After reading through all the comments, here's a summary for you: 1. Yes, you qualify for ex-spouse survivor benefits at 60 (must stay unmarried) 2. Taking benefits at 60 = about 71.5% of what you'd get at full retirement age 3. Watch out for the earnings test if you're working 4. Bring death certificate, marriage certificate, and divorce decree when you apply 5. You can switch to your own benefit later if it would be higher 6. You cannot apply for survivor benefits online - must call or visit in person Hope this helps!

I'm so glad you found this community! Your situation is actually pretty common and yes, you should definitely be eligible for survivor benefits from your ex-husband. Since you were married for 18 years (way more than the 10-year requirement), you meet the duration test. A few things to keep in mind as you move forward: - You'll need to remain unmarried to keep receiving these benefits - The SSA will calculate his benefit based on what he would have received at full retirement age, not what he actually received (since he hadn't claimed yet) - If you claim at 60, you'll get a reduced amount, but you can always switch to your own retirement benefit later if yours ends up being higher The paperwork everyone mentioned is crucial - definitely have all your documents ready before you call. And don't get discouraged if the first person you talk to seems confused about ex-spouse survivor benefits - sometimes you need to ask for a supervisor who specializes in survivor benefits. Good luck with your application! This benefit can really make a difference for people in your situation.

Just wanted to add - when you report your estimated earnings to SSA, try to be as accurate as possible. I made the mistake of underestimating my income when I went back to work at 64, and then had to deal with a mess at tax time. SSA will withhold based on your estimate, but if you earn significantly more than projected, you could end up with an overpayment that needs to be resolved. Also, keep good records of when you start the job and your actual earnings - it'll make things much smoother when they do the annual reconciliation. The earnings test can be confusing but it's really not that bad once you understand how it works!

One thing to keep in mind - if you do decide to let SSA reduce your benefits through the earnings test, they typically withhold your entire monthly check once you go over the limit, rather than reducing it proportionally. So you might not receive ANY Social Security payments for several months while you're working full-time. Just want you to be prepared for that cash flow impact! Also, since you mentioned chronic back pain from your warehouse job, make sure the new office position has good ergonomics and won't aggravate your condition. The last thing you want is to end up back where you started health-wise. Good luck with the new opportunity!

I've been monitoring my SSA estimates for about 3 years now and they've been remarkably consistent - usually only varying by $20-30 per month between updates. The key insight I've gained is that the estimates are very good at projecting your benefits IF your work pattern continues as expected, but they can't predict life changes. What really opened my eyes was when I used the detailed calculator on ssa.gov to model different scenarios. I discovered that if I work just two extra years past my FRA (until 69 instead of 67), my monthly benefit would increase by about $450 due to delayed retirement credits plus replacing two lower-earning years from my 20s. That's a 16% increase for just two more years of work! My advice: treat the estimates as a reliable baseline, but definitely run multiple scenarios based on realistic changes to your work plans. Also, if you're married, make sure to consider spousal strategies - my spouse can potentially claim spousal benefits on my record while letting their own benefit grow with delayed credits, which could optimize our household's total Social Security income. The estimates have given me confidence to plan, but the scenario modeling has been the real game-changer for making strategic decisions about when to retire.

I work for SSA and can provide some insider perspective on the accuracy question. The benefit estimates are calculated using the same formula that determines your actual benefits, so they're quite reliable from a mathematical standpoint. The main variables that can cause differences between estimates and reality are: 1) Changes in your earnings pattern - the calculator assumes you'll continue earning at similar levels 2) Legislative changes to Social Security (rare but possible) 3) Errors in your earnings record (more common than people think) From what I see processing claims, most people's actual benefits fall within 5% of their estimates if they followed a consistent work pattern. The biggest discrepancies I encounter are usually from people who had significant income changes in their final working years or who had unreported/incorrectly reported earnings. One thing many people don't realize: if you're still working and earning more than you did in earlier years, your benefit estimate might actually be conservative. The system uses your highest 35 years of earnings, so continuing to work at peak earnings can push out those lower early-career years and increase your final benefit. I'd recommend checking your earnings record annually and using the more detailed calculator if you're planning any changes to your work schedule before retirement.

