After reading through this thread, I'd recommend these steps: 1. Contact SSA to get specific estimates of what you'd receive as an ex-spouse benefit now vs. your own retirement benefit at 70. 2. If reaching SSA by phone is difficult (which it often is), consider either making an in-person appointment at your local office or trying a service that helps connect with SSA representatives. 3. Have your divorce decree, marriage certificate, and identification ready. 4. Ask specifically about whether your own benefit at 70 would exceed the ex-spouse benefit, and by how much. 5. Consider your current financial needs versus the long-term maximization of benefits. For many people who can afford to wait, delaying until 70 provides the highest lifetime benefit if you live past roughly age 80. But having actual numbers will help you make the best decision for your situation.

One thing that might help while you're waiting to get through to SSA - you can create a my Social Security account online at ssa.gov to see your estimated benefits at different claiming ages. While it won't show you your ex-spouse benefit amount (since that depends on his record), it will give you a clear picture of what your own retirement benefit would be at 70 versus now. This can help you prepare for the conversation with SSA and give you a baseline to compare against when they tell you about the ex-spouse benefit option. The online account also shows your complete earnings history, so you can double-check that all your wages were properly credited. It's free and only takes a few minutes to set up with some basic verification questions.

my bro n sis-in-law just thru this. big headache. they had 2 go in person to ssa office cuz every time they calld they got diffrnt answers!! makes u crazy!!

Just wanted to add one more thing that helped me understand the timing better - even though your spousal benefit amount is based on your husband's PIA (not his reduced amount), you still can't claim spousal benefits until your husband has actually filed for his own benefits. Since he's filing next month at 62, you'll be eligible to claim spousal benefits anytime after that (though waiting until your FRA of 67 gets you the full 50%). I made the mistake of thinking I could wait until my husband reached HIS full retirement age to start my spousal benefits, but that's not how it works. The clock starts ticking once he files, regardless of his age when he files.

Here's a simplified breakdown of your options as I understand your situation: 1. From 60-FRA: Reduced survivor benefits (71.5-99.9% of husband's benefit) BUT subject to earnings test 2. At FRA: Full survivor benefits (100% of husband's benefit) with NO earnings limit 3. At 70: Maximized personal retirement benefit (132% of your FRA amount) Best strategy is usually to claim whichever benefit is smaller first, then switch to the larger one later. For many widows, this means taking survivor benefits at FRA, then switching to their own at 70 if it will be higher. Remember that when comparing, you need to know: - Your FRA benefit amount - Your age-70 benefit amount (with delayed credits) - Your husband's PIA (primary insurance amount) An SSA claims specialist can provide these exact figures for you to make an informed decision.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Mateo. Losing a spouse is incredibly difficult, and navigating Social Security on top of grief can feel overwhelming. I went through something similar when my husband passed three years ago. The information you're getting here is spot-on - that SSA rep definitely gave you incomplete information. You absolutely ARE entitled to your husband's higher benefit amount as a survivor! One thing I'd add to the excellent advice already given: make sure to ask SSA for your complete benefit estimates in writing. When I finally got through to a knowledgeable representative, they provided me with a detailed breakdown showing: - My own benefit at different claiming ages - My survivor benefit amount - Projections for both strategies (claim survivor first vs. claim own first) This written comparison made it so much clearer which approach would give me the most money over my lifetime. In my case, I'm planning to take survivor benefits at my FRA (66+4mo) and then switch to my own at 70 since mine will be about $200/month higher. Don't let that first phone call discourage you - keep pushing for the information you need. You've worked hard and deserve every benefit you're entitled to receive.

Just to add one more thing - I would recommend applying for your benefits 3-4 months before you want them to start. That gives SSA plenty of time to process everything, including any potential spousal adjustment for your husband. With their current backlogs, the earlier you apply (within their allowed timeframe), the better!

Does anyone know if the firefighter pension affects this at all? My neighbor was saying something about GPO being different from WEP and that first responder pensions sometimes mess up spousal benefits completely

After thinking about your situation more, I recalled another possibility: if your husband took reduced retirement benefits first and then later qualified for SSDI, his disability benefit would have included both his reduced retirement benefit PLUS an additional amount to bring it up to the full disability rate. When he reaches FRA, the additional amount stops, and he goes back to just his reduced retirement amount. This scenario would explain the significant drop. Did he by chance apply for early retirement before being approved for disability?

Glad you figured it out! This is a perfect example of why it's important to understand how the original benefit was calculated. When someone takes early retirement and then qualifies for SSDI, they receive their reduced retirement benefit plus an additional amount to reach the full disability benefit level. At FRA, they return to their original reduced retirement amount plus any COLAs. For others reading this thread: this is why claiming strategy and timing matters so much with Social Security benefits. Taking early retirement can have long-term impacts even if you later qualify for disability.