Tell her to get a benefit verification letter from her online my Social Security account first. She'll need that when applying for the spousal portion. Also, if she does qualify for a spousal top-up, they might owe her back pay from when her husband filed, but only if she applies within 6 months of his filing date.

Just wanted to add one more thing that might help your sister-in-law - when she does get through to SSA, she should ask them to run what's called a "dual entitlement" calculation. This will show her exactly what she's eligible for under both her own SSDI record and as a spouse on her husband's record. Also, if the first agent she speaks with seems unsure about the rules for disabled spouses, don't be afraid to politely ask to speak with someone else or call back. The rules around SSDI + spousal benefits are more complex and not all front-line agents are familiar with them. I've found that being specific about what you're asking for ("dual entitlement calculation for a disabled spouse") helps get you connected to someone who knows the process. Good luck to her - hope she's able to get some additional benefits!

Update: I finally got through to SSA this morning! I took the advice about calling right when they open (7 AM in my time zone) and only waited about 20 minutes. The representative confirmed I'm not too late for January benefits and helped me submit my application. She did transfer me to a specialist for my WEP/GPO questions, and I learned my survivor benefit will be reduced by about $570 due to my husband's government pension. Not great news, but at least I know what to expect now. Thank you all for your help and suggestions! What a relief to have this submitted finally.

Congratulations on getting through, Laura! That's such a relief after all the frustration you've been dealing with. The early morning call strategy really does work - I've had success with that approach too. Just wanted to add for anyone else reading this thread: if you're dealing with WEP/GPO calculations, it's worth double-checking the math when you get your award letter. The government pension offset can be complex, especially when there are multiple pension sources or if the pension amount changes over time. Also, keep copies of everything related to your husband's pension records - SSA sometimes requests additional documentation months later to verify the offset calculations. Having it ready can save you from delays in your payments. Great job persisting through this process! January will be here before you know it.

Welcome to the community! I'm also relatively new here but have been learning so much from everyone's experiences. Your situation sounds really well thought out - it's great that you're planning ahead like this. One thing I wanted to mention that I don't think has been covered yet is the timing of when benefits get calculated. Since your ex-husband passed away at 63 before collecting, his survivor benefit will be based on what his benefit would have been at his Full Retirement Age, not reduced for early claiming. This could actually work in your favor compared to if he had started collecting early. Also, I've seen several people mention keeping good records, and I can't stress this enough. Even though it's been years since your divorce, try to track down not just your marriage certificate, but also your divorce decree. SSA will want to see both documents to verify the length of your marriage and that you meet all the requirements. The fact that you have potentially two different survivor benefit options really does give you a lot of financial security planning opportunities that many people don't have. Best of luck with everything!

As someone who's dealt with Social Security benefits for years, I wanted to emphasize something that's been touched on but bears repeating - documentation is absolutely crucial for divorced spouse survivor benefits. SSA tends to scrutinize these claims more heavily than regular survivor benefits. Beyond the marriage certificate and divorce decree that others mentioned, also gather any documentation showing your ex-husband's full name, Social Security number, and date of death if you have access to it. If you don't have his SSN, his full name and date of birth should be sufficient for SSA to locate his record. One more strategic point: since you're 58 and planning ahead, consider that if you do become widowed from your current marriage before age 60, you might want to consult with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security claiming strategies. The timing of when you claim survivor benefits versus your own retirement benefit can have significant long-term financial implications, and the "optimal" strategy depends on your specific financial situation and the benefit amounts involved. You're really smart to be thinking through all these scenarios now while you have time to prepare!

I'm sorry for your loss. This is such a difficult time to be dealing with these complicated benefit calculations. From what I'm reading in the comments, it sounds like you'll face a double reduction - one because your ex claimed early and another because you're claiming before your FRA. That seems really harsh given the circumstances. One thing I'd suggest is requesting a written estimate from SSA showing exactly how they calculated your survivor benefit amount. Sometimes having it in writing helps you understand all the factors they're considering, and it gives you something to reference if you get conflicting information from different representatives. Also, even though this situation is frustrating, it sounds like the strategy of taking survivor benefits now and switching to your own retirement benefit at 70 could still work out well for you financially in the long run. The waiting and uncertainty is terrible, but you're asking all the right questions to make the best decision possible.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Dealing with Social Security paperwork during grief is incredibly difficult. Based on what others have shared, it sounds like you're getting solid advice about the dual reductions and the strategy of taking survivor benefits now then switching to your own at 70. One thing I'd add - when you do get through to SSA, ask them to walk you through a "what if" scenario comparing your total lifetime benefits under different claiming strategies. They can run projections showing what you'd receive if you claim survivor benefits at 63 vs waiting until FRA, and how that compares to taking your own benefits at different ages. Also, if you're having trouble getting through by phone, try calling right at 8am when they open - I've had better luck getting through in the first few minutes. And definitely bring a notepad when you finally speak with someone. These calculations are complex and you'll want to write down exactly what they tell you so you can reference it later. You're doing the right thing by researching this thoroughly before making your decision. Take your time - you don't have to rush into anything right now.

wait so if you apply for social security do you HAVE to take medicare too?? I'm turning 65 later this year but still have good insurance through my wifes job. dont want to pay for something i dont need yet

As someone new to navigating Social Security, this whole thread has been incredibly educational! I'm still a few years away from retirement but seeing real experiences like yours helps me understand what to expect. The fact that SSA representatives actually call to discuss complex benefit options is reassuring - I always assumed everything would be done through impersonal letters or online portals. One question for the community: For those who've gone through this process, how far in advance should someone apply? The original poster mentioned applying 6 weeks ago - is that typical timing, or should people apply earlier to avoid any delays in receiving their first payments?