Just to clarify one more point in your original question: The concept of "switching" from one's own benefit to a spousal benefit at age 70 was eliminated by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 for anyone born after January 1, 1954. That strategy (called "file and suspend" or "restricted application") is no longer available for most people. However, survivor benefits operate under different rules. Your neighbor can switch between her own retirement benefit and survivor benefits at any age, choosing the higher of the two. This flexibility is unique to survivor situations and remains available despite the 2015 law changes.

I'm so sorry for your neighbor's loss. This is such a difficult time to have to navigate these complex rules. From what everyone has shared, it sounds like the key points for her are: 1) She can't get what her husband would have received at 70 - survivor benefits are based on what he was actually receiving when he died, 2) She should apply for survivor benefits right away since his $2,100 is higher than her $1,650, 3) She needs to return any Social Security payment for the month he died, and 4) She should gather all her documents (death certificate, marriage license, etc.) before going to SSA. The retroactive payment option up to 6 months makes applying quickly even more important. I hope she can get through to someone at SSA without too much hassle during this already stressful time.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I finally got through to Social Security (used that Claimyr service someone mentioned - worked great). The agent confirmed what you all said - we each get our own benefits regardless of the divorce. She also showed me the difference in my benefit amounts: at 62 I'd get about $1,875 monthly, but if I wait until my FRA at 67, it jumps to around $2,650! That's a huge difference. Since my soon-to-be-ex makes less than me, she might be better off taking the spousal benefit eventually. I'm going to work a couple more years and then decide when to file. Really appreciate all the advice here - saved me a lot of confusion!

That's fantastic that you got through to SSA and got concrete numbers! The difference between $1,875 and $2,650 per month really puts it in perspective - that's almost $800 more monthly or about $9,300 extra per year just for waiting until FRA. And you're absolutely right about your ex potentially benefiting from spousal benefits if your earnings history is significantly higher. One thing to keep in mind as you plan those couple extra working years - your highest 35 years of earnings are used to calculate your benefit, so if you're still earning well, those additional years could potentially increase your benefit amount even further. It sounds like you're making a really informed decision now with all the facts!

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I think I understand now - the $1,950 monthly limit only applies to what I earn from working, not my SS benefit amount. My benefit check is completely separate from that limit. So I can receive my $1,400 SS benefit AND earn up to $1,950 from my part-time job without any reduction. That's a big relief and makes planning my retirement budget much easier. I'm definitely going to be careful not to exceed that monthly limit during my first year of retirement. After reading your experiences, I'll be tracking my earnings closely to avoid any surprises!

You've got it exactly right! It's great to see you understand the distinction now. Just wanted to add a quick tip from my experience - I keep a simple spreadsheet tracking my monthly earnings to make sure I stay under that $1,950 limit. It's saved me from accidentally going over several times when I was tempted to pick up extra hours. Also, don't forget that if you do accidentally go a bit over one month, those "lost" benefits aren't gone forever. Once you reach your Full Retirement Age, SSA will recalculate and give you credit for any benefits that were withheld due to the earnings test. So while you want to avoid going over the limit, it's not a complete disaster if it happens occasionally. Good luck with your part-time work in retirement!

this is so confusing!!!! how is anyone supposed to keep track of all these rules and limits and trial periods???? and they wonder why people just give up trying to work at all!

Thank you everyone for all this valuable information! I've learned so much. I'm going to call SSA tomorrow to find out exactly where I stand with my Trial Work Period and get clarity on my specific situation. I'm also going to look into both the Ticket to Work program and whether any of my expenses qualify as Impairment-Related Work Expenses. Really appreciate all the help!

One more important point about the DAC benefits for your husband's son: When he converts from SSI to DAC, he'll receive a benefit equal to 50% of your husband's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) while your husband is alive. If your husband passes away, the son's benefit would increase to 75% of your husband's PIA. This conversion won't affect your spousal top-up at all, as the family maximum typically doesn't apply in these situations. Both you and the son can receive your full entitled benefits without reducing each other's amounts.

As someone who went through a similar situation, I wanted to add that when you call SSA about the spousal top-up, ask them to calculate the exact amount you're entitled to and when your eligibility started. They should be able to tell you over the phone before you even go in for the appointment. Also, regarding the DAC benefits for your stepson - make sure the application gets filed soon because there can be processing delays, and you don't want him to miss out on any potential benefits while waiting. The transition from SSI to DAC is usually worth it financially, but as others mentioned, definitely check on the Medicaid situation first since that can be tricky to navigate. One last tip: if you end up going to the SSA office, try to schedule an appointment rather than walking in. The wait times for walk-ins can be brutal, especially if you need to discuss multiple benefit types like you do.