im in kinda the same boat. divorce after 11 years and ex makes way more than me. but i heard you need to be married 10 years to get anything from their record. is that true?????

Thank you all SO much for the helpful responses! I've scheduled an in-person appointment for next Tuesday morning. I'm bringing ALL my documents - marriage certificate, divorce decree, birth certificate, current benefit statement, and I even managed to find his SSN in some old tax returns. I'm going to specifically ask about "independently entitled divorced spouse benefits" and make sure they understand I've been divorced over 2 years and we were married over 10 years. I'm feeling hopeful for the first time in years! If they try to tell me I don't qualify because he's still working, I'll politely ask them to check the rules again. If I hit another brick wall, I might try that Claimyr service to reach someone who actually knows these specific rules. I'll update after my appointment to let everyone know how it went. Crossing my fingers!

Just wondering - has anyone tried calling the SSA lately? Is it still super hard to get through? My mom waited 3 hours on hold last month before giving up!

As someone who works with seniors on benefit issues, I want to emphasize that you absolutely should pursue this! At 76, you have every right to apply for survivor benefits, and there's no time limit on when you can make this switch. One thing I'd add to the great advice already given - when you do get through to SSA, ask them to explain the "deemed filing" rules that were in effect when your husband passed in 2012. Depending on when you first applied for your own benefits, there might have been automatic considerations for survivor benefits that weren't properly processed. Also, don't be discouraged if the first representative you speak with seems uncertain about your situation. Survivor benefit calculations for cases like yours (where significant time has passed) can be complex, and sometimes you need to speak with a specialist or supervisor to get the full picture. The potential extra $550/month you mentioned could really add up over time, so this is definitely worth pursuing. Good luck!

I'm new to this community and Social Security in general, but this thread has been incredibly educational! I'm still several years away from retirement, but seeing all the complexities around spousal benefits makes me realize I need to start planning much earlier than I thought. One question for those who've been through this - is there a good resource or guide that walks through all these scenarios before you actually need to apply? It seems like there are so many nuances (like the FRA vs age 70 calculation differences, IRMAA implications, etc.) that would be helpful to understand ahead of time rather than figuring it out during the application process. Also, for someone like Roger who did such a great job delaying until 70 for the maximum benefit - any tips on how you managed financially during those extra years between your full retirement age and 70? That's something I'm trying to plan for myself.

Welcome to the community! As someone who's also navigating Social Security planning, I wanted to chime in on the resources question. In addition to the SSA website and AARP resources mentioned, I've found the book "Social Security For Dummies" to be really helpful for understanding all these scenarios in plain language. It covers spousal benefits, survivor benefits, and timing strategies in detail. For the financial bridge between FRA and 70, one strategy I've seen recommended is the "Social Security bridge" approach - using other retirement savings (like 401k or IRA withdrawals) during those years to let your Social Security benefit grow by 8% per year. Some people also consider Roth IRA conversions during this period since they might be in a lower tax bracket before Social Security kicks in. The key is starting this planning early like you're doing! Most financial advisors recommend running scenarios starting at least 5-10 years before your FRA to see what works best for your specific situation. It's complicated stuff, but getting it right can make a huge difference in your total retirement income.

One thing no one has mentioned yet - make sure your husband's CSRS survivor benefit election is properly documented with OPM. There should be a form (I believe it's SF 2801) on file that confirms his election of survivor benefits. Might be worth checking that everything is in order while you're both still here to address any issues.

This thread has been really helpful! As someone new to understanding these retirement benefits, I want to make sure I have this straight: the key point is that GPO and WEP only apply to the person who actually worked in the non-covered government job, not their spouse. So if you worked your whole career paying into Social Security and your spouse had CSRS, you're in the clear to receive both benefits without any reductions. It sounds like the confusion often comes from people not realizing these provisions are based on YOUR work history, not your spouse's. Thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences - that's so much more reassuring than just reading the official rules!

Thank you all for the amazingly helpful responses! I'm leaning toward claiming at 62 based on our specific situation with the age gap and eventual spousal boost. I'll make sure to discuss with my husband about him possibly delaying until 70 for the survivor benefit protection. I'm going to try contacting SSA directly before making my final decision - hopefully I can get through without hours of waiting (thanks for the Claimyr suggestion). The earnings test information was also really valuable since I do plan to continue part-time work. I'll need to keep an eye on those limits.This has been incredibly helpful - I feel much more confident about making this decision now!

Welcome to the community! As a newcomer here, I've been reading through all these responses and they're incredibly thorough. One thing I'd add from my recent experience - when you do contact SSA, ask them to run scenarios for both claiming at 62 vs waiting until FRA using your actual earnings record. Sometimes the online calculators don't capture everything, especially if you have gaps in earnings or pension offsets that could affect your benefits. Also, since you mentioned potentially working part-time, make sure to understand how the earnings test works in practice - some people get surprised when their checks are reduced temporarily. The community here seems really knowledgeable and supportive for navigating these complex decisions!