btw make sure u look at spousal benefits too...might be worth having lower earner take early and higher earner wait. thats what my parents did

As someone who works in financial planning, I can confirm what others have said - you're in great shape! With 25+ years of high earnings, those zero years won't significantly impact your benefits. The Social Security formula is progressive, meaning it replaces a higher percentage of lower earnings, so your high-earning years already put you near the maximum benefit range. One thing I'd suggest is running the numbers on delaying to age 70 vs claiming at 67. With your strong earnings history, that guaranteed 8% annual increase could be substantial over your lifetime, especially since you have rental income to bridge the gap. Also, don't forget that your Social Security benefits will be partially taxable given your other income sources.

I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Unfortunately, the 10-year marriage requirement is strictly enforced by SSA with very few exceptions. However, I'd recommend double-checking a few things when you call SSA: 1) Make sure they have the correct marriage and divorce dates on file - sometimes there are discrepancies that could work in your favor, 2) Ask specifically about any credits you might have earned during your marriage that could boost your own future benefits, and 3) Inquire about whether you might qualify for any disability benefits if you have health issues. Also, don't forget that you may still be eligible for benefits on your own work record, and at 53 you have time to increase those future benefits through continued employment. Good luck with your call to SSA!

I'm really sorry for your loss and the difficult situation you're facing. While the 10-year rule is unfortunately very strict, I wanted to mention a couple of things that might be worth exploring when you call SSA. First, make absolutely certain they have your correct marriage and divorce dates - even a few days difference could matter if there's any discrepancy in their records. Second, since your ex-husband never remarried, you might want to ask about any potential one-time death benefit (though this is typically only $255 and goes to surviving spouses or children). Most importantly, use this as motivation to maximize your own Social Security earnings record over the next 14 years before your full retirement age. Every year of higher earnings can replace lower-earning years in your benefit calculation. I know it's not the answer you were hoping for, but focusing on what you can control moving forward will serve you well.

Just wanted to add that sometimes the SSA makes mistakes in these calculations. My aunt applied for spousal benefits last year and they initially calculated it wrong. She had to appeal and it took 4 months to fix. Make sure you understand how they calculate your amount and check their math!

Just wanted to share my recent experience - I was in almost the identical situation as you! My husband filed at 70 last month and I've been collecting since 62. I successfully applied for spousal benefits online using the method Aisha described, but I had to be really persistent. The key was logging into my Social Security account first, then going to "Apply for Benefits" and making sure to select "spouse's benefits" when prompted. The whole process took about 20 minutes once I figured out the right path. They approved my application within 2 weeks and I'm getting an extra $180/month starting this month - not huge but definitely helpful! The agent I spoke with during the follow-up call confirmed that it would have been automatic if I hadn't already been collecting my own benefits, but since I was, the separate application was required. One tip: make sure you have your husband's Social Security number handy and the exact date his benefits started. Good luck!

Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I feel much more confident about my plan now. I'm going to try to reach SSA to start my retirement benefit now, and then make sure to contact them 3 months before my FRA to initiate the switch to survivor benefits. I'll also be sure to document everything carefully along the way. I appreciate all your suggestions and experiences - it's made this whole process much less intimidating!

One more tip that might help - when you call SSA, try calling right when they open (usually 8 AM local time) or later in the afternoon around 4-5 PM. Those tend to be less busy times. Also, if you get disconnected, don't give up! The system is frustrating but your strategy is solid and will save you money in the long run. I've seen too many people give up on legitimate benefit increases because the process was difficult. You've got this!

Thank you all for the incredible resources! I've ordered the Mike Piper book and am going through the POMS documentation (which is indeed as unfriendly as warned). The Annual Statistical Supplement is also proving very helpful. I'm realizing this is more complex than I initially thought, especially with the family maximum calculations and the special considerations for my child. I'm particularly concerned about that SGA limit mentioned for DAC benefits - definitely need to model that scenario carefully. For those who might find this thread later, I'll try to share my spreadsheet once I've got it working properly with all these variables. Thanks again for all the help!

As someone who's been down this rabbit hole before, I'd also recommend checking out the Social Security Administration's "Red Book" - specifically the 2025 version. It's their comprehensive guide to work incentives and contains detailed information about how earnings affect benefits, especially important for your special needs child scenario. One thing I learned the hard way: when building your spreadsheet, make sure to account for the fact that Social Security uses a very specific method for indexing earnings to current dollars using the Average Wage Index (AWI). The historical AWI factors are published annually and you'll need them for accurate AIME calculations. Also, if you're planning to include spousal benefit scenarios, don't forget about the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) if either applies to your situation - these can significantly impact calculations but are often overlooked. The complexity is real, but once you get all the pieces together in a spreadsheet, it becomes incredibly powerful for scenario planning. Looking forward to seeing what you create!