My sister had to call like 6 or 7 times before she got someone who actually knew how to calculate survivor benefits. Not all the reps are trained on all the different benefits I guess. So frustrating!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and it's incredibly frustrating! What finally worked for me was going to a different SSA office - apparently some locations have more experienced staff than others. The first office I went to couldn't help at all, but the second office had someone who knew exactly how to pull up survivor benefit calculations. Also, try asking them to print out your husband's earnings record (Form SSA-7004). Even if they can't calculate your exact survivor benefit on the spot, having his complete earnings history can help you or a financial advisor estimate what you should expect. The survivor benefit is typically based on what he was receiving (or would have received at FRA), so that earnings record is key. One more tip - bring a notebook and write down the name of whoever helps you. If you get conflicting information later, you can reference who told you what. I learned this the hard way after getting three different benefit estimates from three different reps!

I'm so sorry for your loss. Having gone through something similar with my late father's benefits, I wanted to share a few practical tips that might help: 1. **Documentation prep**: Gather your husband's death certificate, your marriage certificate, both of your Social Security cards, and your ID before contacting SSA. Having everything ready will make the process smoother. 2. **Get specific calculations**: When you do reach SSA, ask them to calculate your exact benefit amounts for each scenario - survivor benefits at 61, at FRA, your own retirement at 62, and at 70. They can run these numbers and show you the lifetime benefit comparison. 3. **Consider the "do-over" option**: If you take survivor benefits early and later realize your own benefit at 70 would be much higher, you might be able to withdraw your survivor application within 12 months and pay back what you received (though this has strict rules). 4. **Health considerations**: Don't forget to factor in your health and family longevity when deciding between getting money now vs. waiting for higher payments later. The emotional exhaustion you're feeling is completely normal. Take your time with this decision - you don't have to rush into anything. The numbers will help guide you, but ultimately you need to choose what gives you the most peace of mind during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Losing a spouse is incredibly difficult, and having to navigate these complex benefit decisions while grieving makes it even harder. Based on what others have shared, it sounds like you're on the right track with your thinking. Since you'll be 61 when you retire in March 2025, you can definitely take survivor benefits then (they start at 60, not 62). The key question is whether your own benefit at age 70 would be higher than the survivor benefit at your FRA. One thing that might help reduce some stress: you don't have to make this decision right now. You could retire in March, live off savings/part-time income for a few months, and use that time to get the benefit calculations from SSA without the pressure of needing the money immediately. Also, consider reaching out to your local SSA office to schedule an in-person appointment rather than trying to get through on the phone. As others mentioned, bring all your documents (death certificate, marriage certificate, both Social Security cards, your ID) and write down your questions beforehand. Take care of yourself during this process. These financial decisions are important, but your emotional well-being matters too. The right choice is the one that gives you financial security and peace of mind.

One more important thing to know: when you apply for the divorced spouse benefit, SSA won't tell your ex-husband. Some people worry about this, but your application won't affect his benefit amount or generate any notification to him. Also, if your ex-husband has remarried, it doesn't affect your eligibility for benefits on his record. When you do apply, be prepared for SSA to request: - Proof of your SSDI entitlement (they should have this already) - Marriage certificate - Final divorce decree - Your ex's Social Security number (helpful but not required) Good luck with your application!

I went through this exact situation about two years ago! I was on SSDI and discovered I could get divorced spouse benefits on my ex's record. Here's what I learned from the process: The math is straightforward - if 50% of your ex's PIA is higher than your current SSDI amount, you get the difference. In your case with $1,420 SSDI, your ex would need at least $2,841 for you to get even $1 extra. A few practical tips from my experience: - Apply as soon as possible if you think you qualify - they can backdate up to 6 months - Make certified copies of ALL documents (marriage cert, divorce decree) before sending anything - When your SSDI converts to retirement at FRA, the divorced spouse calculation stays exactly the same The hardest part was actually getting through to SSA! I ended up going to my local office in person after multiple phone failures. Brought all my paperwork and was approved within about 6 weeks. One thing that surprised me - they calculated his PIA based on when he COULD have filed at FRA, not what he's actually collecting now (in case he filed early or delayed). So even if his current check is reduced, you might still qualify. Don't give up on trying to reach them - this benefit can make a real difference!

I want to add something important that hasn't been mentioned yet - you should also consider the impact on your own future benefits if you continue working until 67. Every year you work and pay into Social Security, your benefit calculation gets updated if that year's earnings are higher than one of the 35 years currently being used in your calculation. Since you're still working full-time, you're likely earning more now than you did earlier in your career (due to inflation and career progression). This means delaying your claim until 67 isn't just avoiding the early filing reduction - you're also potentially increasing your benefit amount through continued earnings. Also, I'd suggest getting a copy of your Social Security Statement online at ssa.gov to see your projected benefits at different claiming ages. This will help you run the numbers and see exactly how much you'd lose by claiming early versus waiting. One more thing - make sure you understand what happens to your child's benefits if you do eventually claim on your own record. Sometimes families assume the child will automatically get switched to the higher-earning parent's record, but that's not always automatic and may require a separate application.

I've been following this thread closely because I'm in a somewhat similar situation, and I wanted to add a few thoughts based on my own research and experience navigating SSA. First, regarding the conflicting information you've gotten from SSA representatives - this is unfortunately very common with complex scenarios like yours. The rules around divorced spousal benefits, child-in-care provisions, and deemed filing are intricate, and not all phone representatives are equally knowledgeable about these nuances. I'd strongly recommend requesting to speak with a supervisor or scheduling an in-person appointment at your local SSA office where you can bring documentation and get more detailed assistance. Second, while everyone's correctly pointed out the deemed filing issue, I want to emphasize something that might give you some hope: the earnings test is only temporary. If you did decide to file for benefits now (despite the reduction), once you reach full retirement age at 67, SSA will recalculate your benefits to remove the reduction caused by the earnings test (though not the early filing reduction). This is called the "adjustment of reduction factor." Finally, don't overlook the possibility of appealing or requesting reconsideration if you receive information from SSA that doesn't seem right. Given how many different answers you've gotten, it might be worth getting a formal written determination that you can review carefully or have an attorney look at. The system is complicated, but you're asking all the right questions. Keep advocating for yourself and your child!

Just wanted to add something that helped me when I went through this same situation - you can actually check your benefit adjustments online through your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. Under "View Benefit Details" it shows your current benefit amount and any pending adjustments. This helped me track when my benefit was restored after I reported lower earnings. Also, if you're planning to work part-time for several more years before FRA, consider setting up automatic notifications when you're getting close to the earnings limit. I use a simple spreadsheet to track my monthly earnings so I don't accidentally go over again. It's much easier to manage your hours proactively than deal with the benefit reduction and restoration process!

I went through this exact scenario a couple years ago! Yes, the benefit reductions are definitely NOT permanent - they recalculate annually based on your actual earnings. When my hours got cut and I fell back under the earnings limit, SSA restored my full benefit amount within about 6-8 weeks after I reported the change. The key thing is to report your new earnings estimate as soon as you know your income will be lower. Don't wait until the end of the year! You can do this online through your ssa.gov account or by calling (though good luck getting through - the wait times are brutal). One tip that saved me a lot of hassle: when you report the change, ask them to confirm the effective date when your full benefits will resume. Get that in writing if possible. I had mine restored retroactively to the month I reported the change, but I know others who had delays in processing. Also keep in mind that even if they reduce your benefits now, you'll get credit for those withheld months when you reach your FRA. So in the long run, you're not really "losing" that money - just getting it redistributed over time.