Thank you all so much for the helpful information! I feel much better understanding that I could switch to my husband's higher benefit if needed. I'll definitely reach out to SSA directly for specific calculations, and I appreciate the tip about Claimyr if I have trouble getting through. The information about reporting quickly and keeping documents organized is really valuable too. It's not a pleasant topic to think about, but I feel more prepared now.

I'm glad you found all this information helpful, Javier! Just to add one more resource - the Social Security Administration has a helpful publication called "Survivors Benefits" (Publication No. 05-10084) that you can find on their website at ssa.gov. It breaks down all the rules in plain language. Also, don't forget that if you do become eligible for survivor benefits, you can potentially delay claiming them (if you're not already receiving your own retirement benefits) to earn delayed retirement credits up until age 70, which could increase the monthly amount. Since you're both already receiving benefits, this wouldn't apply to your situation, but it's good to know for others reading this thread. Take care!

One additional consideration - if you decide to keep working until May to maximize your benefit, remember you can actually file for benefits up to 4 months before you want them to start. So you could submit your application in January 2025 but specify May 2025 as your benefit start date. This gives SSA time to process everything so there's no delay in your payments once May arrives.

Just wanted to add that you should also consider checking your Social Security Statement online at ssa.gov/myaccount to see your projected benefit amounts at different claiming ages. This will give you the exact dollar figures for your situation rather than estimates. The statement shows your benefits at age 62, full retirement age, and age 70, so you can see precisely how much that 4-month difference would cost you monthly. It might help you make a more informed decision about whether to tough it out until May or not. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Im sorry but i think you need to just apply now!!! My neighbor was in similar situation and SSA told her she needed to apply within 6 months of death or she would loose some backpay. I dont know if thats still true but better safe than sorry!! Even though you cant get payments until 60 you should apply now to protect your filing date!!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Kendrick. Losing an ex-spouse, especially at such a young age, can be emotionally complicated even years after divorce. Based on what others have shared, it sounds like contacting the Federal Benefits Unit in London (which serves Portugal) might be your best bet rather than trying to call the main SSA line. Email might work better for you given the time zone differences. One thing I wanted to add that I haven't seen mentioned - since you only have 5 years of US work credits, you definitely want to look into the US-Portugal totalization agreement that someone briefly mentioned. This could potentially help you qualify for some benefits on your own record by combining your US and Portuguese work history. It might not be much, but every bit helps, especially if you're planning to stay in Portugal long-term. Also, even though you can't claim survivor benefits until 60, it might be worth starting to organize your paperwork now. Get certified copies of your marriage certificate, divorce decree, and his death certificate while they're still relatively easy to obtain. Having everything ready will make the process smoother when the time comes. The Federal Benefits Unit should be able to give you a better idea of what documentation you'll need and how the process works for US expats in Portugal.

To correct my earlier mistake: Since you were born after 1/2/1954, you can't do a restricted application. However, if your ex-spouse benefit would be higher than your own benefit (which seems unlikely from your numbers), you could claim now and then switch to your own at 70. But since your own benefit is higher, you're better off waiting. One consideration: If you have health concerns that might impact longevity, waiting to 70 might not be optimal. The general breakeven age is around 82-83 - if you live beyond that, waiting to 70 pays off.

As someone who just went through this decision process myself, I'd recommend getting a personalized Social Security statement from ssa.gov to see your exact projected benefits at different claiming ages. The online calculators can be helpful, but your actual earnings record might show different numbers. Also, since you're still working full-time, consider that your continued earnings might actually increase your benefit calculation if these are some of your highest earning years. Social Security uses your highest 35 years of earnings, so if you're making $98K now, that could potentially bump out some lower earning years from earlier in your career. Given your family longevity history and excellent health, waiting until 70 seems like the right call. That extra 24% boost per month for potentially 20+ years of retirement is substantial.

ALSO!!! don't forget bout TAXES!! up to 85% of ur SS benefits can be taxable depending on ur other income. we didnt realize this and ended up owing a bunch at tax time that first year 😠

As someone who just went through this decision process last year, I'd recommend using the Social Security benefits calculator on their website (ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/estimator.html) to run the numbers for your specific situation. You can see exactly what your benefits would be at different ages. Also consider your health and family longevity - if you're in good health and have parents/grandparents who lived into their 90s, waiting might make more financial sense in the long run. But if you need the income now or have health concerns, taking it early could be the right choice. One thing that helped me was calculating the "break-even" point - basically how old I'd need to be for the total benefits received by waiting to exceed what I'd get by taking it early. In my case it was around age 78-79. Since I'm healthy and my mom is 92, I decided to wait.