Can I claim ex-spouse Social Security benefits at 62 while delaying my own until FRA?

Unfortunately, the rules changed in 2015 with the Bipartisan Budget Act. You can no longer file for just spousal/ex-spouse benefits while letting your own benefit grow. If you file at 62, you'll be deemed to be filing for ALL benefits you're eligible for - your own retirement and any ex-spouse benefits. The SSA will pay whichever amount is higher, but you can't choose to take only one type. The only people who can still do this strategy were born before January 2, 1954. Since you're turning 62 next year (2026), you missed that cutoff. As for qualifying for ex-spouse benefits at all - yes, you can potentially qualify if the marriages lasted 10+ years. Your benefit would be up to 50% of either ex's full retirement amount (at their FRA). But here's the key: you'll only get ex-spouse benefits if they're higher than your own benefit. Since you earned more than your second husband and about the same as your first, your own benefit will likely be higher anyway.

The previous commenter is correct - the deemed filing rule means you can't pick and choose which benefit to take first anymore. But there's another important thing to consider: if you file at 62, you'll get a permanently reduced benefit (about 30% less than waiting until your full retirement age). Since you earned more than one ex and about the same as the other, chances are your own retirement benefit will be higher than either ex-spouse benefit anyway. The 50% of ex-spouse benefit is already less than your own 100% benefit if earnings were similar, plus filing early reduces it further. My advice? If you can afford to wait until your FRA (or even age 70), you'll get a much higher monthly benefit for life. Each year you delay between 62 and 70 increases your benefit by approximately 8%.

Let me clarify some confusion here. Yes, you can receive up to 50% of an ex-spouse's benefit IF that amount is higher than your own benefit. But you mentioned you earned roughly the same as your first ex and more than your second ex, so your own benefit would likely be higher than 50% of either of theirs. Here's what happens when you file: 1. SSA calculates your own retirement benefit based on your earnings history 2. SSA calculates any ex-spouse benefits you're entitled to (up to 50% of each ex's FRA amount) 3. You receive whichever amount is HIGHER, not both Also important: unlike survivor benefits, you cannot switch between benefits later. Once you file, you're essentially locked into whichever benefit is higher at that time.

my sister went through this EXACT thing last year!! she thought she could get her ex's benefit at 62 and then switch but the SSA told her NO WAY. she was so mad because her friend who's older got to do it but the rules changed. its totally unfair they changed the rules on us!!!!

I've been researching this extensively because I'm in a somewhat similar situation. One thing to consider that hasn't been mentioned yet is that you might qualify for survivor benefits if either of your ex-husbands passes away (sadly). Survivor benefits CAN be taken separately from your retirement benefit, even under the new rules. So while you can't take ex-spouse benefits at 62 and switch to your own later, you COULD take your reduced retirement benefit at 62, and then if an ex-spouse passes away later, you could switch to a survivor benefit if it's higher (which it likely would be if they earned the same or more than you). Of course, that's not something you can plan on, but it's a scenario worth knowing about.

Have you talked to anyone at the SSA directly yet? When I was trying to figure out my benefits last year, I spent WEEKS trying to get through on the phone. Always busy signals or wait times of 2+ hours only to get disconnected! Finally someone told me about Claimyr (claimyr.com) and it was a lifesaver. They got me through to a real SSA agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video on how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU I needed specific answers about my situation that forums couldn't give me, and the SSA agent was able to look at my actual record and give me exact numbers. Totally worth it for making such an important financial decision.

One more important point: even though the rules changed in 2015, there's still value in checking whether either ex-spouse's record would give you a higher benefit. The SSA doesn't automatically check all possible benefits unless you specifically mention your ex-spouses when applying. Make sure to provide marriage/divorce information for both ex-spouses when you apply. The SSA will then calculate all potential benefits and pay the highest one. Some people assume the SSA automatically knows about and checks all possibilities, but that's not always the case. Always provide complete information about all marriages lasting 10+ years.

wow i didnt know that! my aunt never told them about her ex husband when she applied and maybe shes missing out on money!!

Has anyone mentioned the earnings test yet?? If you claim at 62 but are still working, they'll deduct $1 from benefits for every $2 you earn above the annual limit ($22,500 in 2025). So if your working and making decent money it might not even make sense to file early anyway! Something to consider if your still employed....

Welcome to the community! I'm also navigating Social Security planning and found this discussion really helpful. One thing that might be worth considering is using the SSA's online benefit estimator at ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/estimator.html - it can give you a rough idea of what your own retirement benefit would be at different claiming ages (62, FRA, 70) so you can compare that to potential ex-spouse benefits. Also, since you mentioned both marriages lasted over 10 years, make sure you have the documentation ready (divorce decrees, marriage certificates) when you do apply. The SSA will need those to verify eligibility for any ex-spouse benefits. Given what everyone's shared about the 2015 rule changes, it sounds like your best bet is probably to focus on optimizing when to claim your own benefit rather than trying to strategize around ex-spouse benefits. But definitely worth having the SSA run all the numbers to be sure!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through a similar situation recently! I'm 64 and also had two marriages over 10 years each. Like you, I initially thought I could claim ex-spouse benefits early and switch later - that 2015 rule change really caught a lot of us off guard. What I ended up doing was creating a spreadsheet comparing my monthly benefits at different claiming ages (62, FRA, 70) versus what I might get from ex-spouse benefits. Even though my second ex earned more than me during our marriage, my own benefit at FRA was still higher than 50% of his benefit would be. The key realization for me was that Social Security is designed to replace a percentage of YOUR pre-retirement income, not necessarily give you the maximum possible dollar amount. Since you earned well during your career, your own benefit is probably going to be your best option. One last tip: if you do decide to wait past 62, make sure you're still contributing to Social Security through work. Those higher earning years in your 60s can really boost your benefit calculation since SS uses your highest 35 years of earnings. Good luck with your decision!

