Thank you everyone for the helpful information! Just to make sure I understand correctly: 1. My ex's age doesn't matter for my benefit amount 2. MY age when I file is what matters - 62 for reduced or my FRA for full 50% 3. SSA will give me whichever is higher - my own benefit or the divorced spouse benefit 4. I need to watch out for the earnings limit if I'm working I think I'll wait until my FRA to avoid the reduction, unless my financial situation changes. I appreciate all the advice!

One thing I'd add to all this great advice - you might want to request your Social Security Statement online at ssa.gov to see your estimated benefits. It will show you what your own retirement benefit would be at different ages, which helps you compare it to the potential divorced spouse benefit (50% of your ex's PIA). Also, since you mentioned your ex earned substantially more, there's a good chance the divorced spouse benefit will be higher than your own, but it's worth confirming the numbers. The online statement is updated annually and gives you a clearer picture for planning purposes.

One thing nobody's mentioned yet: if you do qualify for additional benefits based on your ex-wife's record, you might be eligible for some retroactive benefits too. Since you're past your FRA, you could potentially get up to 6 months of back payments for the difference amount if it turns out you've been eligible for a while. Definitely bring this up when you talk to SSA. Every little bit helps with today's prices!

You can definitely handle this by phone, especially with the proper documentation ready. When you call, be prepared with: 1. Your Social Security number 2. Your ex-wife's Social Security number (if you have it) 3. Your marriage certificate 4. Your divorce decree showing the marriage lasted over 10 years 5. Birth certificates for both of you If you don't have all of these, don't worry. SSA can often look up some of this information in their system. The most important document is your divorce decree proving the 10+ year marriage. If you prefer, you can also schedule an appointment at your local office using the SSA website. Some people find it easier to discuss complex benefit situations in person.

My condolences on your father's passing. I went through this exact situation last year. Just to add some clarity - the funeral home or mortuary can actually help notify Social Security of the death when they file the death certificate, but it's still good to call yourself to make sure it was processed. When I called SSA after my dad passed, they were able to tell me immediately if I was eligible for the death benefit during that same call. Even though the amount is small, every bit helps with funeral expenses. The key documents you'll need are: death certificate, your father's SSN, your own SSN and ID. One thing I learned - if your dad had any automatic payments set up from his bank account for bills, you'll want to contact those companies too since his SSN will show as deceased in their systems eventually. Just thought I'd mention it since you're handling the executor duties.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Going through all this paperwork while grieving is incredibly difficult. Just wanted to add that when you do call SSA, it might help to have a list of questions ready since the call can take a while to get through. Beyond the death benefit, they can also help you understand if there are any survivor benefits you might be eligible for - sometimes there are benefits available that people don't know about. Also, if your father was a veteran, don't forget to check with the VA about burial benefits too. The funeral home should have mentioned this, but it's easy to overlook when you're dealing with so much at once. Take care of yourself during this process.

I just want to thank everyone for their helpful responses. I had no idea I might still be eligible for survivor benefits after all these years! I've scheduled an appointment with my local SSA office for next week and will bring all the documents suggested. I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high since my husband was so young when he died and didn't have a long work history, but even a small increase would be helpful with my medical bills. I'll update once I find out what they say. I appreciate all of you taking the time to respond to my situation!

I'm so glad you're pursuing this! Your situation really highlights how important it is for people to know about all their potential benefits. The fact that you've been eligible for survivor benefits this whole time but didn't know it is unfortunately way too common. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - when you go to your appointment, you might also want to ask about Medicare Supplement Insurance benefits if you're not already enrolled. Sometimes people on disability retirement miss out on certain Medicare enrollment opportunities, and survivor benefits can sometimes affect your Medicare options too. Also, don't be discouraged if the first person you talk to seems unsure about the calculations for such an old case. These situations with decades-old survivor benefits don't come up every day, so you might need to ask to speak with a supervisor or specialist who has more experience with complex survivor benefit calculations. Persistence really pays off with SSA! Wishing you the best of luck - I really hope you get some good news that helps with those medical expenses!

have u thought about reducing ur hours just enough to get under the limit? might be worth it depending on how much ur kid would get

One thing to keep in mind is that the earnings test applies monthly, not just annually. So if you're planning to retire completely at some point during the year (even if you turn 65), you could potentially receive benefits for the months after you stop working, even if your total annual earnings exceed the limit. The SSA uses a monthly test of $1,770 (for 2025) in addition to the annual limit. This might give you some flexibility in timing if you're considering full retirement in the next year or two. Also, make sure you understand exactly when your FRA is - for someone turning 65 in 2025, your FRA is likely 66 and some months, not 66 exactly.