Social Security survivor benefits for ex-spouse who took SS early - how will this affect my benefits?

Yes, you would be eligible for survivor benefits as a divorced spouse since you were married more than 10 years and you haven't remarried. As for the amount, you would receive what your ex-husband was actually receiving at the time of his death (including any reductions for early filing), not what he would have received at FRA. Regarding finding out his PIA or current benefit amount - unfortunately, the SSA won't disclose this information to you while he's alive due to privacy regulations. You'll only know the amount if/when you apply for survivor benefits after his passing. For your last question - starting your own benefits early won't affect the actual survivor benefit amount you'd be entitled to. However, when you're receiving your own benefits and then become eligible for survivor benefits, the SSA will essentially pay you the higher of the two amounts, not both. So if your reduced retirement benefit is lower than the survivor benefit, you'll get a combination that equals the survivor amount.

I went through something similar with my ex. we were married 12 yrs and he claimed at 62. the SSA told me I can't get any info on what he gets now, privacy rules or something. realy frustrating since we have a kid together but whatever. And ya the survivor benefit is what there getting when they die not what they would of got at FRA.

You have some good questions about survivor benefits as a divorced spouse. Let me provide some additional clarity: 1. Yes, you will be eligible for survivor benefits based on your ex-husband's record since you were married over 10 years and haven't remarried. 2. The survivor benefit amount would be based on what he was actually receiving, including the reduction for claiming early. This is different from divorced spousal benefits while he's alive, which are based on his PIA. 3. For finding out his benefit amount - Social Security won't disclose this while he's alive. However, when planning, you can estimate by knowing that filing at 64 means he received approximately 86.7% of his PIA. 4. Regarding your own benefits: Starting your retirement benefit early won't directly reduce your survivor benefit. However, when you're eligible for both, you'll receive the higher of the two amounts, not both combined. One important strategy consideration: If your ex-husband passes away, you could potentially: - Take your reduced retirement at 65 - Then switch to survivors benefits at your FRA (67) - Or take survivor benefits immediately and switch to your own retirement at 70 The optimal strategy depends on which benefit will ultimately be larger.

my cousin was in this exact situation!! she took survivor benefits when her ex died (they were married 20+ years) and she got what he was actually getting not what he would have got at full retirement. The SSA agent told her that's just how the rules work. sucks because he took it at 62 so she got a pretty reduced amount!!

I've helped clients navigate this exact scenario. There's a provision called the RIB-LIM (Retirement Insurance Benefit Limitation) that might apply in your case. This can sometimes provide a higher survivor benefit than simply what your ex was receiving. If your ex-husband claimed significantly early (like at 64), the RIB-LIM might give you a survivor benefit that's more than what he was actually receiving, though still less than his full PIA. It's complicated but worth asking about specifically when the time comes. Also, don't overlook the potential strategy of claiming one benefit type first, then switching to the other later. For example, you could claim your own reduced retirement benefit at 65, then switch to survivor benefits at your FRA (67) if that would be higher. Or claim survivor benefits first, then switch to your own at 70 if your benefit with delayed credits would be higher. The optimal strategy depends on the relative values of each benefit. When you visit SSA, specifically ask about the RIB-LIM calculation and benefit switching strategies.

GOOD LUCK getting accurate info from SSA!! I spent 6 WEEKS trying to get a straight answer about my ex-spouse benefits. Called EVERY DAY and got disconnected or was on hold for HOURS!!! Every agent told me something different about what I could get. Total nightmare dealing with them!!!!

Thank you all for the helpful information! I'm going to try to schedule an appointment with SSA to discuss this further. I'll specifically ask about the RIB-LIM calculation and the potential strategies for switching between my own benefits and survivor benefits depending on which is higher at different ages. It's more complicated than I thought, but I feel better equipped now to ask the right questions.

Just a quick clarification that might help others reading this thread - the survivor benefit for a divorced spouse follows the same rules as for a current spouse, IF the marriage lasted at least 10 years. The key difference is that for a divorced spouse claiming survivor benefits, you can claim as early as age 60 regardless of whether your ex has filed for benefits or not (unlike spousal benefits while they're alive, which require the worker to have filed). Also worth noting that remarriage after 60 doesn't prevent you from claiming survivor benefits on your ex's record. This trips up a lot of people who think any remarriage would disqualify them.

One thing I wanted to add that might be helpful - if you're still working at 64, you should also consider the earnings test impact on any benefits you might claim before your full retirement age. If you earn over the annual limit ($22,320 for 2024), Social Security will reduce your benefits by $1 for every $2 you earn above that threshold. This applies to both your own retirement benefits AND survivor benefits if claimed before FRA. So if you're planning to keep working, it might make sense to delay claiming until you either reduce your earnings or reach full retirement age, depending on your specific financial situation. Also, don't forget that as a divorced spouse, you have the advantage of being able to claim survivor benefits without your ex-spouse having to file first (unlike spousal benefits while he's alive). This gives you more flexibility in timing your claim.

As someone who recently went through a similar situation with my ex-spouse's survivor benefits, I wanted to share a few practical tips that might help you navigate this process: 1. Document everything - Keep records of your marriage dates, divorce decree, and any correspondence with SSA. You'll need proof of the 10+ year marriage when you apply. 2. Consider getting a Social Security statement estimate for yourself now so you can compare your projected benefits at different claiming ages. This will help you evaluate the switching strategies others mentioned. 3. When you do speak with SSA, ask specifically about "deemed filing" rules if you're considering claiming before your FRA. Sometimes claiming one benefit automatically triggers an application for another, which could affect your strategy. 4. If your ex-husband has other ex-spouses from marriages of 10+ years, don't worry - survivor benefits aren't reduced when multiple people claim on the same record (unlike some other benefit types). The earnings test point that Amina raised is crucial if you're still working. At $65K salary, you'd definitely want to factor that into your timing decision. Good luck with your SSA appointment - having all these questions prepared will make it much more productive!