Just wanted to add something important that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure to ask SSA about the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) when you speak with them. If you have any government pension or worked for an employer that didn't pay into Social Security, these rules could reduce your spousal or survivor benefits. Also, since you're 61 and on SSDI, remember that your disability benefits will automatically convert to retirement benefits at your full retirement age (probably 67 for you), but the amount should stay the same. This won't affect your current situation, but it's good to know for planning purposes. Good luck getting through to SSA - I hope you get clear answers about all your options!

Welcome to the community! Your situation is definitely complex, but you're asking all the right questions. Since you're dealing with multiple potential benefit sources (SSDI, divorced spouse benefits, and survivor benefits), I'd strongly recommend documenting everything before you call SSA. Make a list with: 1) Your first husband's date of death and your marriage dates, 2) Your second husband's full retirement age and when he started collecting, 3) Your divorce date from second marriage, 4) Your current SSDI amount, and 5) Any work history with non-Social Security covered employment (like government jobs). Having this information ready will help the SSA representative run accurate calculations for all your potential benefits. The fact that your second marriage lasted 12 years definitely works in your favor for divorced spouse benefits, and being over 60 when your second marriage ended means you can potentially claim survivor benefits from your first husband too. One more tip - if the first SSA rep you speak with seems unsure about your complex situation, don't hesitate to ask to speak with a supervisor or call back for a second opinion. Your case involves multiple rules that not every rep may be familiar with.

my cousin tried to track all this and still got messed up. ss is so confusing!!

As someone new to navigating Social Security benefits, I'm finding this thread incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation with irregular freelance income and was completely unaware of the monthly vs annual earnings test distinction. The suggestion about waiting until January to start benefits to avoid the monthly test complications is brilliant - that seems like it could save a lot of headaches for people with unpredictable income patterns. One question I have: does the timing of when you "perform the service" for self-employment income apply to all types of irregular work, or just entertainment industry jobs? I do occasional consulting work and sometimes there's a gap between when I complete a project and when I get paid. Want to make sure I understand how to properly track this for SSA purposes. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - it's really eye-opening to see how complex these rules can be in practice!

Update: I finally managed to speak with someone at SSA! You were all right about the GPO - it will reduce my survivor benefit by about $1,230 (2/3 of my pension). But even with that reduction, the survivor benefit would still be higher than my own reduced retirement benefit at 62. They recommended I take the reduced survivor benefit now and then switch to my own retirement benefit at 70, when it will have grown to its maximum amount. Apparently, this will give me the highest lifetime payout given my specific circumstances. Thank you all for your help and guidance through this confusing process!

Congratulations on getting through to SSA and getting a clear answer! Your situation really highlights how complex Social Security can be, especially when you have multiple income sources like a pension. For others reading this thread who might be in similar situations, Christian's experience shows why it's so important to get personalized advice from SSA rather than relying on general rules. The GPO calculation can dramatically change which strategy makes the most sense, and every person's situation is unique. One thing I'd add is that you might want to document the advice you received and perhaps get it in writing if possible. Sometimes different SSA representatives can give conflicting information, so having a record of what you were told and when can be helpful if any questions arise later. Best of luck with your decision, and again, I'm sorry for your loss. It's never easy dealing with these financial decisions during such a difficult time.

Thank you all for your helpful responses! I finally called SSA again today using the specific terms "spousal benefit computation" as suggested, and got someone who seemed to understand the situation. She confirmed that since my wife was born in 1957, she falls under the deemed filing rules, but because she started receiving her own benefits before I filed, the system didn't automatically compare the benefits. The representative has initiated a review of her case, and preliminary calculations show she should be eligible for about $175 more per month, plus some retroactive payments. They said it will take about 30-45 days to process the adjustment. For anyone else in a similar situation - be persistent and use the specific terminology "spousal benefit computation" when you call!

Congratulations on getting this resolved! This is exactly why I love this community - everyone sharing their experiences helps others navigate these complex SSA issues. Your story perfectly illustrates how the system is supposed to work versus how it actually works in practice. It's really concerning that SSA representatives give such inconsistent information on these basic eligibility questions. The fact that you had to call multiple times and use specific terminology just to get a proper review shows there are serious training gaps in their customer service. For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar situation, I'd also recommend documenting everything - dates you called, names of representatives if they give them, and exactly what you were told. This can be helpful if you need to escalate later or if there are any disputes about timing for retroactive payments. The $175 monthly increase might seem modest, but that's over $2,000 per year - definitely worth the hassle of dealing with SSA's bureaucracy!

I notice you mentioned covering Medicare costs - just to clarify, if you're approaching FRA, Medicare enrollment is separate from Social Security benefits. You'll want to sign up for Medicare at 65 regardless of when you claim SS benefits to avoid late enrollment penalties. If you're already on Medicare, the premiums can indeed be deducted from your SS payment once it starts, which many find convenient. Also, while family longevity is important to consider, don't forget to factor in your own health status and financial needs when making this decision. Statistics are helpful guides, but your personal situation should drive the final choice.

I'm a newcomer here but have been researching Social Security extensively for my own upcoming decision. Based on what I've read in this thread, it seems like the consensus is pretty clear - take the survivor benefits now at $3,493/month rather than waiting for the extra $100. What really struck me was Olivia's breakdown showing you'd need to live past 82 just to break even on waiting 6 months. That's a long time to recover what you'd miss out on now. Plus, with your earnings situation affecting when you'd get your first payment anyway, the survivor benefit seems like the obvious choice. I'm curious though - have you considered what happens if your own retirement benefit continues to grow until age 70? Gabriel mentioned you could potentially switch later if your own benefit becomes higher. That might give you the best of both worlds: immediate income now from survivor benefits, plus keeping your options open for the future. Good luck with your decision! It sounds like you've got a lot of good advice here.