Can I collect Social Security survivor benefits from ex-spouse while letting my own SS retirement benefit grow?

Yes, you can absolutely do this! It's called a restricted application. Since you were married for over 10 years (requirement is 9 months for survivor benefits, but 10 years for divorced spouse), you qualify for survivor benefits based on your ex-husband's record. You can claim these survivor benefits now at 63/64 (though they'll be reduced because you're claiming before your FRA), while allowing your own retirement benefit to grow until 70 if you want to maximize it. This is one of the few remaining filing strategies that still works after the 2015 law changes. Make sure when you apply that you specifically tell them you ONLY want to file for survivor benefits, not your own retirement. Be very clear about this or they might accidentally file you for both.

sorry about your ex. my cousin did this exact thing last yr. she got survivors from her ex and is waiting til 70 for her own. she said the trick is being SUPER clear when u apply that ur only applying for ONE benefit not both. good luck!

I'm in a similar situation and trying to figure this out too! But I thought the Social Security office told me that if I file for ANY benefit, they automatically give me whichever is higher? I'm so confused about whether I can really get survivors now and switch later. Did anyone here actually successfully do this??

Just wanted to add that you should double-check if your teacher pension might affect your Social Security benefits through the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or Government Pension Offset (GPO). Many teachers are in pension systems that don't pay into Social Security, which can reduce benefits. This wouldn't affect survivor benefits as much as your own retirement benefit, but still worth checking.

After spending WEEKS trying to get through to Social Security about a similar survivor benefit question, I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual SSA agent in under 10 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU It was the only way I could get clear answers about my survivor benefits without waiting for an in-person appointment (mine was scheduled 3 months out!). The agent I spoke with confirmed exactly what others here are saying - you CAN claim survivor benefits from an ex-spouse while delaying your own retirement benefit.

WATCH OUT FOR THE EARNINGS TEST!!! If you're still working and under full retirement age, they will take back $1 of benefits for every $2 you earn above the annual limit (about $21,240 for 2025). I learned this the HARD WAY when I had to pay back thousands in survivor benefits because no one warned me! The earnings test applies to survivor benefits just like retirement benefits until you reach your full retirement age.

I went through this last year when my ex died. The rules are super confusing and it took me three trips to the Social Security office to get it straightened out. One thing no one mentioned yet - they'll need your marriage certificate AND divorce decree. I had trouble finding mine after 15 years and had to order new copies which delayed everything. Also make sure your daughter's benefits won't be affected by you filing - shouldn't be since she's on survivor benefits too, but worth confirming.

Question - will the amount of your ex's benefit matter? Like if his Social Security was lower than yours will be, is there still any point in doing this? I'm wondering because my ex didn't make much money during his life so his benefit was probably small.

Another important thing to consider: claiming survivor benefits at 63/64 means you'll get approximately 79-82% of the full survivor benefit (rather than 100% if you waited until your full retirement age). But since you're planning to switch to your own benefit later anyway, it often makes financial sense to take the reduced survivor benefit now rather than waiting. Just be aware of the reduction.