Social Security divorce benefit timing - claim my lower SS at 62 then switch to ex-spouse benefit at FRA?

Unfortunately, the option to switch from your own benefit to a spousal benefit (or in your case, an ex-spousal benefit) at Full Retirement Age was eliminated by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015. This used to be called a "restricted application," but it's now only available to people born on or before January 1, 1954. When you file for benefits now, you're deemed to be filing for ALL benefits you're eligible for - your own retirement and any spousal/ex-spousal benefits. Social Security automatically gives you whichever is higher, but not both. If you claim at 62, you'll get your own reduced benefit UNLESS your ex-spousal benefit (which would be reduced for early filing too) is higher. Either way, there's no switching later.

The previous poster is right about the rule changes. I went through this exact situation in 2023. When you file for ANY Social Security retirement benefit now, they automatically consider ALL benefits you're eligible for - including ex-spouse benefits. This is called "deemed filing" and they basically give you whichever amount is higher, but not both and no switching later. Here's what I learned from my experience: 1. If you claim at 62, both your own benefit AND any ex-spousal benefit are permanently reduced (approximately 30% reduction from FRA amounts) 2. If you wait until your FRA (67), you'd get either your full retirement benefit OR 50% of your ex's FRA benefit, whichever is higher. 3. Your ex's decision about when HE claims doesn't affect your ex-spousal benefit amount. It's always based on 50% of his FRA benefit, not what he actually receives. I was in a similar situation and ended up waiting until 65 to claim. Not quite my FRA but a decent compromise.

Just want to add - be careful about claiming at 62 if you're still working! The earnings test can really bite you. In 2025, if you earn more than $22,750 before reaching Full Retirement Age, Social Security will deduct $1 for every $2 you earn above that limit. I claimed early and then got offered a good job opportunity, and SS took back almost half my benefits that year. They do adjust your benefit later to account for these months when benefits were withheld, but it's still a nasty surprise if you're counting on that income. Regarding your main question - you can estimate both benefit amounts on the SSA website using your my Social Security account. This will help you decide if claiming early makes sense.

my sisters friend waited till 67 (her FRA) and got more than HALF her ex husbands benefit!!!! not sure how but she said it was way better than taking early. she said she got 50% of his amount PLUS a little bit from her own record. call ssa and ask to talk to a tech expert not just the regular people who answer the phones they dont know as much

I've been trying to get through to SSA for WEEKS about my divorced spouse benefits!! The wait times are INSANE - last time I was on hold for 2.5 hours and then got disconnected!!! I haven't been able to talk to ANYONE to answer my questions. Every time I call it's "we are experiencing higher than normal call volume" and then hours of waiting. The offices near me are appointment only and they're booked 3 months out! HOW is anyone supposed to get help?!? This is just RIDICULOUS!!!

One thing nobody's mentioned yet: if your ex-husband passes away (not wishing for that obviously), the rules change completely. As an ex-spouse, you'd be eligible for survivor benefits which can be up to 100% of what he was receiving (or entitled to receive). Survivor benefits have different rules than ex-spousal benefits. For example, you could take a reduced survivor benefit as early as age 60, or you could take your own retirement benefit first and then switch to the survivor benefit later (or vice versa). The "deemed filing" rules don't apply to survivor benefits. Just something to be aware of for future planning.

my situation is kinda similar except im not eligible for much on my own record. i worked mainly as a stahm for most of our marriage (26 yrs!). divorced 5 yrs now. i called SS last year when i turned 62 and they told me its better for me to wait til my FRA (66+8mo) to get the full 50% of my exs benefit. if i took it early at 62 id only get like 35% of his benefit forever. made me mad that i have to wait but what can you do?

Thank you all for the helpful responses. I think I'm understanding better now. Since I can't take my own benefit early and then switch to the ex-spouse benefit later, my options are basically: 1. Claim early at 62 and get either my own reduced benefit OR my reduced ex-spouse benefit (whichever is higher), but it's permanently reduced 2. Wait until my FRA at 67 and get either my full retirement benefit OR 50% of my ex's FRA benefit (whichever is higher) I need to crunch the numbers using my SSA account to see what makes the most sense financially. The extra money now would be helpful, but I also don't want to shortchange myself for potentially decades if I live a long time (my mom is 91 and still going strong!). I'll also check out that Claimyr service to talk to SSA directly. The last time I called, I waited over an hour and then got disconnected.