I called SSA today and wanted to update everyone. The representative confirmed that I could receive a combination of my own benefit plus a partial spousal benefit to bring me up to 50% of my husband's PIA (what he would have received at full retirement age). In my case, it amounts to an extra $218 per month, which definitely helps! They're processing my application now. Thank you all for your helpful advice!

They said it would take about 30 days to process, and the payments would start the following month. They also mentioned I might get a small retroactive payment since I was eligible as of last month when I reached FRA. Every bit helps with these inflation rates!

I tried calling SS about this exact issue last month and spent TWO HOURS on hold only to be disconnected! The whole system is broken. Why can't they hire more people to answer the phones??!!

my aunt retired at 65 and she said the monthly thing worked great for her. but she had to be really careful about tracking her hours at her part time job. good luck with everything!

One important point nobody has mentioned: for your father's application, make sure he specifically lists all conditions, but especially document the falling asleep episodes in detail. This could indicate several possible conditions: 1. Sleep apnea (common with COPD) 2. Medication side effects from treatments for depression/anxiety 3. Narcolepsy or idiopathic hypersomnia 4. Potential neurological issues He should keep a daily log of these episodes - when they occur, duration, circumstances, etc. This kind of specific documentation significantly strengthens disability claims, especially for symptoms that don't show up well on standard medical tests. Also, since he's 55, check if he qualifies for early retirement as a backup plan while pursuing SSDI. Though benefits would be reduced, it might provide some income during the potentially lengthy disability determination process.

my mom went thru appeals for her fibro too. they kept saying it wasnt real even tho she couldnt even hold a cup somedays. make sure u have a GOOD lawyer, made all the difference for her

also don't forget about survivor benefits! if your husband passes away first (since he's older) you get to take the larger of your benefit or his full benefit. so another reason for you to maximize yours if possible.

One more thing to consider: If you wait until your FRA to claim, but your husband is already collecting his retirement benefit, you can choose to take ONLY the spousal benefit (50% of his PIA) at your FRA and let your own retirement benefit continue to grow until age 70. This could be beneficial if your own benefit plus delayed retirement credits would eventually exceed the spousal amount. However, this strategy only works if you wait until your FRA to claim anything. If you claim even one month early, you're deemed to be filing for all benefits you're eligible for at that time.

Regarding your question about the specific form - there isn't a separate form just for divorced survivor benefits. She would apply for survivor benefits using the same process as anyone else, but indicate she's a divorced spouse. She can apply either online at ssa.gov or by calling 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an appointment. However, for divorced survivor cases, I generally recommend applying in person or at least by phone rather than online, as these cases sometimes require additional attention to process correctly.

One more important point: when her ex-husband passes away, she should notify SSA as soon as possible. Survivor benefits are not automatically awarded - she must apply. Also, unlike retirement benefits, survivor benefits can be applied for in the month of death. So if her ex passes on June 15th, for example, she could potentially be eligible for a survivor benefit payment for the month of June (paid in July). Social Security only pays survivor benefits 6 months retroactively, so timely filing is important. If she waits too long, she could lose out on some payments.