my sister waited til she was 66 and 8 months (her FRA) and her application was approved in like 2 weeks!! seems like they prioritize people at full retirement age, so early filers like us wait longer. not fair but thats how they do it i guess

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed online in December for benefits starting in April when I turn 64, and the waiting is nerve-wracking. Like you, I haven't heard anything yet and keep obsessively checking my account. One thing that's helped my anxiety is setting up text alerts through my mySocialSecurity account - that way I'll get notified immediately if there are any updates or messages. Also, I've been keeping copies of all my important documents (birth certificate, tax returns, bank info) in one folder so I'm ready to respond quickly when they do contact me. The silence really is the worst part! But reading these responses makes me feel better that this seems to be normal. We both applied with plenty of time before our start dates, so hopefully we'll both be fine.

Thank you everyone for the helpful information! Just to make sure I understand correctly: 1. My ex's age doesn't matter for my benefit amount 2. MY age when I file is what matters - 62 for reduced or my FRA for full 50% 3. SSA will give me whichever is higher - my own benefit or the divorced spouse benefit 4. I need to watch out for the earnings limit if I'm working I think I'll wait until my FRA to avoid the reduction, unless my financial situation changes. I appreciate all the advice!

One thing I'd add to all this great advice - you might want to request your Social Security Statement online at ssa.gov to see your estimated benefits. It will show you what your own retirement benefit would be at different ages, which helps you compare it to the potential divorced spouse benefit (50% of your ex's PIA). Also, since you mentioned your ex earned substantially more, there's a good chance the divorced spouse benefit will be higher than your own, but it's worth confirming the numbers. The online statement is updated annually and gives you a clearer picture for planning purposes.

One thing nobody's mentioned yet: if you do qualify for additional benefits based on your ex-wife's record, you might be eligible for some retroactive benefits too. Since you're past your FRA, you could potentially get up to 6 months of back payments for the difference amount if it turns out you've been eligible for a while. Definitely bring this up when you talk to SSA. Every little bit helps with today's prices!

You can definitely handle this by phone, especially with the proper documentation ready. When you call, be prepared with: 1. Your Social Security number 2. Your ex-wife's Social Security number (if you have it) 3. Your marriage certificate 4. Your divorce decree showing the marriage lasted over 10 years 5. Birth certificates for both of you If you don't have all of these, don't worry. SSA can often look up some of this information in their system. The most important document is your divorce decree proving the 10+ year marriage. If you prefer, you can also schedule an appointment at your local office using the SSA website. Some people find it easier to discuss complex benefit situations in person.

My condolences on your father's passing. I went through this exact situation last year. Just to add some clarity - the funeral home or mortuary can actually help notify Social Security of the death when they file the death certificate, but it's still good to call yourself to make sure it was processed. When I called SSA after my dad passed, they were able to tell me immediately if I was eligible for the death benefit during that same call. Even though the amount is small, every bit helps with funeral expenses. The key documents you'll need are: death certificate, your father's SSN, your own SSN and ID. One thing I learned - if your dad had any automatic payments set up from his bank account for bills, you'll want to contact those companies too since his SSN will show as deceased in their systems eventually. Just thought I'd mention it since you're handling the executor duties.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Going through all this paperwork while grieving is incredibly difficult. Just wanted to add that when you do call SSA, it might help to have a list of questions ready since the call can take a while to get through. Beyond the death benefit, they can also help you understand if there are any survivor benefits you might be eligible for - sometimes there are benefits available that people don't know about. Also, if your father was a veteran, don't forget to check with the VA about burial benefits too. The funeral home should have mentioned this, but it's easy to overlook when you're dealing with so much at once. Take care of yourself during this process.

The whole system is DELIBERATELY CONFUSING!!! They never tell you what documents you actually need until it's too late. Then they blame YOU for not providing something they never asked for in the first place! I've been fighting with them for 8 months about my WEP reduction. Every person tells you something different. It's all designed to make you give up and take less money than you deserve.

I'm in a very similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was also affected by WEP due to my teacher's pension and never pursued spousal benefits because I assumed they'd be reduced to nothing. Now with the repeal coming, I'm realizing I might have left money on the table. One thing I'm curious about - does anyone know if there's a statute of limitations on how far back they'll pay retroactive benefits once you provide the proper documentation? I've been collecting for 18 months already and I'm wondering if I'll only get the difference going forward, or if they'll recalculate back to my original start date. The SSA website mentions something about a 6-month retroactive limit for some benefit types, but I can't tell if that applies to this situation.