Thanks for all the great advice, everyone! I think I'm going to hold off on claiming for now since I'm still working and don't absolutely need the SS income yet. That 8% guaranteed increase each year seems too good to pass up. I'll check out that tax withholding calculator too since I definitely don't want a surprise tax bill. Really appreciate all your help!

Smart choice! One final tip - even though you're delaying benefits, I'd recommend creating your my.ssa.gov account now if you haven't already. It's a good way to check your earnings record for accuracy and get updated benefit estimates as you continue working. Those additional earnings might further increase your eventual benefit amount.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I'm going to gather my documents (marriage certificate, divorce decree) and schedule an appointment with SSA. It sounds like I should be able to claim on my ex's record since I've reached my FRA, but I'll get whichever is higher between that amount and my own benefit. I wish I could have delayed my own benefit to let it grow, but at least I understand the rules now. I appreciate all your insights!

Good plan. Make sure to specifically ask them to calculate both amounts for you before making a final decision. Sometimes the difference can be very small, and it's worth understanding exactly what you'll receive. Best of luck with your appointment!

I'm so jealous! I tried to do something similar but messed up my earnings calculation and went over the limit by about $4,800. Now SS is making me pay back some benefits and it's a whole hassle. Make sure you track your income REALLY carefully especially if you get any bonuses or overtime that might push you over unexpectedly.

This is a textbook example of how to strategically time your Social Security benefits while managing the transition to retirement. Well done! One thing to consider: once you fully retire in July, you'll want to adjust your withholding on your Social Security benefits. Since you'll have lower total income for the second half of the year, you might be overwithholding. You can file Form W-4V to change your federal tax withholding rate on your Social Security benefits to either 7%, 10%, 12%, or 22% of your monthly benefit. Also, keep in mind that any severance package from your employer would count toward the earnings test limit in the year received. If you're expecting any significant payout when you leave your job, factor that into your calculations. Your strategy shows how powerful it can be to understand the nuances of Social Security rules!

Yes, she did get backpay, but it was a real hassle. They initially only went back 3 months, and she had to fight for the full amount. Make sure you keep records of EVERY communication with SSA - dates, names of representatives, what was discussed. This helped her case tremendously when proving she had been trying to resolve the issue all along.

So sorry about both your husbands passing away. That must be really hard. Sending hugs!

Wait so your own benefit is higher than your husbands? In my case my husbands benefit was way higher than mine would ever be so I just took his. But if yours is higher then yeah do what everyone is saying.

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice! I'm going to try making an appointment at my local office instead of dealing with the phone system. I'll be very clear that I ONLY want survivor benefits for now. I'll also bring printouts of the SSA rules about this to the appointment, just in case. It's so frustrating that even the SSA employees seem confused about their own policies sometimes. I just want to make sure I'm not leaving money on the table while I wait for my FRA in a few months.