Just wondering... what happens if both your current husband AND your ex-husband pass away? Can you choose the higher of the two survivor benefits? Or does one cancel out the other?

I'm still relatively new to understanding Social Security rules, but I wanted to share what I learned when my mom went through something similar. She was also remarried and collecting her own benefits when her ex-husband passed away. The SSA did allow her to switch to his higher survivor benefits, but the process took several months and required multiple visits to the local office. One thing that really helped her was having all the paperwork organized beforehand - marriage certificate, divorce decree, and even some old tax returns that showed they filed jointly during their marriage. The SSA worker told her that having everything ready upfront made the approval process much smoother. Also, Jessica, since you mentioned your ex's benefits are estimated at $2,800, just remember that might change depending on when he actually passes away and whether he's already claimed his benefits or not. But either way, it sounds like you'd still come out ahead financially compared to your current situation.

Great point about Medicare, Andre! That's something a lot of people overlook. Another consideration is that if your wife does decide to wait until you file at 67, she should still create her my Social Security account online and check her earnings record now to make sure everything is accurate. Any corrections need to be made before she claims benefits. Also, even though the "file and suspend" strategy was eliminated in 2015, there are still some nuances around timing that could affect your overall household strategy. For instance, if you have significant age gaps or health differences, that might influence the optimal timing. The SSA's "When to Start Receiving Retirement Benefits" publication has some good worksheets to help with these calculations.

As someone who recently went through the Social Security claiming process, I can confirm what others have said about the 2015 rule changes. The old "claim now, switch later" strategy is no longer available. However, I'd suggest one additional step that really helped me: consider meeting with a fee-only financial planner who specializes in Social Security optimization. Yes, there's a cost, but given the permanent nature of these decisions and the potential dollar amounts involved over your lifetimes, it might be worth the investment. They can run multiple scenarios using software that accounts for inflation, life expectancy, and other factors that the basic SSA calculators don't always capture. Also, don't forget that if either of you has government pension benefits (like from teaching or other public service), the Windfall Elimination Provision or Government Pension Offset rules might further complicate your calculations. Good luck with your planning!

Since your husband had higher earnings and you worked part-time for 10 years, there's a good chance his benefit will be significantly higher than yours. Here's what I'd suggest: create accounts on SSA.gov for both of you to get your actual benefit estimates. You can run scenarios for different claiming ages and see the exact dollar amounts. One strategy to consider - if you need income at 62, you could claim your reduced benefit then switch to spousal benefits later. But if you can afford to wait, claiming at your FRA would give you the full 50% spousal benefit (assuming his is higher). The key is knowing your actual numbers before deciding. You might also want to factor in your health and family longevity when weighing early vs. delayed claiming.

I went through a similar situation a few years ago! One thing that really helped me was getting my actual Social Security Statement to see my projected benefits at different ages. You can access this on your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. Just to add to what others have said - the decision really depends on your financial needs and life expectancy expectations. If you need the income at 62 and can't wait, taking the reduced benefit might still be the right choice even with the permanent reduction. But if you can manage without it until your FRA, you'll get significantly more money over your lifetime. Also, don't forget that Social Security benefits are inflation-adjusted with COLAs, so that 30% reduction compounds over time. A smaller benefit today means smaller cost-of-living increases in the future too. It's definitely worth running the numbers on the SSA website before making your final decision!

I just wanted to update - I found my 1099 today! It wasn't there yesterday but showed up this morning. So I guess they're still uploading them. Anyway if anyone else is still waiting just keep checking.

Great to hear everyone's getting their forms! For those still having trouble accessing their MySocialSecurity accounts, another option is to call the SSA national number at 1-800-772-1213. They can mail you a replacement 1099 if you can't get online access working. The wait times can be long but they're usually helpful. Also, if you're doing your own taxes, most tax software will let you manually enter the Social Security income amounts even if you don't have the physical form yet - you just need to know your total benefits received for 2024.

Great thread everyone! I'm a newcomer here but dealing with a similar situation. I was married for 15 years, divorced, then remarried for 4 years before divorcing again. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - especially learning that I don't need my ex's permission and that it won't affect his benefits at all. One thing I'm curious about that I haven't seen mentioned yet - does anyone know if there are any tax implications when claiming divorced spouse benefits versus your own benefits? I'm assuming it's all treated the same by the IRS, but wanted to check since I'm still a few years away from claiming and trying to plan ahead. Also wondering if anyone has experience with how this might affect Medicare eligibility timing, since I know those are tied together somehow. Thanks for sharing all your experiences - this community seems incredibly knowledgeable and supportive!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for this incredibly detailed discussion! I'm in a somewhat similar situation - divorced after 13 years and considering my future Social Security options. Reading through all these responses has given me so much clarity on things I never would have thought to ask about. A few key takeaways that really stood out to me: - The strict 10-year marriage requirement (so helpful to know it's a firm cutoff) - No need for ex-spouse permission or notification - The importance of specifically asking for divorced spouse benefits when applying - Getting all documentation together early, including marriage/divorce certificates One question I have after reading through everything - for those who have actually gone through the application process, how far in advance did you start gathering your paperwork? I'm still about 8 years away from being able to claim, but wondering if I should start tracking down those certificates now or if that's overkill. My divorce was finalized in a different state than where I currently live, so I'm anticipating it might take some time to get certified copies. Thanks again for sharing all your real-world experiences - this has been incredibly valuable!