Just wanted to add something important that I learned the hard way - make sure your wife understands that ANY work activity counts toward the earnings limit, including self-employment, freelance work, or even selling items online if it becomes regular income. I had a friend who got into trouble because she was doing some craft sales on the side and didn't realize those earnings needed to be reported too. Also, if she does start working, keep copies of all pay stubs and work schedules. SSA can ask for documentation going back years if there's ever a question about her earnings history. The record-keeping is tedious but absolutely essential for protecting her benefits.

As someone who went through this transition myself a few years ago, I want to emphasize how important it is to get everything in writing from SSA. When I was approaching my FRA, I received conflicting information from different representatives - one told me the monthly limit was lower than it actually was, and another said the conversion to retirement benefits might not be automatic. I ended up requesting written confirmation of my earnings limits and the conversion process through my online SSA account. This saved me a lot of stress and confusion later. Also, if your wife does decide to work, consider having her employer pay her on a consistent schedule (like monthly) rather than irregularly, as this makes tracking and reporting much easier. The transition period can be tricky, but once you hit FRA, the relief of no earnings restrictions is wonderful!

Did u get a letter in the mail?? Usually SS sends something explaining any payment changes. Maybe the letter is just delayed? I'd hold onto that money until you're sure what it's for.... SS has been known to make mistakes and then demand repayment with penalties!!

This is really helpful information! As someone new to Social Security benefits, I had no idea that they automatically recalculate your benefits if you keep working. I'm planning to start collecting at my FRA next year but was hoping to continue working part-time for a few more years. It's encouraging to know that those additional earnings could actually boost my monthly benefit rather than just being "wasted." Quick question - does this automatic recalculation happen regardless of how much you earn while collecting, or is there a minimum threshold your new earnings need to meet to trigger the review? I'm wondering if my planned part-time work would be substantial enough to make a difference.

Thank you all for the clarification. It's disappointing to hear that GPO wasn't addressed in these changes. My husband worked for 31 years as a teacher while I worked in retail and paid into Social Security. Now I lose most of my spousal benefits because of his pension, even though I paid into the system myself. I'll try contacting my representative to ask about future legislation addressing GPO. It seems many of us are in similar situations.

I'm also affected by GPO and have been following this closely. What everyone is saying is correct - the recent changes only apply to WEP, not GPO. The Social Security Fairness Act that was signed into law modified the WEP calculation but left GPO completely untouched. For those asking about pending legislation, there have been various bills introduced over the years to address GPO (like H.R. 82 in previous sessions), but none have made it through the full legislative process yet. The challenge is that eliminating GPO would be extremely expensive for the Social Security system. I know it's frustrating - I worked 25 years in the private sector paying into Social Security, but my spousal benefits are reduced by 2/3 because of my own small teacher's pension. It feels like we're being penalized twice. Keep contacting your representatives though - the more voices they hear, the better chance we have of getting GPO addressed in future legislation.

Just wanted to add one more thing that might help - if you do decide to apply for survivor benefits at 60 while still working, you can actually request to have federal taxes withheld from your Social Security payments. This might be useful since the survivor benefits could push you into a higher tax bracket. You can choose to have 7%, 10%, 12%, or 22% withheld when you apply. Also, don't forget that survivor benefits aren't subject to the same "file and suspend" restrictions that regular retirement benefits have - you have more flexibility to start and stop these benefits if your situation changes. Good luck with whatever you decide!

I went through this exact situation about 3 years ago when my ex-husband passed away. I was 61 at the time and had been divorced for 12 years after a 15-year marriage. The folks here are giving you good advice - you CAN apply at 60 regardless of what age your ex would have been. What I wish someone had told me is to gather ALL your documents early. You'll definitely need your marriage certificate and divorce decree, and yes, they will likely ask for his death certificate too. I had to request a copy from the county where he died since I didn't have one. Also, if you have any old tax returns or W-2s that show his earnings history, bring those too - it can help speed up the process. The SSA office was actually pretty helpful once I had all my paperwork in order. One more tip: if you're planning to keep working, run the numbers carefully. I was earning too much and decided to wait until my FRA to avoid the earnings test hassle. But every situation is different, so definitely talk to them about your specific circumstances.

Just watch your first few payments CAREFULLY!!! Make sure the amount matches what they TOLD you it would be! I got underpaid for MONTHS because they didn't add the spousal portion correctly! Don't assume the computers get it right!!

As someone who recently went through a similar situation, I wanted to add that it's worth asking SSA about the "restricted application" rules that changed in 2016. Since you're filing at 62, you're subject to "deemed filing" which means you're automatically applying for both your own benefit and spousal benefits simultaneously - they'll pay you whichever is higher. The key thing to remember is that both benefits get reduced for early filing, but the reduction rates are slightly different (about 25% reduction on spousal vs 30% on your own record when filing at 62). Also, make sure to ask them to send you a written benefit verification letter once everything is processed so you have official documentation of your benefit amounts. Good luck with your call tomorrow!