Can I claim ex-spouse Social Security benefits at 62 without filing for my own retirement?

The SSA rep was actually correct. The old strategy where you could file for ONLY spousal/ex-spousal benefits while letting your own grow was eliminated by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015. Now when you file at 62, you're deemed to be filing for ALL benefits you're eligible for (own and spousal) - this is called 'deemed filing'. The ONLY exceptions are for surviving divorced spouses (widows/widowers) or if you're caring for the ex-spouse's child who is under 16 or disabled. Since you're both alive and presumably don't have a young child together, deemed filing applies in your case.

I went threw this exact same thing last year!!!! The social security peopl on the fone told me i HAD to file for my own benifits first and couldn't just get my ex husbands. We were married 22 years and I have a much lower earning record then him. It's so confusing!!!

The rules changed back in 2015/2016. Before that, you could do what was called a "restricted application" for just spousal benefits, but that strategy is now only available to people born before January 2, 1954. For everyone else, when you file, you file for everything you're eligible for at once, and they give you whichever is higher - your own benefit or a portion of your ex's. It's frustrating because so many older articles online still talk about strategies that no longer work!

I filed for divorced spouse benefits last year when I turned 65. They told me the same thing - had to file for my own too. What you'll get is the higher of your own reduced benefit OR the difference between your reduced benefit and 50% of your ex's full retirement benefit. They don't tell you this clearly!!! In my case, my ex's benefit was much larger so I got a "top up" amount. But if I'd waited till my full retirement age I would have gotten more.

I've spent hours on the phone with SSA trying to get answers about my own situation with ex-spouse benefits. Just a tip - consider using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an agent faster. They have a service that helps you skip the hold times. I wasted days trying to get through before finding them. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Saved me hours of frustration when dealing with my complex benefit questions.

MY FREND TOLD ME TO DO THE SAME THING BUT WHEN I WENT TO SSA THEY SAID NO!!!! I think the govment changed the rules to save money becaus to many people were using this stragety!!!

So here's what you need to know - at 62, you can apply for divorced spouse benefits IF: 1. You were married at least 10 years (you qualify) 2. You're currently unmarried (assuming you are) 3. Your ex is entitled to benefits (even if they haven't filed yet, they need to be 62+) BUT - and this is the big change since 2016 - you MUST file for your own benefits simultaneously. They'll pay you whichever amount is higher. If your work record gives you $800/month and your ex-spouse benefit would be $900/month, you'd get $900. If your own benefit is higher, you'd just get that. The old strategy was eliminated for anyone born after 1/1/1954. I found all this out the hard way last year!

To directly answer your original question: No, a 62-year-old who was married 10+ years cannot apply for ex-spouse benefits without applying for their own if they were born after January 1, 1954. The SSA office gave you correct information. Whether to claim at 62 depends on your financial situation, health, and life expectancy. Remember that claiming at 62 means: 1. Your personal benefit is reduced by approximately 30% 2. Any spousal/ex-spousal benefit is reduced to about 35% (instead of 50%) 3. These reductions are permanent The key question is: do you need the income now, or can you afford to wait for a larger benefit later?