Can I claim divorced spouse Social Security benefits when my own FRA benefit is $2950?

You're asking great questions about a complex situation. Based on the information you've provided, it's unlikely that divorced spouse benefits would be higher than your own benefit. Even at maximum earnings, your ex's FRA benefit would be around $3,800-$4,000 for someone his age, making half of that ($1,900-$2,000) significantly less than your $2,950. The strategy you're thinking of (filing for ex-spouse benefits now and switching later) used to be possible through what was called a "restricted application," but that option was eliminated for most people by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015. Anyone born on January 2, 1954 or later can no longer file for just one benefit while letting the other grow. Your best option is likely to wait until your Full Retirement Age to collect your own retirement benefit of $2,950. Filing earlier would permanently reduce your monthly amount.

Unfortunately, you're caught in the post-2015 rules trap. The SSA will automatically give you the higher of the two benefits (your own or divorced spouse benefit), but never both. With your own benefit at $2950, it would almost certainly be higher than any divorced spouse benefit you could receive. When you apply, the SSA will check both calculations automatically - you don't need to specifically request it. Just mention your prior marriage when you apply. They'll need the marriage certificate and divorce decree to verify the 10+ year marriage duration. One thing to consider: if you're still working, you might want to wait until FRA to avoid the earnings test reducing your benefits. At your benefit level, maximizing your own work record is almost certainly your best strategy.

The maddening thing about all this is that if your benefit is already $2950, then half of your ex's is definitely going to be less than that. I went through a similar situation (though my benefit was much lower than yours). The maximum SS benefit for someone at FRA in 2025 is around $3950, so half of that would be $1975, way below your own benefit. The REALLY frustrating part is that if you'd been born just a few years earlier, you COULD have done exactly what you described - filed for ex-spouse benefits at 66 and then switched to your own higher benefit later. They eliminated that strategy for anyone born after January 1, 1954. The system punishes women who took time off to raise kids then went back to high-earning careers. If you'd never worked, you'd get the ex-spouse benefit. If you'd always worked, you'd get your higher benefit. But since you did BOTH (like many women), you just get the higher amount with no credit for the other.

I tried calling SSA to ask about a similar situation with my ex. Spent 3 hrs on hold before getting disconnected. Used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an agent in under 15 minutes. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Totally worth it for getting complex questions answered! The agent confirmed what others said - you either get your own benefit OR the ex-spouse benefit, whichever is higher. They do check both automatically. And with your own benefit at $2950, it's almost certainly higher than any ex-spouse benefit you'd qualify for since the maximum is around $4000 and you'd get half.

i think ur mistaken about the max benefit amount. my husbands FRA benefit is WAY higher than $4000. hes getting like $4600 and hes only 67. so maybe check with ssa about what ur ex actually gets before making a decision?? if he was really high earner maybe half his would be more? just saying dont leave $ on table

Has anyone calculated what that max benefit actually would be? I find it hard to believe any ex-spouse would have a FRA benefit high enough that half would be over $2950. I'm 68 and my husband earned max for 40+ years and his benefit isn't anywhere near $6000 (which is what it would need to be for half to exceed $2950).

Since you mentioned being 65, is there a reason you're considering filing before your Full Retirement Age? With a benefit amount as substantial as $2,950, waiting until FRA (or even age 70) could significantly increase your lifetime benefits. I made the mistake of claiming early and regret it every month when I see my reduced check. Are you still working? If so, be aware of the earnings test that could reduce your benefits if you claim before FRA while still earning income. If you don't absolutely need the money now, waiting could be the smartest financial move.

ur so lucky to have a benefit that high!! mine is only like $1400 and im already 67! those years of zero earnings really kill ur benefit calculation. wish id known that when i was younger lol

One crucial point that hasn't been mentioned: while claiming divorced spouse benefits doesn't require your ex to be receiving benefits, he does need to be age-eligible (at least 62). Since you mentioned he's 66, this requirement is already met. Even though your own benefit will be higher, it's still important to mention your eligible divorced spouse status when you apply. This ensures the SSA does the proper calculations and comparison. Given your substantial benefit amount ($2,950), I strongly recommend waiting until your Full Retirement Age to avoid permanent reductions. If your financial situation allows, waiting until 70 would increase your benefit by approximately 32% to around $3,900 per month for the rest of your life.

To answer your question about the break-even point for delaying benefits from FRA to age 70: Generally, you'd need to live until approximately 82-83 years old to break even. Every month you live beyond that age, you're coming out ahead by having delayed. With women's average life expectancy now in the mid-80s and continuing to increase, delaying benefits is often a smart financial decision, especially for women with family histories of longevity. It's essentially longevity insurance. Delaying also maximizes potential survivor benefits should you remarry. Something to consider in your overall planning.