Can I receive both ex-spouse Social Security benefits AND my own SS at 62? Agent gave confusing info

The agent definitely gave you incorrect information. You cannot receive both your own retirement benefit AND an ex-spouse benefit simultaneously at full value. What you CAN do is receive the higher of the two amounts. There used to be a strategy called "restricted application" that allowed people born before January 2, 1954 to collect spousal benefits while letting their own retirement benefits grow, but that option isn't available to anyone born in 1963. What might have happened is the agent was explaining that your total benefit would be $900 - with $600 coming from your own record and the additional $300 as a "top up" from your ex-spouse's record to bring you to the higher amount. But this would be ONE payment of $900, not two separate payments totaling $1500.

Same thing happened to me last year!!! I was told I could get both mine and my ex's... then I applied and found out NOPE! They only give you whichever is higher. It's so frustrating when they give wrong info!

The rep might have been explaining your options poorly rather than giving completely incorrect information. Here's what's possible: 1) You can claim just your own retirement benefit at 62 (reduced for early filing) 2) You can claim just your ex-spouse benefit at 62 (also reduced) 3) You can claim both, but you'll only receive the higher of the two amounts If your own benefit is $600 and your ex-spouse benefit would be $900, you'd receive $900 total. However, there's another possibility: If you wait until your Full Retirement Age (66+10 months for someone born in 1963), your benefit amounts would be higher. The $600/$900 figures are likely the reduced amounts for claiming at 62. I'd recommend calling SSA back and specifically ask for a detailed breakdown of your benefit options at different ages.

i tried calling ssa like 5 times last month about my benefits and kept getting disconnected or waiting 2+ hours!!!! how did u even get through to talk to someone??

When I got divorced my lawyer told me I could collect on my ex's record as long as we were married over 10 years. Never heard anything about collecting both though!

I think what the agent MIGHT have been trying to say is that you'd get your $600 benefit PLUS the DIFFERENCE between your benefit and your ex's benefit (so an additional $300), which equals $900 total. But they explained it TERRIBLY making it sound like you'd get $1500. Classic SSA miscommunication!!!!

BTW make sure u know filing at 62 means permanently reduced benefits! I did it and sometimes regret not waiting longer

After reading through this thread, I want to summarize the correct information for clarity: 1. You cannot receive both your own retirement benefit AND an ex-spouse benefit at full value simultaneously. 2. If eligible for both, you receive the higher of the two amounts. 3. The "restricted application" strategy that allowed collecting one benefit while the other grows was eliminated for anyone born after January 1, 1954. 4. At age 62, both your own retirement benefit and any ex-spouse benefit would be reduced by approximately 30% from their full retirement age amounts. 5. The rep likely meant you'd receive $900 total (not $900 + $600). I strongly recommend getting a detailed benefits calculation from SSA showing your options at different claiming ages before making any decisions.