Should I take ex-spouse Social Security benefits at 64 or wait until my FRA at 67?

Your ex-spouse's decision to file early doesn't affect your benefit amount from his record. What matters is when YOU file. If you file for ex-spouse benefits before your FRA (67), you'll receive a permanently reduced amount - about 13.3% less at 64 than at 67. Remember that when you file for any benefit, SSA will give you the higher of either your own retirement benefit or the ex-spouse benefit (which is 50% of his full retirement amount). They don't stack. If your own work record will give you less than half of his benefit, waiting until your FRA to file for the ex-spouse benefit would maximize that amount.

in my experience, takin SS early is ALWAYS a mistake!!!! I took mine at 62 and regret it everyday... smaller checks for LIFE. wait as long as you can afford to!!!!

I'm in a similar situation but already took my ex-spouse benefits at 63. I wish I had waited because the reduction is permanent. One thing nobody told me - you need marriage certificate AND divorce decree when you apply! Also had to know his SSN which was a whole ordeal to find after 15 years divorced lol. Do you already have all your documents ready?

There are two important factors to consider in your situation: 1. Your own work record: If your own benefit would be more than 50% of your ex's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), then the ex-spouse benefit becomes irrelevant. 2. Financial needs: Can you afford to wait until 67? The approximately 13.3% permanent reduction at 64 vs. waiting until 67 needs to be weighed against your immediate need for income. You should request your Social Security statement at ssa.gov to see what your own benefit would be at different ages. This will help you make an informed decision based on actual numbers.

My neighbor just went thru this. She said getting ex-spouse benefits was a nightmare because SSA kept losing her paperwork and the 800 number was useless - she could never get through. Took her 6 months just to speak to someone.

Wait wait wait your FRA is 67? Mine is 66 and 4 months (born in 1956). Did they change it again?? BTW my sis took ex benefits at 64 and she says she regrets it. Just her 2 cents.

Just to add another perspective - don't forget that taking benefits at 64 means you get 3 extra years of payments compared to waiting until 67. It takes many years to make up for those 3 years of missed payments, even if the monthly amount is higher when you wait. The break-even point is usually around age 82-83. If you don't expect to live that long (family history of longevity?), taking it earlier might actually give you more money overall.

does anyone know if she can get ex spouse benefits NOW at 62 and then switch to her own at 67??? thats what my cousin did i think

Has your ex-husband remarried? That doesn't affect your benefits, but I know someone who thought it did and waited unnecessarily. Also, don't forget that you might qualify for survivor benefits if he passes away before you - those are 100% of his benefit amount (with reductions if claimed early) instead of the 50% for ex-spouse benefits.

After reviewing all the advice here, I'd recommend: 1. Create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov if you haven't already 2. Review your earnings history and projected benefits at different ages 3. Compare your own retirement benefit at 67 with the 50% ex-spouse benefit 4. Consider your financial needs between 64-67 5. Factor in your health and family longevity If your own benefit is substantially lower than the ex-spouse benefit, and you can financially manage to wait until 67, that would likely be the optimal strategy for maximum lifetime benefits.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also consider your retirement timeline carefully. Since you're planning to retire at 64 in 2027, make sure you understand the earnings test if you're still working part-time or have any income. If you earn more than the annual limit ($22,320 for 2024, adjusted yearly), SSA will temporarily withhold some of your benefits until you reach FRA. Also, if you do decide to wait until 67 for the ex-spouse benefit, remember that you can't delay it past your FRA to earn delayed retirement credits like you can with your own retirement benefit. Ex-spouse benefits don't grow beyond FRA, so there's no advantage to waiting past 67. Have you considered meeting with a Social Security representative in person at your local office? Sometimes having someone walk through your specific numbers can be really helpful for making this decision.

I just want to echo what others have said about getting your Social Security statement first - it's really the key to making this decision. I was in a similar situation a few years ago (though I was the higher earner in my marriage), and I was surprised by how much my own benefit had grown from those later working years. One thing that helped me was using the SSA's online retirement estimator to run different scenarios. You can see exactly what your benefit would be at 64 vs 67, and compare that to the ex-spouse benefit amounts. The math becomes much clearer when you have real numbers instead of trying to guess. Also, don't underestimate the value of having guaranteed income starting at 64 if you need it for peace of mind during retirement. Sometimes the psychological benefit of having that steady check coming in is worth more than the extra dollars you'd get by waiting, especially if you have other savings to supplement.

Another factor to consider is inflation protection. Social Security benefits receive annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), so even if you take a reduced benefit at 64, that amount will still grow with inflation over time. However, the percentage reduction is permanent - so if you're getting 86.7% of the full benefit at 64, you'll always be getting 86.7% of what the full benefit would have been, even after COLAs. I'd also suggest thinking about your overall retirement portfolio. If you have other sources of income like 401k, IRA, or pension that can bridge the gap from 64 to 67, it might make sense to wait for the higher Social Security amount. But if Social Security will be your primary income source, starting at 64 might provide needed cash flow. One more thing - make sure you understand that taking ex-spouse benefits won't affect what your ex-husband receives. Some people worry about this, but his benefits continue unchanged regardless of whether you claim on his record.