Can I claim my ex-husband's Social Security at 62 then switch to my own at 70?

Oh no! I was born in 1964 so I guess that means I can't use this strategy? That's so disappointing...I was really counting on being able to get some income at 62 while letting my own benefit grow.

Thank you for explaining this so clearly! I appreciate it. So basically I have to choose - either take reduced benefits early OR wait for my full benefit. I just created my SSA account but it doesn't show me what I could get from my ex's record. Is there a way to find that out without contacting him?

This is why I tell EVERYONE to consult with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security before making any decisions. The rules are incredibly complex, and one wrong move can cost you THOUSANDS of dollars over your lifetime! The SSA employees aren't allowed to give strategy advice - they just process whatever you ask for, even if it's not in your best interest!

Thank you! This is really helpful. He's actually already receiving his benefits (he's 6 years older than me). So I need to calculate whether 50% of his benefit is more than my own benefit would be at 62. And then compare that to what I'd get if I just wait until 70 for my own benefit. I'm guessing the SSA won't help me figure out which option is better financially?

If you're trying to reach SSA by phone to get personalized help, I'd recommend trying Claimyr (claimyr.com). I spent weeks trying to get through the SSA phone lines last year when I needed to sort out my widow's benefits. After 3 disconnected calls and hours on hold, I found this service that actually gets you through to a live person at SSA. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Once I actually got to talk to someone, they were able to run calculations comparing my different benefit options, which was WAY more helpful than trying to figure it out myself.

They're definitely different programs. SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is a needs-based program for people with limited income and resources who are disabled, blind, or 65+. SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) is for disabled workers who have earned enough work credits. Regular retirement benefits and divorced spouse benefits both come from the Social Security retirement program, which is based on work credits. These are separate from both SSI and SSDI. The terminology can definitely be confusing since everything has "Social Security" in the name!

8% increase sounds good but thats still 8 whole years of getting NOTHING when you could be getting something! bird in hand worth 2 in bush or whatever that saying is lol

Sounds like a solid plan. One other thing to consider in your decision: if you plan to work at all between 62 and your Full Retirement Age (which is probably 67 for you), there's an earnings limit. In 2025, if you earn more than $22,750, they'll withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above that limit. After you reach FRA, there's no earnings limit. That's another reason many people choose to wait if they're still working.

This break-even analysis approach is exactly what I needed to hear! I never thought about calculating the crossover point like that. Your example really helps put it in perspective - if I'm likely to live past 82 (which seems probable given my family history), then waiting makes financial sense even though it's hard to turn down money now. I'm definitely going to ask the SSA rep to run the numbers for both my own benefits and the divorced spouse benefits at different claiming ages. Then I can do the math myself to figure out which strategy maximizes my lifetime income. Thank you for mentioning the tax implications too - I hadn't considered that my other retirement accounts might push me into a higher tax bracket. Has anyone here actually done this type of break-even calculation? I'm wondering if there are any online calculators that might help with the math.

Yes, I've done this calculation! There are several good online calculators that can help. The AARP Social Security Calculator is pretty user-friendly, and OpenSocialSecurity.com is another free tool that's more comprehensive (though a bit more complex to use). For the break-even analysis, I used a simple spreadsheet. I calculated the total benefits received from claiming at 62 through various ages, then compared it to the total if I waited until 70. The crossover point for me was around age 81, similar to the example Mateo gave. One thing to keep in mind - when you're doing this analysis, you might also want to consider inflation and the potential for future cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs). Your higher benefit at 70 will get larger COLA increases each year compared to a smaller benefit claimed at 62. Over 20-30 years of retirement, those compounding increases can add up to significant money. Also, don't forget about survivor benefits if you're concerned about a future spouse - the higher your own benefit, the more valuable those survivor benefits could be down the road.

Yes! I actually used the Social Security Administration's own retirement estimator on ssa.gov, but for more detailed break-even analysis, I found AARP's Social Security Calculator really helpful (it's free on their website). It lets you compare different claiming strategies side by side. Another tool that worked well for me was the "When to Take Social Security" calculator from Fidelity - it factors in life expectancy, other income sources, and even spousal benefits. Since you're dealing with divorced spouse benefits, you might also want to check out the "Maximize My Social Security" software (though that one costs money). The key thing I learned from doing my own analysis is that even small differences in life expectancy assumptions can dramatically change which strategy is "optimal." Since none of us know exactly how long we'll live, I ended up putting more weight on the guaranteed 8% annual increases from delaying rather than trying to perfectly optimize for an unknown lifespan. One tip: when you meet with SSA, ask them to print out your complete earnings history so you can double-check their benefit calculations. I found a missing year of earnings that actually increased my estimated benefit!

