I wanted to share some additional perspective on this situation. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is the importance of timing if your husband does decide to delay his benefits. Since he's already 62 and has health issues, you might want to consider a middle-ground approach - having him file at his Full Retirement Age (66 or 67 depending on his birth year) rather than waiting until 70. This would give you both some security of receiving benefits sooner while still providing a decent survivor benefit for you later. Also, keep in mind that if your husband is still working part-time, his earnings could affect his Social Security benefits if he files before his FRA due to the earnings test. But once he reaches FRA, he can earn any amount without it affecting his benefits. Another consideration - if your husband's health deteriorates significantly, he might potentially qualify for SSDI himself, which could change your overall strategy. SSDI recipients can receive their full benefit amount regardless of age, without the early filing reductions that apply to regular retirement benefits. Given the complexity of your situation with the age difference, health concerns, and your existing SSDI, it really might be worth consulting with someone who specializes in Social Security optimization to run different scenarios and see what works best for your specific circumstances.

I wanted to add something that might be helpful regarding the conversion from SSDI to retirement benefits. When your SSDI automatically converts to retirement benefits at your Full Retirement Age (67), the amount stays exactly the same, but there's one small advantage - you'll no longer be subject to SSDI's continuing disability reviews. Those reviews can be stressful even when your condition is clearly permanent, so that's one less thing to worry about. Also, regarding getting accurate information from SSA - I've found that visiting a local Social Security office in person (with an appointment) often yields better results than calling. The representatives seem to have more time to look at your specific situation and pull up the relevant rules. Just make sure to bring all relevant documents and maybe even write down your questions beforehand. One more thing about survivor benefits timing - if something does happen to your husband before you reach age 60, you could potentially receive a one-time lump-sum death payment of $255, and if you're caring for his child under 16 (or disabled), you might be eligible for survivor benefits earlier. But given your ages, this probably doesn't apply to your situation.

This whole system is DELIBERATELY CONFUSING!! I spent HOURS on the phone with SS last year to figure out my divorced spouse benefits. Then after all that they sent me a letter saying I wasn't eligible yet because my ex hadn't filed! Complete waste of time and the rules make no sense whatsoever.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through this process recently. I was in a very similar situation - divorced after 20+ years, turning 62, and trying to figure out the best strategy. After reading all the comments here, I want to emphasize something that really helped me: get a proper benefit estimate BEFORE making any decisions. I used the service Yara mentioned (Claimyr) to actually get through to SSA, and having those real numbers made all the difference in my planning. Also, don't forget to factor in cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) when you're calculating whether to wait until 70. Your benefit grows not just from delayed retirement credits (8% per year from FRA to 70) but also gets annual COLA increases. For someone with a potentially high benefit at 70, those extra years of growth can really add up. One last tip: if you do decide to wait, make sure you sign up for Medicare at 65 even if you're not taking Social Security yet. That's a separate decision and you don't want to miss your enrollment window!

have u checked if ur eligible for divorced spouse benefits from any ex husbands? if u were married 10+ yrs and didn't remarry before 60 u might be able to claim on their record instead. just another option to look into!

I'm a financial planner who specializes in Social Security optimization, and I want to emphasize what others have correctly stated: the restricted application strategy (claiming spousal benefits only while delaying your own) was indeed eliminated for anyone born after January 1, 1954. However, given your situation as a self-employed individual still earning income, here's what I'd recommend considering: 1. **Run the numbers on your projected benefit at 70 vs. what you'd get now** - Self-employed folks often have variable income histories, so your benefit calculation might be more complex than typical W-2 employees. 2. **Factor in the earnings test** - As mentioned, your self-employment income would likely reduce any early benefits significantly. 3. **Consider your health and family longevity** - If you're in good health with family members who lived into their 80s+, waiting until 70 often provides the best lifetime value. 4. **Look into estimated Social Security statements** - You can create an account at ssa.gov to see your projected benefits at different claiming ages. The 2015 law changes were frustrating for many, but in your case with continued earnings, waiting might actually be the optimal strategy anyway. The key is doing the math based on your specific situation rather than general rules of thumb.

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! We've decided to talk to a financial advisor who specializes in retirement planning, specifically someone who understands Social Security rules. Since we're both over FRA, it sounds like I can keep my survivors benefits regardless, but we want to make sure we're optimizing both our benefits and understanding the tax implications. I'll try using that Claimyr service to get through to SSA directly too.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the Medicare implications of marriage. When you marry, your combined income could potentially push you into higher Medicare Part B and Part D premiums due to IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount). With your boyfriend making $85k and your survivors benefits, your modified adjusted gross income as a married couple might trigger these surcharges. The IRMAA thresholds for married filing jointly are different (and lower per person) than for single filers. This is another cost to factor into your decision alongside the tax implications others have mentioned. Definitely something to discuss with both your financial advisor and tax professional!

My sister works full time too and she said her office had an online form specifically for requesting a callback. Have you checked your local office's website? Some have different options than others.

I feel your pain! I'm in a similar situation - work 8-5 and my boss isn't thrilled about long personal calls either. What finally worked for me was using the SSA's "appointment request" feature on their website late at night (around 11pm when the site is less busy). You have to create a my Social Security account first, but then you can submit a request for a callback to schedule an appointment. It took about 5 business days, but they called me back and we scheduled everything over the phone during my lunch break. Way better than sitting on hold for hours! Also, since you mentioned retirement at 62 with spousal benefits involved, definitely ask about "restricted application" strategies when you do get through - there might be some timing advantages you can take advantage of.