I'm really glad to see how this community came together to help you navigate such a complex situation, Oliver. Your plan sounds excellent based on all the detailed advice you've received here. One small additional tip that might save you some time: if you do end up visiting a local SSA office instead of calling, try to go early in the morning right when they open, or consider scheduling an appointment online if your local office offers that option. Walk-ins can sometimes wait hours, especially at the end of the month when benefit payments are processed. Also, when you do get your husband's PIA documentation, double-check that it includes any delayed retirement credits or special provisions that might have applied to his case. Sometimes these details can get overlooked but could affect your final survivor benefit amount. You've got a really solid strategy laid out, and it's clear you're approaching this thoughtfully despite dealing with such difficult circumstances. Best of luck with everything!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Oliver. What a difficult situation to navigate while you're still grieving. I wanted to add one more consideration to all the excellent advice you've received: since you mentioned living mostly on savings right now, you might want to factor in the impact of early withdrawal penalties or taxes on those savings when comparing the timing of your Social Security claiming strategies. If taking your reduced retirement benefit at 63 means you can preserve more of your savings (and avoid potential penalties), that could outweigh some of the reduction in monthly benefits. Conversely, if you can comfortably live on savings until your FRA without significant tax consequences, waiting might be better. Also, don't forget that once you start receiving Social Security benefits, up to 85% of those benefits could be taxable depending on your total income (including your part-time work). This is another factor to discuss with SSA when they run your scenarios. You're handling this incredibly well given the circumstances. The strategy you've outlined based on everyone's input sounds very sensible. I hope you're able to get through to SSA soon and get the exact numbers you need to make the final decision with confidence.

does anyone know if the FRA is different for SSI? my cousin gets SSI not regular Social Security and she said theres no FRA for that

I'm in a very similar situation - started collecting at 62 in early 2024 and my FRA is also in December 2025. Reading through all these responses has been really educational! I had the same hope that maybe there would be some kind of increase at FRA, but now I understand that's not how it works. The one thing that gives me some comfort is knowing that if I keep working (even part-time), there's still potential for small increases if my current earnings replace some of my lower earning years from the past. Plus the annual COLA adjustments help with inflation. For anyone else reading this who hasn't filed yet - definitely consider waiting if you can afford to. The permanent reduction is no joke. But for those of us who already filed early, at least we know what to expect and can plan accordingly. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and knowledge here. This community is so helpful!

btw my aunt did get survivor benefits after my uncle died in prison. took almost 3 months to process tho so dont expect it right away if it happens. and she said they made her fill out extra forms but it worked out in the end

I want to add something important that hasn't been mentioned yet - if your husband does pass away while incarcerated, you'll need to apply for survivor benefits as soon as possible. There's no automatic conversion from your current retirement benefit to the higher survivor benefit. You'll need to contact SSA and specifically apply for widow's benefits. Also, make sure the prison has your current contact information so they can reach you if anything happens. The sooner you apply after a death, the sooner you can start receiving the higher benefit amount. Some people wait months or even years before applying, not realizing they need to take action. Don't let bureaucratic delays cost you money you're entitled to.

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!

Following up on my earlier comment - after using Claimyr to reach an actual knowledgeable person at SSA, I discovered my benefits were calculated wrong for YEARS because regular reps didn't understand how the disability freeze worked with my public employment. Got a nice backpay check! Definitely don't give up and keep pushing for answers.

I work for a disability advocacy organization and see cases like yours frequently. The key thing you need to understand is that there's a difference between a "medical determination" and "technical eligibility" for SSDI. It sounds like SSA found you medically disabled (hence the Medicare) but technically ineligible for payments due to insufficient recent work credits. Here's what you should do immediately: 1. Request your complete SSA file including any disability determination notices 2. Ask specifically about "disability freeze" or "period of disability" status 3. Get a written explanation of how your benefits will be calculated at retirement age The fact that you're on Medicare suggests you DID get a medical disability determination, which should protect your retirement eligibility through the disability freeze provision. The reps telling you that you'll get "nothing" at retirement are likely wrong - they're probably not accounting for the special rules that apply to people with established disability periods. Also be aware that your county pension will likely trigger the Windfall Elimination Provision, which will reduce (but not eliminate) your Social Security benefits. Don't let SSA convince you that WEP means you get zero benefits - that's also incorrect. Document everything and don't accept "no benefits ever" as a final answer until you've spoken with someone who actually understands disability freeze calculations.