I've been following this thread closely and wanted to share another option that worked for me when I needed my divorce decree from 1995 for SSA benefits. If your courthouse doesn't offer digital copies, try calling the Family Law division directly rather than the general clerk's office. They often have different procedures and fee structures for divorce records. In my case, the Family Law clerk was able to expedite my request for an additional $20 rush fee and had it mailed within one week instead of the standard 4-6 weeks. She also mentioned that divorce decrees older than 20 years sometimes require special handling, which might explain why some courthouses quote longer wait times. Another thing to consider - if you have any documentation from your original divorce attorney or copies of settlement agreements that reference your case number, bring those when you apply at SSA. While they can't substitute for the certified decree, they can help SSA verify basic information and potentially speed up processing once you do submit the proper documentation.

I've been reading through all these responses and they've been incredibly helpful! I wanted to add one more option that saved me when I was in a similar situation last year. If your courthouse doesn't offer digital copies and you're facing long wait times, check if there's a legal document retrieval service in your area. These are private companies that specialize in obtaining court records quickly. I used one called National Document Retrievers when I needed my marriage certificate urgently for survivor benefits. They charged $65 total (including their fee and court costs) but got my certified copy in 3 business days when the court was quoting 6 weeks. They handle all the paperwork and pickup/delivery, which was worth it for me since I was dealing with a tight deadline. You can usually find these services by googling "court document retrieval" plus your city/county name. Not all areas have them, but if yours does, it could be a lifesaver when time is critical. Just make sure they provide truly certified copies with official seals that SSA will accept, not just notarized photocopies. The key takeaway from everyone's advice here is definitely to start your SSA application now to establish your filing date while exploring all these different options for getting your divorce decree!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share some additional insights that might help with your planning. I recently assisted my aunt through a very similar situation in Indiana, and there are a few practical aspects that haven't been fully covered yet. One thing to consider is the timing of when you actually file your Social Security application. Even though you're planning to start benefits in June, you can file up to 4 months in advance. This means you could submit your application as early as February, which would give you plenty of time to resolve any potential issues before your benefits need to start. Also, regarding the potential layoff in April - if your company offers any kind of outplacement services or career transition assistance, take advantage of them even if you're planning to retire soon. These services often include financial planning consultations that can help you optimize the timing of your various benefit applications. One practical tip that really helped my aunt: create a simple calendar marking when each type of payment arrives (unemployment is typically weekly, Social Security is monthly) so you can plan your monthly budget around the different payment schedules. This also helps with tracking what needs to be reported where. The community has provided excellent advice about Indiana's favorable rules and the tax implications. From my observation helping my aunt, the key to success was staying organized and taking advantage of all available resources. You're already ahead of the game by planning this carefully in advance rather than scrambling after a layoff happens. Best of luck with your planning - it sounds like you're approaching this transition very thoughtfully!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share some additional resources and considerations that might help with your situation. I recently went through a similar transition in Indiana when my company downsized, and I learned a few things that could be valuable for your planning. First, I'd recommend contacting AARP's free financial planning services - they have counselors who specialize in exactly this type of transition between employment, unemployment, and Social Security. They can help you run scenarios to determine the optimal timing for starting your Social Security benefits, especially considering the permanent reduction for taking benefits before your full retirement age. One practical tip that really helped me: if you do get laid off in April, consider asking your employer about the timing of your final paycheck and any accrued vacation payout. Sometimes companies will let you choose whether to receive these in your final regular paycheck or as a lump sum later, which can affect when you're eligible to start unemployment benefits. Also, regarding the work search requirements for unemployment - Indiana has been pretty flexible about what counts as valid job search activities for older workers. Attending virtual job fairs, taking online skills courses, and even informational interviews can often fulfill the weekly requirements. The key is documenting everything properly in case of an audit. The community has given you excellent advice about Indiana's favorable rules for collecting both benefits simultaneously. You're being really smart to plan ahead rather than scramble after a layoff happens. Having a clear strategy will make this transition much less stressful!