I'm 63 and just went through this exact same situation last year! Started collecting SS benefits ($1,600/month) while still working part-time making about $14,000/year. Like everyone else here, I had NO idea Social Security could be taxable - what a rude awakening that was! I ended up owing around $800 at tax time because I didn't have any withholding set up. After reading through all these responses, I wish I had found this community sooner! Based on everyone's experiences, I submitted my W-4V form for 10% withholding about 3 months ago and it's been working perfectly. One thing I learned the hard way - definitely keep detailed records of everything. I track my monthly withholding amounts in a simple spreadsheet so I can see exactly how much will be withheld by year-end. It helps me feel more in control of the situation. For anyone still on the fence about this - just do it! The peace of mind is worth way more than any minimal interest you might earn by keeping that money longer. Getting surprised with a tax bill is so much worse than having a little extra withheld.

I'm 72 and wish I had found a thread like this when I first started collecting Social Security! I made the same mistake so many of you did - no withholding my first year and got hit with a $1,300 tax bill. What a shock! After that expensive lesson, I set up 10% withholding and it's been perfect for my situation. I get about $1,900/month in SS and work part-time making around $16,000/year, so very similar income to many of you. One tip I haven't seen mentioned - when you're filling out the W-4V form, there's a section where you can specify the month you want withholding to start. This is helpful if you're submitting it mid-year and want to coordinate with your tax planning. Also, the withholding amount is calculated based on your gross monthly benefit before Medicare premiums are deducted. The 10% option really does seem to be the sweet spot for our income range. I actually look forward to tax season now instead of dreading it! Don't wait like I did - get that form submitted and enjoy the peace of mind.

This thread is incredibly valuable! As someone who's been self-employed for over a decade, I had no idea this was such a widespread issue. Reading everyone's experiences has me immediately concerned about my own records. I just checked my SSA earnings record and sure enough, my 2022 self-employment income is showing as significantly lower than what I actually earned and paid SE taxes on. This thread may have saved me from discovering a much bigger problem years down the road! Based on all the excellent advice shared here, I'm planning to: 1. Get my IRS tax transcripts for 2022 and surrounding years 2. Call the national SSA number to start a formal case 3. Request Form SSA-7008 specifically 4. Ask for a protective filing date 5. Document absolutely everything @Isabel Vega - your insider knowledge has been invaluable. The tip about requesting a protective filing date and getting a case number seems crucial for anyone dealing with this. For other self-employed folks reading this - definitely check your SSA earnings record annually! Don't wait until you're close to retirement to discover missing years like some of these cases. It's much easier to fix one year than multiple years of missing income. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and creating such a comprehensive guide for resolving these issues!

This thread is absolutely incredible - thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences and advice! As a newcomer to this community, I'm shocked to learn how widespread this issue is with self-employment income not appearing in SSA records. I'm actually going through something very similar right now. My self-employment income from 2021-2023 is completely missing from my earnings record, despite filing all tax returns on time and paying quarterly SE taxes. I've been to my local SSA office twice and gotten completely different stories each time - first they said it would be updated in 60 days, then on my second visit they claimed there was no record of my first visit! Reading through all the detailed advice here, especially from @Isabel Vega, has given me hope that this can actually be resolved with the right approach. I had no idea about Form SSA-7008, protective filing dates, or the fact that earnings corrections are now handled by specialized processing centers rather than local offices. My plan based on everyone's guidance: 1. Get IRS tax transcripts for the missing years (2021-2023) plus 2020 for comparison 2. Call the national number to initiate a formal earnings review case 3. Schedule an appointment (not walk-in) at local office specifically for Form SSA-7008 4. Create comprehensive documentation package with cover letter listing all contents 5. Request protective filing date, case number, and written receipt 6. Consider filing Inspector General complaint if local office continues to be unresponsive The fact that so many people have successfully resolved this gives me confidence, but it's frustrating that we have to become SSA procedure experts just to get credit for taxes we've already paid. Thank you all for creating such a valuable resource for fellow self-employed folks dealing with this nightmare!