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Don't forget they have that stupid earnings test too if your working!!! If you claim benefits before FRA and earn over the limit (like $21k or something for 2025) they take back $1 for every $2 you earn above that amount. ROBBERY!!!
That's a good point about the earnings test. I'm only working part-time now, making about $18k annually, so I should be under that limit. But definitely something to factor into the decision.
I went through this exact same situation last year! The key is being very specific about what you're asking for. Don't say you want to "apply" - instead ask for a "benefit estimate comparison" between your own retirement benefit and your potential divorced spouse benefit for planning purposes. When I called, I had to try three different representatives before I found one who understood what I needed. The third one was able to pull up both calculations and give me the monthly amounts at different claiming ages (62, FRA, and 70). This made all the difference in my planning. Also, make sure you have your ex-spouse's full name and Social Security number if you have it - this speeds up the process significantly. If you don't have their SSN, your marriage certificate with both names should be sufficient for them to locate the record. One more tip: if you get pushback, mention that you're trying to comply with the "deemed filing" rules and need to understand your options before making an irrevocable decision. This seems to get their attention and they take it more seriously.
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To summarize for anyone else with similar questions: If you die before filing for your own benefits, your wife would receive 100% of your PIA if she claims at her FRA. If you file early and then die, she'd get the higher of what you were receiving or 82.5% of your PIA. If you delay until 70 and then pass away, she'd get your increased benefit with delayed retirement credits. Since you're planning to wait until 70 and she'll claim at her FRA, you're already following an optimal strategy for maximizing her potential survivor benefits.
Reading all this makes me wish I'd understood these rules better before my husband passed. It really matters WHEN you claim benefits, both for yourself and as a survivor. I tell everyone now to learn this stuff BEFORE they need it.
This string of info is very helpful. If my wife claims SS when she is 62, I wait to claim then pass away, can she still get 100% of my PIA when she is FRA 67?
Yes, your scenario is actually one of the more flexible aspects of Social Security that I've learned about in my research. If your wife claims her own benefits early at 62 (which would be reduced), and then you pass away after waiting to claim your own benefits, she can still switch to 100% of your PIA when she reaches her full retirement age of 67. The key thing to understand is that claiming her own benefits early only permanently reduces those specific benefits. It doesn't affect what she can receive as survivor benefits later. This is one of those situations where the surviving spouse has options - she can take reduced benefits on her own record early, then switch to the higher survivor benefit at her FRA. This flexibility is actually helpful for financial planning, as it allows her to receive some income earlier while still preserving the right to your maximum survivor benefit later. I've found that these nuances in the Social Security rules aren't always clearly explained online, which is why I've been asking similar questions. I'd still recommend confirming this with the SSA for your specific situation, but this is definitely one of the planning strategies that can work well for couples with age differences like ours.
Yes, from what I've learned in my research, your wife would be able to get 100% of your PIA when she reaches her full retirement age of 67, even if she claimed her own reduced benefits at 62. Here's how it works: If she takes her own retirement benefit early at 62 (receiving a reduced amount), and you pass away without having claimed your benefits yet, she would have options. When she reaches her FRA at 67, she could switch to survivor benefits and receive 100% of your PIA. The early claiming reduction on her own benefits doesn't carry over to her survivor benefits. These are treated as two separate benefits, and she can switch to the higher amount when eligible. I've been trying to understand all these rules too since they're so important for our spouses' financial security. It's definitely worth confirming this specific scenario with Social Security directly, but this is my understanding of how it would work in your situation.
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It sounds like you're in a difficult situation with your SSDI benefits being held up possibly due to a windfall offset determination, especially when you have urgent financial needs. The "windfall offset" typically happens when you're eligible for both SSI and SSDI payments for the same period, and SSA needs to calculate the correct amounts to avoid overpayment. When you're in dire need, there are a few options to consider: - Contact your local SSA office and specifically request an "immediate payment" or "critical payment" due to dire need - Ask to speak with a supervisor if regular representatives aren't being helpful - Provide documentation of your urgent financial situation (eviction notices, utility shutoffs, medical emergencies) - Request a status update on your case through your my Social Security account online Two months of processing for a windfall determination is unfortunately not unusual, but your dire need should expedite things. If you've been told you don't owe any SSI, that's actually positive news as it suggests they're working through the calculations. You might also consider contacting your congressional representative's office, as they often have liaisons who can help constituents with federal benefit issues and sometimes get faster responses than individuals can.
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pro tip: if u can, try calling right when they open in the morning. usually less busy and u might get lucky and talk to someone who's still in a good mood lol
Oof, dealing with multiple agencies is THE WORST. Hang in there, OP! Maybe see if there's a local advocacy group that can help navigate the system? They often know all the ins and outs.
That's a great idea, I hadn't thought of that. I'll do some research and see if there are any groups in my area. Thanks!
Natasha Volkov
Based on follow-up comments, I want to clarify one more thing - your friend should consider her claiming strategy carefully. At 62, she could: 1. Claim her OWN reduced retirement benefit now and later switch to 100% of her husband's benefit at her FRA OR 2. Claim the reduced survivor benefit now (71.5%) and later switch to her own benefit at age 70 if it would be higher with delayed retirement credits This decision depends on their relative benefit amounts. SSA should calculate both scenarios for her.
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Oliver Schmidt
•I hadn't even considered these different strategies! I'll definitely suggest that she ask SSA to calculate which approach would give her the highest lifetime benefits. This is so much more complex than I realized.
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Madison Tipne
I'm so sorry for your friend's loss. As a newcomer here, I'm learning a lot from this discussion! One thing I wanted to add that might help - when my aunt went through something similar, the SSA representative told her to bring copies of ALL the documents mentioned (marriage certificate, death certificate, etc.) rather than originals, since they can make their own certified copies. She was worried about losing important documents in the mail or during processing. Also, I noticed someone mentioned the earnings limit if she plans to work. Just wanted to emphasize that this only applies if she takes benefits before her Full Retirement Age. If she can afford to wait, working won't affect her survivor benefits once she reaches FRA. The strategic planning advice about when to claim which benefits sounds really complex - definitely something she should have SSA walk through step by step with actual dollar amounts so she can make the best decision for her situation.
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