Thank you all so much for the helpful information! I've taken notes on everything to share with my sister. She'll be relieved to know her benefits will remain at 50% even after divorce, and it's interesting to learn about the survivor benefits possibility in the future. I'll definitely warn her about keeping documentation and the potential challenges dealing with SSA during the transition. This community has been incredibly helpful!

Just wanted to add one more important point that might help your sister - she should also be aware that if she's currently receiving Medicare through her husband's work history, that coverage may be affected by the divorce. She'll want to check with Medicare about her coverage options post-divorce to make sure there are no gaps. Sometimes people focus on the Social Security benefits and forget about the healthcare coverage aspects. Good luck to her navigating this difficult situation!

One more important point - when your mother applies, she should specifically ask about the Lump Sum Death Payment as well. This is a one-time $255 payment that she might be eligible for, even as a divorced spouse, if she wasn't remarried before your father's death. Many people don't know to ask about this. While $255 isn't a large sum, it's still beneficial. Also, make sure she asks SSA to run a complete benefits calculation to ensure she's receiving all benefits she's entitled to. Sometimes people are eligible for multiple benefit types, and SSA is required to pay the highest benefit amount.

Just wanted to add another perspective here - I work as a benefits counselor and see this situation frequently. Your mom should definitely pursue this, but I'd recommend she also consider reaching out to her local Area Agency on Aging or a nonprofit benefits counseling service. Many offer free assistance with Social Security claims and can help navigate the paperwork and phone calls. They're often more familiar with common documentation issues and can advocate for her if there are any complications. The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) counselors are particularly good at this type of benefits review. Having someone experienced guide her through the process could save a lot of frustration and ensure she doesn't miss any potential benefits she's entitled to.

Another important thing to consider: claiming survivor benefits at 63/64 means you'll get approximately 79-82% of the full survivor benefit (rather than 100% if you waited until your full retirement age). But since you're planning to switch to your own benefit later anyway, it often makes financial sense to take the reduced survivor benefit now rather than waiting. Just be aware of the reduction.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Olivia. I went through something very similar when my ex-husband passed away unexpectedly two years ago. We were married for 14 years and I was 62 at the time. The good news is that everyone here is correct - you CAN absolutely collect survivor benefits from your ex-husband now while letting your own retirement benefit grow until you reach full retirement age (or even until 70 for maximum delayed retirement credits). This strategy saved me thousands of dollars. A few practical tips from my experience: 1. Apply in person at your local SSA office if possible - I found they were less likely to make mistakes than over the phone 2. Bring ALL documentation: marriage certificate, divorce decree, death certificate, your Social Security card, and photo ID 3. Be crystal clear that you are ONLY applying for survivor benefits, not retirement benefits 4. Ask them to put a note in your file that you plan to switch to your own retirement benefit later One thing to keep in mind - since you mentioned your daughter is already receiving survivor benefits, there might be a family maximum that applies. Typically this doesn't reduce individual survivor benefits much, but it's worth asking about when you apply. The whole process took about 6 weeks from application to first payment for me. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do this - it's absolutely allowed and a smart financial strategy in your situation!

I just wanted to update everyone! I called SSA this morning and after being on hold for about 2 hours, I finally spoke with someone who confirmed I'm eligible for survivor benefits! My ex-husband's benefit was significantly higher than mine, so even with the reduction for taking it early, I'll get about $850 more per month than I'm currently receiving. They're processing my application now and said it will take 4-6 weeks. I'm also considering the withdrawal option to maximize my benefits long-term, but I need to think about whether I can afford to repay the three payments I've received so far. Thank you all SO MUCH for your help! I would never have known about this without this community.

Congratulations Mason! This is such a great outcome and really shows how important it is for people to know about these benefits. Your story is going to help so many others who might be in similar situations. Just wanted to add for anyone else reading this thread - if you're considering the withdrawal option like Mason mentioned, you might want to run the numbers with a financial advisor or use one of the Social Security calculators online. The decision really depends on your individual financial situation, health, and life expectancy expectations. Also, for future reference for others: if you're approaching 60 and were married 10+ years to someone who has passed away, it's worth talking to SSA about survivor benefits BEFORE you file for your own retirement. The timing strategy can make a huge difference in lifetime benefits. Thanks for sharing your update - it's so encouraging to see someone get the benefits they're entitled to!

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I feel much better about continuing my garden center job now that I know there's no earnings limit after FRA. I'll definitely apply in December for my February FRA date to make sure everything's processed in time. And I'll check that payment calendar to see my actual payment date. Really appreciate all the advice!

Welcome to the community! I'm glad you found all this information helpful. Just one small clarification to add - when you apply in December for your February FRA, make sure you specify that you want your benefits to begin in February (your FRA month). The SSA application will ask you when you want payments to start, and you can choose your FRA month or later, but not earlier. This way you'll get your full benefit amount without any early retirement reductions. Also, don't forget to create your my Social Security account online if you haven't already - it makes the application process much smoother and you can track your application status. Good luck with everything!