Yes! I actually used the Social Security break-even calculator on AARP's website when I was making this decision two years ago. It's pretty user-friendly and lets you input different scenarios. There's also a good one on the SSA's own website under "Retirement Estimator" that shows benefits at different claiming ages. One thing I learned from my financial planner is to also consider inflation and cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs). Social Security benefits get annual adjustments, so a higher base benefit at 70 means bigger COLA increases for life compared to a smaller benefit claimed at 62. Also, if you're married or planning to remarry someday, remember that survivor benefits are based on what you were actually receiving (or entitled to receive). So if you claim early and get a reduced benefit, that reduction carries over to any future spouse's survivor benefit. Just another factor to consider in your calculations! The break-even analysis really helped me feel confident about waiting until my FRA. Good luck with your decision!

Yes! I used the Social Security Administration's own retirement estimator at ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/estimator.html - it's actually pretty helpful once you get the hang of it. You can plug in different retirement ages and see how your benefits change. For the break-even analysis, I ended up making a simple spreadsheet. Column A had ages 62-95, Column B had the monthly benefit if I claimed at 62, Column C had the monthly benefit if I waited until 70, and Column D calculated the cumulative difference. The crossover point was really eye-opening! There are also some good third-party calculators like the ones at AARP and Fidelity, though they can't access your actual earnings record like the SSA site can. Just remember that these calculators typically assume you stop working completely, so adjust accordingly if you plan to have any earned income. One more tip: when you meet with SSA, ask them to print out your complete earnings history. Sometimes there are errors or missing years that could affect your benefit calculation, and it's easier to spot them when you see everything laid out chronologically.

Yes! I used the SSA's online retirement estimator along with a simple spreadsheet to do this calculation when I was deciding between claiming at 62 vs waiting. The SSA estimator gives you benefit amounts at different ages, then I just multiplied monthly benefits by 12 months and calculated cumulative totals year by year until they crossed over. There are also some good third-party calculators - I found one called "Social Security Timing" that was pretty helpful. Just search for "social security break even calculator" and you'll find several options. One thing to remember in your calculations: Social Security has annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), so your higher benefit at 70 will keep growing each year while a smaller benefit claimed early grows by the same dollar amount but represents a smaller base. Over 20-30 years, that difference really compounds! Also, if you're married or planning to remarry, survivor benefits are based on your full benefit amount, so maximizing your own benefit can help protect a future spouse too.

Yes! I actually used the Social Security break-even calculator on AARP's website when I was making this decision a couple years ago. It's really user-friendly and lets you input different scenarios. There's also a good one on the SSA's own website under "Retirement Estimator" but it's a bit clunkier to use. One thing I learned from doing my own analysis - don't forget to factor in potential COLA (cost of living adjustments) when you're doing the math. If you wait until 70, those annual increases apply to a much higher base amount, which can make a big difference over 20+ years of retirement. Also, since you mentioned having other retirement accounts, you might want to consider the tax-planning angle too. Sometimes it makes sense to delay Social Security while drawing down tax-deferred accounts first, especially if it keeps you in a lower tax bracket. A fee-only financial planner who specializes in Social Security could probably run some scenarios for you that factor in all these variables.

Yes, I've used a few different calculators for this! The SSA's own retirement estimator on their website is decent for basic scenarios, but for more complex situations like comparing divorced spouse benefits, I found the AARP Social Security Calculator really helpful - it lets you run multiple "what if" scenarios side by side. There's also a free calculator called "Open Social Security" that's specifically designed for optimization - it can factor in spousal/divorced spouse benefits and suggest the best claiming strategy based on your inputs. Just Google "Open Social Security calculator" and it should come up. One thing to keep in mind when you're doing your break-even analysis: don't forget about cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs)! The annual increases apply to whatever base benefit you're receiving, so if you start with a higher benefit at 70, those percentage increases compound over time and make the gap even bigger. @Mateo Warren had a great point about the tax implications too - definitely worth factoring in since Social Security benefits can be taxed differently depending on your total income.