime benefits. Hang in there - dealing with SSA is frustrating under the best of circumstances, but you're asking all the right questions!

Mei, I'm so sorry for your loss. This thread has been incredibly informative about the RIB-LIM rule and all the complexities of Social Security survivors benefits. I wanted to add one more resource that might be helpful - the Social Security Administration has local "Community Partners" program where they sometimes hold educational workshops about benefits. You can check with your local Area Agency on Aging to see if they have any upcoming sessions specifically about survivors benefits. Sometimes hearing these explanations in a group setting with the ability to ask questions can be really helpful. Also, when you do get your detailed computation notice, consider taking a photo or making copies before your appointment. That way if you need to reference it later or share it with a benefits attorney for review, you'll have backup documentation. Your situation really highlights how much more transparent SSA could be about these calculations. The fact that none of us had heard of RIB-LIM before this thread shows how poorly these important rules are communicated to beneficiaries. You're not just helping yourself by asking these questions - you're helping educate others who might face similar situations. Best of luck with getting through to SSA and getting the clear explanations you deserve!

I'm so glad you started this thread! As someone who works in elder care advocacy, I see this exact scenario constantly. The reality is that SSA's systems are not designed to proactively notify people when they could be getting higher benefits, especially with survivor benefits. Here's what I tell families in your situation: 1) Print out your mom's current benefit statement from her MySocialSecurity account before the appointment - having the exact monthly amount will help the SSA worker do the comparison 2) If possible, try to find any old Social Security statements your dad received that showed his estimated benefits. These usually arrive annually and would give you a ballpark of what your mom should be getting as a survivor 3) Don't let them brush you off if the first calculation seems wrong. I've seen cases where the initial comparison was incorrect due to data entry errors or not accounting for delayed retirement credits your dad may have earned 4) Ask about "protective filing" - if there's any delay in processing the switch, this can help preserve some retroactive benefits The unfortunate truth is that thousands of widows and widowers are likely receiving suboptimal benefits simply because they were never informed they could switch. Your persistence in figuring this out could save your mom hundreds of dollars every month for the rest of her life. Please keep us updated - these stories help other families realize they need to double-check their benefits too!

This entire thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm a newcomer here but wanted to share that my grandmother might be in a similar situation. She's been getting what she calls "her Social Security" since my grandfather passed away 5 years ago, but after reading all these responses, I'm realizing we never actually verified she was switched to survivor benefits. My grandfather was a union electrician for 35+ years while my grandmother only worked sporadically as a substitute teacher. Based on the experiences shared here, it sounds like she could potentially be missing out on significant money each month. I'm going to help her check her MySocialSecurity account this weekend and see what type of benefit she's actually receiving. If she's on her own retirement benefit instead of survivor benefits, we'll definitely be making an appointment at our local SSA office. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and advice - especially the tips about requesting a benefit comparison, asking about protective filing, and bringing documentation. This community is such a valuable resource for navigating these complex benefit issues that affect so many families! I'll report back on what we discover. Fingers crossed we don't find out she's been missing out on hundreds of dollars a month like some of the other cases mentioned here.