Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - when you do apply for your benefits next month, you can also ask SSA to run a benefit estimate for your husband's potential spousal benefits, even though it looks like he won't qualify based on the numbers you've shared. Sometimes there are quirks in the calculations or special circumstances that aren't immediately obvious. Plus, having that official calculation on file could be useful down the road. The worst they can say is "no additional benefits available" but at least you'll know for certain. Good luck with your application!

I just went through a similar situation with my parents last year. One thing that might be worth considering - even if your husband doesn't qualify for spousal benefits now, the rules can sometimes work differently if there are changes in your circumstances later. For example, if you decide to suspend your benefits at some point (which you can do after FRA), or if there are any adjustments to your benefit amounts due to continued work or other factors. Also, I'd recommend keeping detailed records of both of your Social Security statements and any communications with SSA about this. My mom wished she had done this because when questions came up later, it was hard to reconstruct exactly what had been discussed. The SSA representatives are generally helpful, but having your own documentation makes everything smoother. Best of luck with your application next month!

Thank you all SO MUCH for your incredibly helpful advice. I've learned more here than in all my conversations with friends and family about this situation. Based on your suggestions, I'm going to: 1. Schedule an in-person appointment with SSA (with all documents ready) 2. Apply for my daughter's survivor benefits immediately 3. Strongly consider reducing my work hours to get under the earnings limit so I can also claim some survivor benefits while caring for her 4. Plan to switch to my own retirement benefit at FRA or 70 I feel like I finally have a roadmap now! If anyone has additional thoughts or suggestions, I'd love to hear them. And I'll try to come back and update on how things go with SSA. Thanks again for all your help!

Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - when you go to your SSA appointment, ask them to run a "what-if" scenario showing your projected benefits under different claiming strategies. They have software that can model out your lifetime benefits if you claim survivor benefits now vs. waiting, and factor in your higher retirement benefit. Also, since you mentioned this isn't your passion job, don't forget that if you do reduce hours and claim survivor benefits, you'll still be earning Social Security credits toward your own retirement benefit as long as you're earning at least $1,730 per quarter (for 2025). So working part-time won't hurt your future retirement benefit calculations. One last tip: If the first SSA representative seems unsure about the adoption/survivor benefit rules, politely ask to speak with a supervisor or someone who specializes in survivor benefits. This isn't a common situation and not all reps will be familiar with the nuances. You deserve accurate information for such an important decision!

One more thought - since you're at your FRA already, you should look into whether you might qualify for SSI (Supplemental Security Income) if your current Social Security retirement benefit is very low. SSI can provide additional income for those with limited resources. The qualification rules are complicated, but it might be worth investigating. SSI is different from regular Social Security retirement benefits and has different eligibility requirements based on financial need rather than work history.

I'm sorry to hear about your situation - being just shy of 10 years is incredibly frustrating! While you unfortunately can't qualify for survivor benefits from your first husband's record, I wanted to mention one thing that might be worth double-checking. Sometimes people forget about common-law marriage periods that might count toward the 10-year requirement in certain states. If you lived together as married before your legal ceremony in a state that recognizes common-law marriage, those years could potentially count. It's a long shot, but might be worth asking SSA about if applicable to your situation. Also, make sure when you review your earnings record that they've credited you properly for any years you worked while married - sometimes spousal Social Security numbers get mixed up in their system and credits go to the wrong person.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you're in your first year of retirement, they apply a monthly earnings test instead of annual, which can be really helpful. Basically if you retired mid-year after making a lot pre-retirement, they won't count those pre-retirement earnings against you. And yes, definitely expect an increase for 2025. Based on economic indicators so far, I'd guess around a 2.5-3% increase to the earnings limit. That would put it around $22,900 give or take.

Just wanted to add that you can also check your estimated benefits online through your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. They have a retirement estimator that can help you see how different earning levels might affect your benefits. I found it really useful when I was trying to figure out my work schedule after starting benefits early. Also, keep detailed records of your earnings throughout the year - it makes things much easier if you do need to report to SSA or if there are any discrepancies later.

To follow up on my earlier comment - since you mentioned your own benefit at 70 would be "quite a bit higher" than half of your husband's benefit, it may be worth calculating exact numbers. Your benefit at 70 would be 132% of your FRA amount (if your FRA is 67). So if your FRA benefit is more than about 38% of your husband's FRA benefit, waiting until 70 will eventually give you more than taking spousal at 62 (which would only be 35% of his FRA benefit due to early filing reduction).

Just wanted to add that you might also want to consider whether you're eligible for any other benefits that could bridge the gap if you wait until 70. For example, if your husband passes away before you start collecting, you could potentially get survivor benefits (which have different rules than spousal benefits). Also, some people don't realize that Medicare enrollment at 65 is separate from Social Security - you can sign up for Medicare even if you're not taking SS benefits yet. Given that your FRA benefit is 80% of your husband's, waiting until 70 definitely sounds like the right mathematical choice, especially since you're still working. The delayed retirement credits you'll earn are essentially a guaranteed 8% annual return, which is hard to beat in today's market!