One more tip that saved me a lot of hassle - write down the confirmation number they give you and the name of the representative you spoke with. I had to call back a few weeks later when my payment didn't switch over as expected, and having that info made the follow-up call so much smoother. The second agent was able to look up my case immediately and fix the issue. Also, don't be afraid to ask them to repeat the confirmation number - some of those representatives talk really fast! 📝

Pro tip from someone who works in banking - when you call SSA, also ask them to confirm the exact name on your new bank account. Sometimes there are slight variations (like "John Smith" vs "John A. Smith") that can cause delays or rejections. The name on your SSA records needs to match exactly what's on your bank account. If there's a mismatch, you might need to update your name with SSA first before they can process the direct deposit change. Better to catch this upfront than deal with bounced payments later!

My condolences on your father-in-law's passing. Just to share my experience - when my husband died, I was really confused about the whole survivor benefit process too. The amount they told me seemed too high at first, but it turned out to be correct. One thing that helped me was talking to other widows in my church group who'd been through the same process. Sometimes hearing from regular people who've navigated the same system is reassuring.

I went through something very similar when my father passed away in 2022. My mom was shocked by her survivor benefit amount - it was almost double what she expected! Like your mother-in-law, my dad had a great career early on but then worked sporadically for his last 20 years. What really helped us was getting an appointment at the local SSA office (took about 3 weeks to get in) and having them walk through the calculation step by step. They showed us his complete earnings history and explained how the indexing works - earnings from the 1980s were worth WAY more than we realized after inflation adjustments. The key thing is that they calculate based on his highest 35 years of earnings, not his most recent years. So even though he barely worked the last two decades, those early high-earning years still counted heavily in the formula. My advice: get all the documentation others mentioned, but don't panic. In our case, the high amount was completely legitimate. Your father-in-law's early successful career is likely the reason for the higher benefit. Just verify it's calculated correctly and then your MIL can make informed decisions about her future.

Good plan. Make sure to specifically ask them to calculate both amounts for you before making a final decision. Sometimes the difference can be very small, and it's worth understanding exactly what you'll receive. Best of luck with your appointment!

One thing to add that might help with your planning - if you're still working and earning income, be aware of the earnings test rules even though you're at FRA. Since you've reached your full retirement age, there's no earnings limit that would reduce your Social Security benefits, so you can work and collect your full benefit amount without any penalties. This is different from people who claim benefits before their FRA. Also, when you do file, make sure to ask SSA to provide you with a written breakdown showing exactly how they calculated both your own retirement benefit and the ex-spouse benefit amount. Having this documentation can be really helpful for your records and future planning. The whole process can feel overwhelming, but you're asking all the right questions!

I'm in a very similar situation! I started collecting my benefits at 63 (needed the income after losing my job) and just turned 74. My ex and I were married for 16 years, and I never remarried either. Reading through these responses has been so helpful - I had no idea I might be eligible for divorced spouse benefits even though I'm already collecting my own reduced benefits. One thing I'm wondering about that I haven't seen mentioned yet - does anyone know if there's a time limit on how long after your divorce you can apply for these benefits? We've been divorced for almost 20 years now, and I'm worried I might have waited too long to look into this option. Also, for those who have successfully switched or supplemented their benefits - how long did the whole process take from application to receiving the increased payments? I'm hoping it's not a months-long wait since I'm living pretty tight on my current benefit amount. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences here - this community is such a valuable resource!

I'm in a somewhat similar situation - took early retirement benefits at 64 and wondering about divorced spouse benefits now. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly educational! One thing I'd like to add for anyone considering this: make sure you gather ALL your paperwork before contacting SSA. I learned this the hard way when dealing with disability paperwork years ago. Having your marriage certificate, divorce decree, and any other relevant documents organized beforehand can really speed up the process. Also, don't be discouraged if the first person you speak with isn't fully knowledgeable about divorced spouse benefits - as several people mentioned, the rules are complex and not all representatives are equally informed. Be prepared to explain your situation clearly and don't hesitate to ask to speak with a supervisor or specialist if needed. Sophia, I really hope this works out for you! Even a modest increase can make such a difference in monthly budgeting. Keep us posted on how it goes - your experience could help others in similar situations.

Thank you all for your helpful responses! I didn't realize this was so complicated. I'm going to try to reach the SSA to get the exact calculation based on our specific situation. It sounds like I might get a small increase but probably not as much as I was hoping for. I'll update when I find out more information!

I went through this exact same situation two years ago! I was 65, on SSDI for 6 years, and my husband was already collecting his Social Security. The key thing to understand is that you're not really "switching" - you're applying for what's called "auxiliary benefits" on your husband's record. SSA will pay you whichever amount is higher: your SSDI or the spousal benefit. In my case, I ended up getting about $300 more per month, which has been a huge help with rising costs. The process took about 6 weeks once I finally got through to them. One tip: try calling SSA first thing in the morning right when they open - I had much better luck getting through that way. Also, have all your documents ready including your marriage certificate and both of your Social Security numbers. Good luck!