To summarize for anyone else with similar questions: 1. For DIVORCED spouses: 10+ years of marriage is required to claim on ex's record 2. For CURRENT spouses: No minimum marriage length to claim spousal benefits 3. For SURVIVING spouses (if ex passed away): Only 9 months of marriage generally required The 7-year marriage in this case doesn't meet the requirement for divorced spouse benefits. Your ex-wife will need to qualify for Social Security based on her own work record or through another marriage.

As someone who went through a similar situation, I can confirm what others have said - the 10-year rule is absolutely firm for divorced spouse benefits. I was married 8.5 years and my ex cannot claim anything on my record. However, I'd suggest your ex-wife check her own work history with SSA to see what she might be eligible for on her own. Even if she didn't work much during your marriage, she may have earned enough credits before or after to qualify for her own benefits. She can create a my Social Security account online to check her earnings record and get benefit estimates. It's worth doing since that's likely her only path to Social Security retirement benefits.

if ur working anyway have u thought bout just waiting til FRA to collect? no earnings limit then and bigger checks.

Just wanted to add another perspective here - I went through something similar last year when I started benefits at 62. The key thing to remember is that SSA uses your GROSS monthly earnings, not net. So if your bonus includes any overtime, commission, or other earnings, make sure you're calculating based on the full amount. Also, if you do decide to ask your employer to delay the bonus to January, get it in writing so there's no confusion about when it was actually earned vs. when it was paid. SSA looks at when compensation is earned, not when you receive it. The monthly test for your first year really is strict - I learned that the hard way when I had an unexpected freelance payment in my second month of benefits.

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I think I understand my options better now. Since my own benefit at my FRA would be higher than the spousal benefit, I need to decide whether to take my reduced benefit now or wait until 67 for the full amount. I'm leaning toward waiting since the permanent reduction seems substantial, but I'll need to look at our overall financial situation. I'm definitely going to try to speak with someone at SSA directly before making my final decision.

I had to make this exact decision last year. The way I looked at it was: if I claim at 63, I'd get about 30% less forever. The break-even point where waiting until FRA pays off is usually around age 78-82 depending on your specific numbers. If you think you'll live past that age (and most women do!), waiting until at least FRA is usually better financially in the long run. I ended up claiming at 64 because I had some unexpected expenses, but I wish I could have waited longer. Definitely try to speak with SSA directly before deciding!

Did anyone mention Medigap vs Medicare Advantage? That's another big decision you need to make when signing up for Medicare. I went with Advantage because it was cheaper upfront but now I'm regretting it because of all the authorization requirements and network limitations.

As someone who went through this exact situation 2 years ago, I can confirm you absolutely can and should separate these decisions! I enrolled in Medicare at 65 when I lost my employer coverage, but waited until 67 (my FRA) to start Social Security benefits. A few practical tips from my experience: - Apply for Medicare about 60-90 days before you need coverage (so start NOW for May 1st) - When you apply online at ssa.gov, there's a clear option to select "Medicare benefits only" - You'll need proof of your job loss/coverage ending date for the Special Enrollment Period - I chose traditional Medicare + Medigap Plan G + standalone Part D, which has worked wonderfully - no network restrictions and predictable costs The whole process took about 3 weeks from application to getting my Medicare card. Don't stress about the timing - you're making a smart financial move by maximizing your SS benefits while ensuring you have health coverage!

When my dad passed away last year, my mom got her letter saying the payment would be deposited on the 15th, but it actually showed up on the 23rd. She called SSA and they just said "it's still processing" each time. So I'd say give it another week before getting too worried. But definitely call if it doesn't show up by then!

I'm sorry for your loss, Angel. Banking delays are unfortunately common with government payments, especially around weekends or holidays. Since you mentioned the 19th was the expected date and it's now the 22nd, I'd give it until the end of this week before calling SSA. One thing that might help is to check your bank's mobile app or online banking to see if there are any pending deposits - sometimes they show up there before they're actually available in your account. Also, ACH transfers (which is how SSA typically sends payments) can take 1-3 additional business days beyond the stated date. The good news is that delays with the death benefit don't necessarily indicate problems with your survivor benefits application. Those are processed through different systems. Since you applied in person, you should have received a receipt or reference number - keep that handy in case you need to call about either payment.