Just want to add one more thing that might be helpful - when you go to your SSA appointment, ask them to print out the benefit calculation worksheet for you. They don't always offer this automatically, but it shows exactly how they arrived at the family maximum and individual benefit amounts. Having that document was really useful for me when I needed to explain the benefits to my bank when setting up the representative payee accounts. Also, if you have any life insurance policies or other benefits through your employer that might be affected by your early retirement, make sure to coordinate the timing. I almost lost out on some employer benefits because I didn't realize there was a specific order I needed to file things in. The process really isn't as scary as it seems once you get started - just make sure you have all your documents organized and be prepared for it to take a bit longer than you initially expect. The peace of mind knowing your kids will have that financial support makes all the paperwork worth it!

I'm a case worker who helps families navigate Social Security benefits, and I wanted to add a few professional insights to this excellent discussion. First, regarding timing - I always recommend applying 3-4 months before you want benefits to start, especially with dependent children involved. The processing can be slower when multiple beneficiaries are on one record, and any missing documentation can add weeks to the timeline. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet: if any of your adopted children have disabilities or special needs, they may be eligible for different benefit calculations or extended benefits beyond age 18/19. Make sure to mention any disabilities during your appointment, as this could significantly impact their long-term benefit eligibility. Also, keep in mind that if you remarry after starting benefits, it generally won't affect your children's benefits, but it's something to be aware of for future planning. The representative payee reporting isn't as scary as it sounds - SSA mainly wants to see that funds are used appropriately for the children's needs (housing, food, clothing, education, medical care). Keep receipts for major purchases, but you don't need to account for every dollar spent. Best of luck with your retirement planning! Your children are fortunate to have someone thinking so carefully about their financial future.

I'm currently going through this exact same process - retiring at 65 before FRA while trying to navigate the earnings test! Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful. One thing I learned from my financial advisor that might be useful: if you're planning to have any consulting income or part-time work after you "retire," make sure to factor that into your earnings projections too. I almost forgot to include some freelance work I was planning to do, which would have put me over the limit unexpectedly. Also, regarding the gap month issue - something that worked for me was timing my final paycheck and any PTO payout strategically. My HR department was flexible about when they processed my final vacation payout, which helped me stay under the monthly limit for my first benefit month. The SSA-131 form mentioned earlier is definitely important - I had to revise mine twice because my initial earnings estimate was way off. Better to overestimate than underestimate if you're unsure! Good luck with your retirement planning - it sounds like you're being very thorough in thinking through all the details.

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who recently went through this process with my spouse. We faced a similar situation where we both were retiring before FRA with different earnings scenarios. One thing that really helped us was creating a simple spreadsheet to track different scenarios - starting benefits in different months and calculating the projected withholding amounts. This made it much easier to visualize the financial impact of each option. Also, regarding the application timing - we submitted our applications exactly 3 months early as recommended, but I'd suggest following up about 6 weeks before your desired start date to make sure everything is processing correctly. We had a small hiccup with some paperwork that could have delayed things if we hadn't checked in. For the vacation payout timing issue - definitely worth asking HR about flexibility. Many companies can be accommodating about when they process final payments, especially if you explain it's for Social Security coordination purposes. Even shifting it by a few days into the next month could make a difference in your calculations. The recalculation explanation after FRA is spot-on and really important to understand. It helped us feel much more comfortable about starting benefits even knowing some would be withheld initially.

my aunt just went thru this! if u get denied don't give up, she got denied first time then got a lawyer and won her case. her disability on her dead husbands record is like $2200/month i think

I work as a benefits counselor and wanted to add some practical advice for your situation. Since you're 56 applying for DWB, you're in a good position age-wise, but the medical evidence will be crucial. For getting benefit estimates, I've found success with this approach: Call the national number (1-800-772-1213) and specifically ask to speak with a "Technical Expert" about "Disabled Widow's Benefits calculation." Don't just ask for a general estimate - be very specific about what type of benefit you're requesting information about. Also, since your son's benefits will end when he turns 18, make sure you understand the "family maximum" rules. Right now, your family's total benefits are likely subject to a family maximum cap. When your son's benefits stop, your DWB amount won't increase to compensate - it will remain the same percentage of your husband's PIA. One more tip: Start gathering ALL your medical records now, including mental health records if applicable. The more complete your medical file, the better your chances of approval on the first try. Good luck with your consultative exam!