I'm so sorry for your loss, Jamal. This is definitely one of the most confusing aspects of Social Security, and you're getting good advice here from the community. Just to reinforce what everyone is saying - survivor benefits absolutely do NOT increase after your FRA. I work in elder law and see this confusion constantly. Your financial advisor is incorrect on this point. Here's what I always tell clients in your situation: Think of it as two separate "buckets" of benefits with different rules. Your own retirement benefit bucket has delayed retirement credits until 70, but the survivor benefit bucket maxes out at your FRA - no exceptions. Given that you're 62, the "claim survivor benefits now, switch to your own at 70" strategy often makes the most sense if your own benefit would be substantially higher. You'd get reduced survivor benefits (about 71.5% of full amount) for 8 years, then switch to your maximized retirement benefit. One additional tip: When you call SSA for that comparison calculation, specifically ask them to show you the crossover point - the age where your own delayed retirement benefit would exceed the survivor benefit. This helps you see exactly when switching would pay off. The SSA Publication 05-10084 "Survivors Benefits" has this info in writing if you want official documentation to show your financial advisor.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Jamal. This is such a difficult time to have to navigate these complex benefit decisions. Everyone here is absolutely correct - survivor benefits do NOT increase after your full retirement age. This is one of the most misunderstood aspects of Social Security, and unfortunately even some financial advisors get it wrong. I went through this exact situation three years ago when I lost my wife. Like you, I got conflicting advice and it was incredibly frustrating. What finally helped me was getting the actual numbers from SSA for my specific situation. Here's what I learned: Since you're 62, you can take reduced survivor benefits now (about 71.5% of the full amount) and then switch to your own retirement benefit at 70 if yours would be higher with the delayed retirement credits. This way you're not leaving money on the table while your own benefit grows. The key is getting SSA to run those comparison calculations for you. When you call, ask them to show you both scenarios with actual dollar amounts and the "break-even" point where switching would benefit you long-term. Also, don't feel bad about your financial advisor being wrong on this - it's a very specific rule that even some professionals miss. The important thing is you're getting the right information now before making any irreversible decisions. Take care of yourself during this difficult time, and don't hesitate to ask more questions here. This community really knows their stuff when it comes to Social Security.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share what I learned when I was in a similar situation. The key thing to understand is that SSI disability and SSDI disability have completely different rules for spousal benefits. Since you're on SSI (not SSDI), you're treated more like a regular non-disabled person when it comes to spousal benefits - meaning you have to wait until 62. The good news is that even though your SSI will be reduced dollar-for-dollar (minus the $20 disregard), you'll likely still come out ahead financially. I'd recommend calling SSA and asking them to do a "what if" calculation for you so you know exactly what to expect at 62. Also, make sure to ask about any state supplements you might be eligible for - some states have programs that can help bridge the gap. Hang in there - two more years feels like forever when you're struggling, but you're almost there!

I'm sorry to hear about your difficult financial situation. As others have mentioned, you'll likely need to wait until age 62 to apply for divorced spouse benefits since you're receiving SSI rather than SSDI. However, I'd strongly encourage you to contact SSA directly to verify this, as there can sometimes be special circumstances that aren't immediately obvious. One thing that might help in the meantime - have you looked into whether you qualify for any other assistance programs? Things like SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid if you don't already have it, utility assistance programs, or local food banks can help stretch your SSI further. Many areas also have housing assistance programs specifically for disabled individuals that might help with that high rent burden you mentioned. Also, when you do reach 62 and apply, make sure to file your application the month you turn 62 (not before) to avoid any delays. The SSA representatives should be able to walk you through exactly how the benefit calculation will work with your SSI payments so you know what to expect financially.

To summarize for anyone else with similar questions: 1. For DIVORCED spouses: 10+ years of marriage is required to claim on ex's record 2. For CURRENT spouses: No minimum marriage length to claim spousal benefits 3. For SURVIVING spouses (if ex passed away): Only 9 months of marriage generally required The 7-year marriage in this case doesn't meet the requirement for divorced spouse benefits. Your ex-wife will need to qualify for Social Security based on her own work record or through another marriage.

As someone who went through a similar situation, I can confirm what others have said - the 10-year rule is absolutely firm for divorced spouse benefits. I was married 8.5 years and my ex cannot claim anything on my record. However, I'd suggest your ex-wife check her own work history with SSA to see what she might be eligible for on her own. Even if she didn't work much during your marriage, she may have earned enough credits before or after to qualify for her own benefits. She can create a my Social Security account online to check her earnings record and get benefit estimates. It's worth doing since that's likely her only path to Social Security retirement benefits.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you can use the Social Security Administration's online benefit calculators to get personalized estimates. If you create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov, you can see exactly what your estimated monthly benefit would be at different claiming ages (62, FRA, 70) based on your actual earnings record. This takes the guesswork out of the percentages since it shows you real dollar amounts. The calculators also factor in future earnings if you plan to keep working. I found this really helpful when I was making my decision - seeing the actual monthly dollar difference between claiming at 62 vs waiting made the trade-offs much clearer than just thinking about percentages.

Just wanted to add something that helped me make this decision - consider doing a break-even analysis with your specific numbers. I calculated that if I take benefits at 62 ($1,400/month) versus waiting until 67 ($2,000/month), I'd collect about $84,000 by age 67 from early claiming. Then it would take about 14 years (until age 81) for the higher monthly payments to make up that difference. Since women in my family tend to live into their late 80s, waiting made sense for me. But if you have health concerns or immediate financial needs, that calculation might look different. Also factor in what you'd do with that money - if you can invest the early payments and earn a decent return, it changes the math. The key is running the numbers with your actual benefit estimates rather than just thinking about percentages.

if ur working anyway have u thought bout just waiting til FRA to collect? no earnings limit then and bigger checks.

Just wanted to add another perspective here - I went through something similar last year when I started benefits at 62. The key thing to remember is that SSA uses your GROSS monthly earnings, not net. So if your bonus includes any overtime, commission, or other earnings, make sure you're calculating based on the full amount. Also, if you do decide to ask your employer to delay the bonus to January, get it in writing so there's no confusion about when it was actually earned vs. when it was paid. SSA looks at when compensation is earned, not when you receive it. The monthly test for your first year really is strict - I learned that the hard way when I had an unexpected freelance payment in my second month of benefits.