Based on all the information shared, here's what you should do: 1. Contact SSA to get exact benefit estimates for both scenarios (your own reduced benefit at 62 vs. divorced spouse benefit) 2. Consider how long you plan to keep working and how that affects the earnings test 3. Think about your longevity - waiting increases your lifetime benefits if you live longer 4. Factor in your current financial needs - sometimes taking reduced benefits early is necessary If the numbers are close, and you can afford to wait, delaying benefits to avoid permanent reductions is often financially advantageous in the long run if you live into your 80s or beyond.

One more thing to consider - since your ex-husband is on SSDI, his benefit amount is essentially fixed and won't grow with delayed retirement credits like regular retirement benefits do. This means that 50% of his SSDI benefit will remain the same whether you claim it now or later. However, YOUR own retirement benefit will continue to grow by about 8% per year if you delay past your Full Retirement Age until age 70. So if your own benefit has the potential to be higher than the divorced spouse benefit, waiting could significantly increase your lifetime income. You might want to ask SSA for projections showing what your own benefit would be at different claiming ages (62, Full Retirement Age, and 70) to compare against the divorced spouse option.

ive been on SS for 15 yrs now and one thing i learned is always double check their math! my check was wrong for 3 yrs before i figured it out. they did give me backpay for their mistake tho so thats good.

Just wanted to add one more practical tip for your aunt's appointment: If possible, try to schedule it for early morning or right when the office opens. SSA offices tend to get busier as the day goes on, and the staff are usually more patient and thorough in the morning. Also, if the first representative seems unsure about the restricted application strategy, don't hesitate to ask to speak with a supervisor or claims specialist. This strategy isn't commonly used anymore since the rules changed in 2016, so some newer staff might not be familiar with it. Your aunt's situation (never having filed for her own benefits and being past FRA) is one of the rare cases where it still applies. One last thing - have her write down all the key numbers they give her during the appointment. It's easy to forget the exact benefit amounts when you're processing a lot of information, and you'll want to compare the survivor benefit amount to what her own benefit would be at age 70.

I think everyone is overthinking this lol. Your friend just needs to wait till she's fully retired age (November) and she'll be fine. All this talk about earnings limits is just confusing everyone. SSA doesn't care what you make before you start taking money from them!

Just wanted to add one more perspective as someone who works in retirement planning - your sister's strategy is spot-on! Waiting until her exact FRA is often the optimal approach when you can afford to do so. Not only does she avoid the earnings test entirely, but she'll also receive her full Primary Insurance Amount without any early retirement reductions. Since she's earning good income ($78k), she's also maximizing her Social Security earnings record right up until retirement, which could potentially increase her benefit calculation if 2025 becomes one of her highest 35 earning years. The peace of mind of not having to worry about complex earnings test calculations is just an added bonus!

Thank you all for this helpful information! I just talked to my friend and let him know about applying for survivor benefits for his son. He had no idea this was available and was really grateful. He's going to call SSA tomorrow morning. I also mentioned the Claimyr service since several of you warned about the phone difficulties. I'll update once they've been through the process in case it helps someone else in this terrible situation.

You're such a good friend for looking out for them during this devastating time. I lost my spouse two years ago and the paperwork and phone calls feel overwhelming when you're grieving. One thing that really helped me was having a trusted friend like you handle some of the research and initial calls. If your friend is comfortable with it, you might offer to sit with him during the SSA call or help organize all those documents everyone mentioned. Sometimes just having moral support makes those difficult conversations easier. Also, make sure he asks SSA about any other benefits the family might qualify for - sometimes there are state or local programs that can help too. Sending prayers for healing during this incredibly difficult time.

Update: I finally got through to someone at SSA after using that Claimyr service (which worked surprisingly well). The agent confirmed that since my benefits were suspended and not denied, I AM eligible for retroactive payments back to January 2024 when the GPO repeal took effect. They're reactivating my claim and said I should see payments within 3-4 weeks, including the backpay. She also mentioned they're getting thousands of similar cases right now, so they're quite backed up. Thank you everyone for your help and advice! I'll update again when I actually receive the payments.

Congratulations on getting through and getting confirmation! This is such helpful information for others in similar situations. I'm dealing with a comparable issue - my mom passed in 2023 and I was denied survivor benefits due to GPO (I'm a retired postal worker). My benefits also show as "suspended" rather than denied in my account. Based on your experience, it sounds like I should definitely call and specifically mention the GPO repeal and ask for my claim to be reviewed. Did the agent give you any specific reference number or case status to track the reactivation process? And thanks for mentioning Claimyr - I had never heard of that service before this thread but it sounds like it could save a lot of frustration trying to get through!