Can I switch from my late husband's SS benefits to my ex-husband's when I reach FRA?

Yes, you absolutely can file for divorced spousal benefits based on your ex-husband's record instead of your deceased husband's record - IF it would result in a higher benefit amount. The 18-year marriage easily meets the 10-year requirement for ex-spouse benefits. You don't need his permission or even to contact him at all. Social Security handles everything confidentially. The key question is which would be higher: your survivor benefit from your late husband or the divorced spouse benefit from your ex (which would be 50% of his FRA benefit amount). I'd recommend calling SSA to get specific calculations for both scenarios before making any decisions. Make sure to ask about the implications of switching before your own FRA as well.

my freind did this last year. she was married to her 1st hubby for 15 years and then he left, then she remarried and her 2nd passed away. she gets benefits from her 1st husband now because it was more money. so yes u can do it! good luck!

This is actually a complex situation and there's some incorrect information being shared. Here's how it ACTUALLY works: 1. As a widow, you're currently eligible for survivor benefits which can be up to 100% of what your late husband received or would have received at his FRA. 2. As an ex-spouse, you're eligible for divorced spouse benefits which are only 50% of your ex-husband's benefit amount at his FRA. Based purely on the percentages, survivor benefits are typically higher UNLESS your ex-husband earned significantly more than your late husband. You should request earnings records from both to compare. Most importantly: You can actually do BOTH at different times to maximize your benefits! You could take one benefit now and switch to the other at your FRA (which appears to be around 66-67 depending on your birth year). This strategy could optimize your lifetime payout. Call SSA and specifically ask about the "restricted application" strategy for your situation.

I tried dealing with this EXACT same situation when my husband died. Spent 6 WEEKS trying to get someone on the phone at Social Security. Kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. FINALLY I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to SSA in 20 minutes after I'd wasted weeks trying. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Once I actually talked to someone at SSA, they compared both records for me and helped me choose the higher benefit. Turned out my ex's benefit would give me $430 more per month than my late husband's! Definitely worth checking out both options.

You've received good advice already, but I want to add some important nuances about timing: 1. At your current age (63), taking either benefit means you're receiving a reduced amount due to claiming before your Full Retirement Age. 2. If you're already receiving survivor benefits at a reduced rate, switching to ex-spouse benefits later won't remove that reduction from the survivor benefit calculation if you ever switch back. 3. For maximum benefit, consider if your own work record might actually provide the highest benefit at age 70 with delayed retirement credits. The optimal strategy depends on the specific benefit amounts from all three sources: your own record, survivor benefits, and ex-spouse benefits. This is why getting a comprehensive benefits analysis from SSA is crucial before making any decisions.

WATCH OUT if you worked as a teacher!!! If you receive a pension from work not covered by Social Security (like many public school teachers), you might be subject to the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and/or the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). These can drastically reduce your Social Security benefits!!! The SSA doesn't always tell you about these until it's too late! Make sure you specifically ask about GPO/WEP implications for your situation.

lol I wish I had this problem... having TWO husbands who made enough to get decent SS benefits! My ex was a deadbeat and my current husband is self-employed and barely reports any income. I'll probably get like $800 a month when I retire 😂

have u tried going to the SSA office? sometimes they can get u in without appointment if u go early in the morning. my cousin did that and got everything figured out in one visit.

After reading all the comments, I think your best approach is to: 1. First, determine if your teacher pension makes you subject to GPO/WEP rules. This is crucial. 2. Get benefit estimates for all three scenarios: your own record, ex-spouse benefits, and survivor benefits. 3. Request a complete earnings record from SSA to verify everything is accurate. 4. Consider not just which benefit is highest now, but which strategy maximizes your lifetime benefits. Sometimes taking a lower benefit now and switching later can result in more money overall. Documentation you'll need: marriage and divorce certificates for your first marriage, marriage certificate and death certificate for your second marriage, your birth certificate, and your Social Security card. Have these ready when you finally reach SSA.

Thank you everyone for your helpful advice! I've learned so much. I'm going to try the Claimyr service to get through to SSA this week and make sure I ask about WEP/GPO since I did have that teaching pension. I'll gather all my documents and request benefit estimates for all three scenarios. I really appreciate all your help - this has been so confusing to figure out on my own!