One more thing to check - make sure your mother is actually receiving her own benefit and not an early widow's benefit. Since she's 83 and your father is 79 and still alive, that's probably not the case, but I've seen situations where the SSA computer system had incorrect death information and automatically converted a spouse to survivor benefits erroneously. Also, if your father had any other marriages that lasted at least 10 years, former spouses might also be drawing benefits on his record (though this wouldn't affect your mother's amount). The most likely explanation remains that your mother claimed her own benefit early, locking in a permanent reduction. The spousal benefit would then be reduced as well. For what it's worth, these benefit amounts do seem plausible given the circumstances you described (your father being the primary earner, your mother working part-time).

I went through something very similar with my grandmother a few years ago. She was getting around $900 while my grandfather got $2,400, and we couldn't understand why the difference was so large. After calling SSA (took forever to get through!), we discovered she had filed at 62 instead of waiting until her full retirement age of 66. This reduced her own benefit by about 25%, and since spousal benefits are also reduced when you file early, she was stuck with the lower amount permanently. The agent also explained that even though spousal benefits can be up to 50% of the higher earner's benefit, that's only if you wait until full retirement age AND if 50% is actually higher than your own reduced benefit. In my grandmother's case, her reduced spousal benefit was only slightly higher than her own reduced benefit, so the total increase was minimal. One thing that helped us was requesting a detailed benefit statement that showed exactly how they calculated her amounts. It made everything much clearer. Definitely worth calling to verify everything is correct - we found out my grandmother was actually eligible for a small additional amount she hadn't been receiving.

This whole system is DELIBERATELY CONFUSING!! I spent HOURS on the phone with SS last year to figure out my divorced spouse benefits. Then after all that they sent me a letter saying I wasn't eligible yet because my ex hadn't filed! Complete waste of time and the rules make no sense whatsoever.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through this process recently. I was in a very similar situation - divorced after 20+ years, turning 62, and trying to figure out the best strategy. After reading all the comments here, I want to emphasize something that really helped me: get a proper benefit estimate BEFORE making any decisions. I used the service Yara mentioned (Claimyr) to actually get through to SSA, and having those real numbers made all the difference in my planning. Also, don't forget to factor in cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) when you're calculating whether to wait until 70. Your benefit grows not just from delayed retirement credits (8% per year from FRA to 70) but also gets annual COLA increases. For someone with a potentially high benefit at 70, those extra years of growth can really add up. One last tip: if you do decide to wait, make sure you sign up for Medicare at 65 even if you're not taking Social Security yet. That's a separate decision and you don't want to miss your enrollment window!

have u checked if ur eligible for divorced spouse benefits from any ex husbands? if u were married 10+ yrs and didn't remarry before 60 u might be able to claim on their record instead. just another option to look into!

I'm a financial planner who specializes in Social Security optimization, and I want to emphasize what others have correctly stated: the restricted application strategy (claiming spousal benefits only while delaying your own) was indeed eliminated for anyone born after January 1, 1954. However, given your situation as a self-employed individual still earning income, here's what I'd recommend considering: 1. **Run the numbers on your projected benefit at 70 vs. what you'd get now** - Self-employed folks often have variable income histories, so your benefit calculation might be more complex than typical W-2 employees. 2. **Factor in the earnings test** - As mentioned, your self-employment income would likely reduce any early benefits significantly. 3. **Consider your health and family longevity** - If you're in good health with family members who lived into their 80s+, waiting until 70 often provides the best lifetime value. 4. **Look into estimated Social Security statements** - You can create an account at ssa.gov to see your projected benefits at different claiming ages. The 2015 law changes were frustrating for many, but in your case with continued earnings, waiting might actually be the optimal strategy anyway. The key is doing the math based on your specific situation rather than general rules of thumb.

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! We've decided to talk to a financial advisor who specializes in retirement planning, specifically someone who understands Social Security rules. Since we're both over FRA, it sounds like I can keep my survivors benefits regardless, but we want to make sure we're optimizing both our benefits and understanding the tax implications. I'll try using that Claimyr service to get through to SSA directly too.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the Medicare implications of marriage. When you marry, your combined income could potentially push you into higher Medicare Part B and Part D premiums due to IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount). With your boyfriend making $85k and your survivors benefits, your modified adjusted gross income as a married couple might trigger these surcharges. The IRMAA thresholds for married filing jointly are different (and lower per person) than for single filers. This is another cost to factor into your decision alongside the tax implications others have mentioned. Definitely something to discuss with both your financial advisor and tax professional!

Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I'm going to: 1) Check the official 2025 earnings limit when it's announced 2) Make sure I completely stop working before December when I claim 3) Specifically mention to SSA when I apply that I've retired so they apply the monthly test 4) Keep documentation of when I stopped working It's much clearer now how this works. I was worried I'd have to micromanage my earnings to exactly hit the annual limit, but using the monthly rule makes more sense for my situation.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation and had been stressing about the earnings test. One thing I learned from my financial advisor that might help others: if you're planning to retire mid-year like this, it's also worth considering the tax implications. Since you'll likely be in a lower tax bracket in 2025 after you stop working, it might be a good year to do things like Roth conversions or realize capital gains at lower rates. The timing of when you stop working can affect more than just your Social Security benefits - it can impact your overall tax strategy for the year. Just something else to factor into your planning!