As someone who recently went through the Social Security claiming decision process, I wanted to share a few additional considerations that might help with your planning. First, don't forget about Medicare! Since you'll be eligible at 65 regardless of when you claim Social Security, factor those costs into your decision. If you're currently getting health insurance through work, you'll need to plan for that transition. Second, consider your overall retirement portfolio. While maximizing Social Security is important, it shouldn't be viewed in isolation. If you have significant 401(k) or IRA savings, you might be able to afford waiting until 70 to claim Social Security for those delayed retirement credits (8% per year from FRA to 70). On the flip side, if Social Security will be your primary income source, claiming earlier might make more sense despite the reduction. Finally, I'd recommend downloading your Social Security Statement from ssa.gov to get your exact earnings record and benefit estimates. This will give you the real numbers to work with rather than guessing about how your benefit compares to potential ex-spouse benefits. The fact that you're thinking strategically about this now puts you ahead of many people. Take your time with the analysis - this decision will affect your income for the rest of your life!

Hi Ravi! I'm new to the community and found your question really relevant since I'm in a somewhat similar situation. After reading through all the responses, it sounds like the 2015 rule change really did eliminate the strategy you were initially considering. One thing I wanted to add that might be helpful - when I was researching this topic, I learned that you can actually contact SSA and request a personalized benefit estimate that includes potential ex-spouse benefits from specific former spouses. They can run the calculations using their actual earnings records (if you provide their SSNs and proof of marriage/divorce) to give you exact dollar amounts rather than estimates. This might be worth doing even though it sounds like your own benefit will likely be higher. At least you'll know for certain rather than guessing based on what you remember about relative incomes during the marriages. Also, I noticed several people mentioned the earnings test if you're still working - that's definitely something to factor in if you're consulting. Between that and the permanent reduction for early filing, waiting until your FRA (or even 70) might be the better financial move despite wanting some income at 62. Good luck with your decision! This community seems really knowledgeable about navigating these complex Social Security rules.

Hi Ravi! I'm new here but have been following this discussion with great interest as I'm approaching a similar decision point. One resource that hasn't been mentioned yet is the AARP Social Security Calculator (aarp.org/retirement/social-security/benefits-calculator/) - it's particularly good at helping you visualize the long-term impact of claiming at different ages. What really opened my eyes was seeing the cumulative lifetime benefits comparison. Even though you get less per month by claiming early, if you live long enough (and most of us hope to!), waiting often pays off significantly in total dollars received. Also, since you mentioned being close to 62, you might want to consider that Social Security makes annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA). Your benefit amount gets locked in at whatever the rates are when you first claim, then grows with inflation from there. So claiming during a year with a lower benefit calculation versus waiting could compound over decades. Given everything everyone has shared about your likely higher personal benefit versus ex-spouse benefits, plus your continued consulting income, it really does sound like patience might be your best strategy here. I know it's hard when you want to start seeing some return on all those years of contributions! Best of luck with whatever you decide - and thanks for starting such an informative discussion!

Hi Ravi! I'm new to the community but have been following this discussion closely as I'm dealing with similar questions about Social Security timing. One aspect I haven't seen discussed yet is the impact of inflation on your decision. While waiting until FRA or 70 gives you higher monthly benefits, the purchasing power of those dollars will be different 5-8 years from now. Given current economic conditions, some financial advisors are suggesting that getting guaranteed income flowing sooner (even if reduced) might be worth considering, especially if you can invest the early benefits in assets that historically outpace inflation. That said, based on everything shared here about your earnings history and the 2015 rule changes, it does sound like your own benefit will likely be your best option regardless of timing. The key question becomes whether you can afford to wait for the higher monthly amounts. Have you considered doing a break-even analysis? Calculate at what age the higher monthly benefits from waiting would equal the total cumulative benefits you'd receive by claiming early. For many people, that break-even point is somewhere in their late 70s to early 80s, which can help inform the decision based on your health and family longevity history. Thanks for starting such an educational discussion - I'm learning a lot from everyone's insights!

Hi Ravi! I'm new to this community but wanted to jump in since I just went through a very similar situation last year. Like you, I had multiple long marriages and was hoping to use the ex-spouse benefit strategy to bridge income from 62 to FRA. The 2015 rule change really is a game-changer that catches a lot of people off guard. What I found most helpful was sitting down with a fee-only financial planner who specializes in Social Security optimization. They helped me model different scenarios including the tax implications of early vs. delayed claiming, especially important if you have other retirement income sources. One thing I'd add to the great advice already given - if you do decide to claim early due to financial necessity, remember that the reduction isn't necessarily permanent if you change your mind within the first 12 months. You can withdraw your application (pay back what you received) and refile later for a higher benefit. It's called a "do-over" and while not ideal, it's an option if circumstances change. Also consider that as a divorced woman, you statistically have a higher chance of outliving your retirement savings compared to married couples, so maximizing that guaranteed monthly Social Security income becomes even more critical. The longevity insurance aspect of waiting might outweigh the immediate gratification of early benefits. Best of luck with your decision - this thread has been incredibly informative for all of us navigating these waters!