Don't forget about the family maximum limit! That can really mess up your expectations if multiple people are collecting on one record. Ask the rep specifically if the family maximum applies in your case.

Your strategy sounds solid! As someone who recently went through a similar decision process, I'd suggest writing down your key questions beforehand so you don't forget anything during the call. Also, don't be surprised if you get pushback from the SSA rep - some aren't familiar with this strategy. One thing that helped me was asking for a written estimate of both scenarios (your plan vs. taking survivor benefits first) so I could compare the lifetime totals. The SSA can provide benefit estimates for different claiming strategies. Also, since you mentioned being anxious about the decision - remember that if something changes in your situation later, you generally have 12 months to withdraw your application and try a different approach (though you'd have to pay back any benefits received). It's not as permanent as it feels! Good luck with your appointment next week!

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I'm going to try using the WEP calculator on the SSA website, but I think we'll also need to talk directly with an agent to get our specific situation figured out. It's frustrating that something as important as retirement planning has to be this complicated. I'll update once we get our actual calculation from SSA.

As someone who recently navigated this exact situation, I can confirm your understanding is correct but there are a few additional nuances to consider. My husband was also affected by WEP with a similar work history (20 years government, 25 years private sector). One thing that caught us off guard was that the WEP reduction can actually change over time based on your pension amount. If your husband's pension increases due to COLAs on the pension side, it could affect the WEP calculation since the reduction is capped at 50% of the pension amount. Also, make sure you understand how this impacts your survivor benefits planning. If something happens to your husband, your survivor benefit would be based on what he was actually receiving (the WEP-reduced amount), not what his benefit would have been without WEP. I'd strongly recommend getting a formal benefit estimate from SSA before making any final decisions about timing. The difference between filing at 67 vs 70 might not be as significant as you originally calculated once WEP is factored in.

SEE!!! I TOLD YOU!!! So happy for you!! 🎉🎉🎉

Congratulations on getting this sorted out! This is a perfect example of why it's so important to advocate for yourself when dealing with government agencies. The first representative clearly didn't understand the rules around divorced spouse benefits and federal pensions. For anyone else reading this thread who might face similar issues: always ask for a supervisor or technical expert if the information you're getting doesn't align with what you've researched or sounds inconsistent. SSA representatives are human and can make mistakes, especially with complex scenarios involving federal employment and divorced spouse benefits. Your persistence really paid off here, and I'm sure this thread will help other people in similar situations who might get incorrect information initially.

I started my benefits last year at 62 and I made sure to stay juuuust under the earnings limit. My sister went over by accident and they sent her this scary letter and stopped her benefits for like 3 months! Just keep really good track of what your earning. My boss was cool about it and would let me know when I was getting close to the limit so I could take time off if needed.

Just wanted to add one more important detail that I learned the hard way - make sure you report ALL income sources to SSA when you apply, not just your main job. I forgot to mention some occasional weekend work I did helping neighbors with yard cleanups, and it came back to bite me during their annual review. Even cash payments count toward the earnings limit! Also, if you're getting any 1099 income (like if the garden center classifies you as a contractor instead of an employee), that counts too. The SSA gets copies of all your tax documents anyway, so it's better to be upfront about everything from the start.

One thing I didn't see mentioned - make sure you understand how working affects your survivor benefits if you're planning to continue working. Since you're under full retirement age, there's an earnings limit ($22,320 for 2025), and they deduct $1 for every $2 you earn above that limit. This doesn't apply after you reach your full retirement age. Also, the survivor benefit amount is based on several factors: your age when you claim, whether your husband had already started his benefits, and if he hadn't, whether you claim before or after his full retirement age. It can get confusing, so don't hesitate to ask the interviewer to explain exactly how your benefit amount was calculated.

I'm so sorry for your loss, and I completely understand the anxiety around this process. I went through my survivor benefits interview about 18 months ago, and while it was nerve-wracking beforehand, the actual interview was much more straightforward than I expected. A few additional tips that helped me: - Have a glass of water nearby during the call. When you're nervous, your mouth can get dry and it helps to stay hydrated. - If you don't understand something they're explaining, it's perfectly okay to say "Could you repeat that more slowly?" or "I want to make sure I understand - are you saying...?" They're used to people needing clarification. - The representatives are generally patient and understanding. Remember, they deal with grieving spouses regularly and know this is a difficult time. Regarding your earnings, since you're under the $22,320 limit, you should be fine. Just be honest about your work situation - they appreciate transparency. You've gotten excellent advice here about the "restrict to widow's benefits only" language. The fact that you're prepared with the right terminology puts you way ahead of where I was! You're going to do better than you think. Please do update us after your interview - it might help the next person going through this.