How to calculate ex-spouse Social Security benefits without waiting 2+ hours on SSA phone line?

You can't see ex-spouse benefit estimates online - it's one of the few things MySocialSecurity doesn't show. The 50% ex-spouse benefit only applies if you wait until your FRA (66+10mo if you're 63 now). If you take it early, it's reduced. Remember you need to be divorced for at least 2 years, which you are. Also, if your own retirement benefit would be higher than 50% of his, you'll just get your own amount.

my cousin went thru same thing last yr. she tried for 3 days to get thru to ssa!! Then she found this service Claimyr that got her a callback from SSA in like 20 mins! saved her hours of waiting. vid of how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU website is claimyr.com - not free but worth it to save a whole day on hold

THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW YOUR BENEFITS!!! This is exactly how SSA operates - hide the info, make you wait HOURS, hoping you'll give up. I spent 4 months trying to get spousal benefit info and got different answers every time. One rep told me I couldn't claim on my ex because he hadn't filed yet - TOTALLY WRONG! Another said I needed his permission - ALSO WRONG! Good luck getting accurate info even if you do wait those 2 hours.

i think theres a form you can fill out for this? my sister did something like that for her divorce benefits. cant remember what its called tho sorry

Social Security expert here. You're asking about the ex-spouse benefit calculation, which is a common question. Here's how it works: 1. If you claim at your Full Retirement Age (FRA), you can receive 50% of your ex-spouse's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is their benefit at their FRA. 2. If you claim before your FRA, your benefit is reduced - approximately 0.69% per month before FRA. 3. Important: The 50% is based on your ex's FRA amount even if he claimed early. His decision to take benefits early doesn't reduce your spousal benefit. 4. SSA will automatically give you the higher of your own benefit or the ex-spouse benefit. The only way to get an accurate estimate is to speak with SSA. In-person appointments at local offices can often have shorter wait times than the phone.

I just went through this last month!!!! Spent HOURS trying different ways to get this info. Ended up having to go to my local office in person with an appointment. Even then, the rep seemed confused at first about how to calculate it. Make sure whoever helps you understands that: 1) Ex-spouse benefits are calculated differently than current spouse benefits sometimes 2) You need to know both your PIA and your ex's PIA to compare 3) If you have any government pension they need to calculate GPO Good luck! The system makes it way harder than it should be!

Wait they can tell you this over the phone? My friend said she had to file the actual application before they would tell her the amount. That seems ridiculous if true.

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I'm going to try making an in-person appointment at my local office as suggested. If that doesn't work or the wait is too long, I might try that Claimyr service someone mentioned. It's frustrating that there's no way to see this information online when everything else seems to be available in my MySocialSecurity account. I'll update once I get some answers!

One tip that worked for me - try calling SSA first thing in the morning right when they open (7 AM local time). The wait times are usually much shorter then. I got through in about 15 minutes when I called at 7:05 AM versus the 2+ hour waits later in the day. Also, if you do get disconnected, they sometimes have a callback feature where they'll call you back instead of making you wait on hold again. Just make sure you have all your documents ready - your Social Security card, divorce decree, and any recent benefit statements. The rep will need to verify your identity before they can access your ex's earnings record to calculate the estimate.

Another option to consider is visiting your local Social Security office during their less busy hours - typically mid-week (Tuesday-Thursday) in the early afternoon. I had a similar situation last year and found that while phone wait times were brutal, I could get a same-day appointment at my local office by showing up when they opened. The staff there had access to all the systems needed to calculate my ex-spouse benefit estimate on the spot. They were also able to explain how my state pension would affect the calculation (GPO reduction) which I hadn't even known about. Bring your divorce decree, Social Security card, and any pension information if you have it. Much better than spending half a day on hold!

As someone who went through this exact situation two years ago, I feel your pain! The SSA phone wait times are absolutely brutal. Here's what finally worked for me: I called my local SSA office directly (not the main 1-800 number) and was able to schedule a phone appointment for later that week. Many local offices offer scheduled phone consultations where they call YOU at the appointed time - no waiting on hold! You can find your local office number on the SSA website using your zip code. When I had my scheduled call, the representative was able to calculate my ex-spouse benefit estimate in about 10 minutes. Just make sure you have your ex's full name, date of birth, and SSN ready (which you mentioned you have from old tax returns). The estimate they gave me was spot-on when I actually filed. This approach saved me hours of frustration and I got accurate information from someone who had time to explain everything properly.

I just discovered another option that might help - some SSA offices have self-service kiosks where you can pull certain benefit information without waiting in line. However, I'm not sure if they show ex-spouse benefit estimates specifically. You might also want to check if your local library has a SSA outreach program - mine has a volunteer AARP tax counselor who comes in twice a month and is really knowledgeable about Social Security benefits. She helped my neighbor figure out her widow's benefits without having to deal with SSA directly. It's worth asking your librarian if they have any similar programs. The volunteer couldn't give official estimates, but she walked through the calculation method so my neighbor knew roughly what to expect before making the SSA appointment.