forgot to mention... she should apply like 3-4 months before she wants benefits to start! SSA takes FOREVER to process these claims especially for divorced spouses where they gotta verify the marriage history

This is really helpful information for everyone dealing with divorce and Social Security! One thing I'd add is that your ex-wife might want to consider the timing of when she claims. If she files for divorced spouse benefits before her Full Retirement Age (which is probably 67 for someone who's 56 now), her benefit will be permanently reduced. But if she waits until FRA, she gets the full 50% of your Primary Insurance Amount (assuming that's higher than her own benefit). The reduction can be pretty significant - like if she files at 62, she'd only get about 32.5% of your PIA instead of the full 50%. So it's worth running the numbers to see if waiting makes financial sense for her situation.

Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I'm going to: 1) Check the official 2025 earnings limit when it's announced 2) Make sure I completely stop working before December when I claim 3) Specifically mention to SSA when I apply that I've retired so they apply the monthly test 4) Keep documentation of when I stopped working It's much clearer now how this works. I was worried I'd have to micromanage my earnings to exactly hit the annual limit, but using the monthly rule makes more sense for my situation.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation and had been stressing about the earnings test. One thing I learned from my financial advisor that might help others: if you're planning to retire mid-year like this, it's also worth considering the tax implications. Since you'll likely be in a lower tax bracket in 2025 after you stop working, it might be a good year to do things like Roth conversions or realize capital gains at lower rates. The timing of when you stop working can affect more than just your Social Security benefits - it can impact your overall tax strategy for the year. Just something else to factor into your planning!

Based on everything in this thread, here's my recommendation: 1. Take your unemployment benefits immediately after separation 2. Don't file for SS until at least your FRA (66+4mo) if you can afford to wait 3. Ensure your severance is properly structured as a lump sum for past service 4. Consider waiting until 70 for SS if financially feasible - that's a 76% higher monthly payment than filing at 64 5. Speak with a tax professional about managing the tax implications Having an exact calculation of your benefit amounts at different ages is crucial for this decision. Get your Social Security statement online at my.ssa.gov or contact SSA directly.

One more thing to consider - if you're eligible for maximum unemployment benefits in Illinois, that's currently $484/week (about $25k annually). Combined with your $38k severance, you'd have roughly $63k to work with for the year. Since you mentioned your wife is already collecting SS, make sure you understand whether she's receiving benefits based on her own work record or spousal benefits. If she's getting spousal benefits based on your (not-yet-filed) record, there could be some complications. Also, don't overlook COBRA for health insurance during this transition period. You'll need coverage until Medicare kicks in at 65, and losing employer coverage is a qualifying event. The premiums might be steep, but it's often better than marketplace plans for comprehensive coverage. Good luck with your decision - sounds like you're being very thoughtful about planning this transition!

I went through something similar with my late husband's benefits. One thing I learned that might help you - when you have your SSA phone appointment, ask them to send you a written summary of what you discussed via mail or secure message in your mySSA account. This creates a paper trail if there are any disputes later. Also, since your husband's PIA is significantly higher than yours ($3,600 vs $2,100), you'll likely be eligible for a decent spousal excess benefit now. But more importantly, if he passes away, your survivor benefit at FRA would be based on his full $3,600 amount - that's a substantial increase from your current reduced benefit. The peace of mind knowing you can delay survivor benefits until 67 is worth protecting. Don't let anyone pressure you into making immediate decisions if that unfortunate situation arises.

I'm in a somewhat similar situation and have been researching this extensively. What I've learned from speaking with multiple SSA representatives and reading the actual regulations is that you have complete flexibility with survivor benefits regardless of your current benefit status. The key point that hasn't been mentioned yet is that when your husband passes (hopefully many years from now), you'll actually want to do a careful calculation. At that time, you'll need to compare: 1. Your current reduced retirement benefit plus any spousal excess 2. The survivor benefit amount (reduced if taken before FRA, full if taken at FRA) Sometimes it's actually better to keep your own benefit even past FRA if the survivor benefit isn't significantly higher. Since your husband's PIA is $3,600 and yours is $2,100, the survivor benefit will likely be much better, but it's still worth running the numbers. Also, one practical tip - if you do end up in this situation, you can actually file a "protective filing" for survivor benefits to preserve your right to back benefits while you decide on timing. This gives you some breathing room to make the best financial decision without losing potential money.

Final update: You all have been so helpful through this stressful situation! I wanted to share what's happened after taking your advice. I filed all the recommended reports and placed credit freezes. The credit card companies closed the fraudulent accounts after I sent death certificates. The most progress came after using that Claimyr service someone suggested to reach SSA directly. I actually got through to a knowledgeable agent who confirmed my husband's death was properly recorded but explained the earnings issue slipped through during employer reporting. They're removing the false earnings and flagging his SSN in their system for enhanced monitoring. They also connected me with their OIG (Office of Inspector General) to ensure a thorough investigation. It's been exhausting but I feel like I've done everything possible to shut this down. Thank you all again for your guidance through this ordeal!

Thank you for sharing your experience and updates throughout this ordeal - it's incredibly helpful for others who might face similar situations. Your systematic approach to handling this identity theft was exactly right. I'm glad the Claimyr service helped you get through to a knowledgeable SSA agent who could actually resolve the earnings issue and set up enhanced monitoring. One additional tip for anyone reading this thread: if you're dealing with deceased family member identity theft, consider requesting annual Social Security statements for the deceased person (if you're the legal representative). This can help you catch fraudulent activity early before it becomes as extensive as what happened here with the credit cards. It's unfortunate that protecting deceased loved ones' identities requires so much effort, but your detailed documentation of the process will definitely help others navigate this same nightmare.