To answer your follow-up question - your wife claiming her own benefit early does NOT affect her survivor benefit. If you pass away, she would get your full benefit amount regardless of when she claimed her own benefit. This is why many financial advisors recommend the hybrid strategy for couples with significant benefit disparities. Given your numbers, if she claimed at her FRA (probably around $1,230/month based on what you shared), you'd get some SS income flowing while still maximizing your benefit (and her eventual survivor benefit). Just make sure she's at least at her own FRA to avoid any potential reduction from the earnings test if she's still working.

As someone who recently went through this same decision process, I'd strongly recommend creating a simple spreadsheet to model both scenarios with your actual numbers. Include factors like potential tax implications, investment returns on the early money, and don't forget about Medicare premiums potentially increasing with higher income later. The hybrid approach mentioned by others is brilliant - having your wife claim at her FRA while you delay gives you the best of both worlds. You get some immediate cash flow for those home accessibility improvements and European trip, while still maximizing the survivor benefit protection. One thing I wish I'd considered earlier: inflation protection. That guaranteed 8% annual increase by waiting isn't just about the raw dollars - it's also building in better inflation protection for both of you long-term. With your strong longevity genes, that could be worth hundreds of thousands over your lifetimes. The peace of mind factor is real too. Knowing you've optimized for the surviving spouse (likely your wife given typical gender longevity differences) can be worth a lot psychologically, even if the pure math is close.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Ella. I went through this same process about 18 months ago when my wife passed. You definitely cannot apply online for survivor benefits - it has to be done by phone or in person. The most frustrating part is getting through on the phone. I found that calling right when they open at 7am local time gave me the best chance of getting through without waiting hours. Also, make sure you have your husband's Social Security number handy when you call, as they'll need it right away to pull up his record. Once you do get an appointment, the actual process was much smoother than I expected - the representative was very compassionate and walked me through everything step by step. Hang in there, and don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Ella. I went through this exact situation when my father passed away two years ago. You're right that survivor benefits cannot be applied for online - it's one of the few SSA benefits that still requires a phone call or in-person visit. What worked for me was calling the national SSA number (1-800-772-1213) at exactly 8:00 AM on a Tuesday. I had better luck midweek rather than Mondays or Fridays. Also, have a pen and paper ready because they'll give you a confirmation number for your appointment that you'll need. The waiting time for appointments can be 3-4 weeks depending on your area, so don't get discouraged if they can't see you right away. Once you do get your appointment, the process itself was actually straightforward and the representative was very helpful in explaining all my options. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

This is such valuable information for anyone doing estate planning! I'm 58 and my husband is 62, and we had no idea about the survivor benefit switching rules. Reading through everyone's experiences really highlights how critical it is to understand these options beforehand. One thing I'm wondering about - if my husband delays his own Social Security past his FRA to get delayed retirement credits, would that increase the survivor benefit I'd potentially receive? It seems like maximizing his benefit amount could be a good strategy if I'm likely to outlive him, but I want to make sure I understand how delayed retirement credits affect survivor benefits.

This has been such an educational thread! I'm 55 and my husband is 60, and we've been putting off learning about Social Security because it seemed so complicated. But reading everyone's real experiences makes it clear we need to understand our options now, not later. The flexibility survivors have with switching between benefits is something I never knew about - it's actually pretty reassuring that there are strategies to optimize benefits even in difficult circumstances. I'm particularly struck by the stories about SSA agents giving incorrect information. It sounds like you really need to be your own advocate and know the rules before you call. I think I'll start by getting our benefit estimates from the SSA website and maybe consulting with a financial planner who specializes in Social Security strategies. Thank you everyone for sharing your knowledge - this kind of peer-to-peer learning is so much more helpful than trying to decipher government websites!

Just wanted to add one important detail that might help others in similar situations - when you do make the switch from your retirement benefit to survivor benefits at 67, there's no gap in payments. SSA will automatically adjust your monthly payment starting the month you reach FRA, so you don't need to reapply or worry about missing payments during the transition. Also, since you mentioned tight finances, remember that survivor benefits aren't subject to the earnings test once you reach FRA, so if you're still working part-time at 67, that income won't affect your survivor benefit amount. This is different from regular retirement benefits which are subject to earnings limits until FRA. Good luck with your strategy - it sounds like you've got a solid plan given your circumstances!

I went through a very similar situation about 3 years ago - divorced after 22 years, ex-husband passed away, and I had the same strategic decision to make. I ended up doing exactly what you're planning: took my own reduced retirement at 62, then switched to survivor benefits at my FRA. The key thing that helped me was getting a written statement from SSA confirming my plan before I applied. When I filed for my retirement benefits at 62, I specifically stated I was "restricting my application to retirement benefits only" and that I intended to claim survivor benefits later. The SSA representative made a note in my file, which prevented any confusion later. One tip: when you do switch to survivor benefits at 67, you'll want to contact SSA about a month before your birthday to initiate the process, even though it should be automatic. I did this and it ensured a smooth transition with no payment delays. The difference in my monthly payment went from about $1,100 (my reduced retirement) to $2,850 (survivor benefit) - life-changing! Your plan sounds solid given the income difference. Just make sure everything is documented properly with SSA from the start.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Keith. This is definitely a complex situation, but you're smart to research your options thoroughly before making any decisions. One important clarification I'd like to add: while the earnings test can reduce your survivor benefits if you work before FRA, there's actually a special rule for the year you reach FRA. In that year, the earnings limit is much higher (about $60,240 for 2025) and only earnings in months before you reach FRA count against you. Since you'll be 65 in April, if your FRA is 67, you'd have this higher earnings limit available in 2027. This might influence your timing strategy. Also, I'd strongly recommend creating a my Social Security account online if you haven't already. While it won't give you survivor benefit estimates (you need to speak with SSA for those), you can at least see your own benefit estimates and earnings history, which will help you compare your options. The suggestion about potentially reducing your work hours is excellent - sometimes a strategic reduction in income can actually increase your total monthly resources when benefits are factored in. Just make sure to run the numbers carefully with actual benefit amounts once you get them from SSA. Best of luck navigating this process!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Keith. Losing an ex-spouse brings up so many complicated feelings and practical concerns. Just wanted to add another perspective on your situation - since you mentioned being exhausted and wanting to work less, you might want to consider that this could actually be the perfect time to make a career transition. Some people use the survivor benefit as a bridge to help them shift to part-time work, freelancing, or even starting a small business where they have more control over their income timing. For example, if you could transition to contract or consulting work in your field, you might be able to time your income to stay under the earnings limits in certain years while earning more in others. This could give you both the financial breathing room and the lifestyle change you're looking for. Also, don't forget to check if your ex-husband had any life insurance policies that named you as beneficiary - sometimes people forget to update those after divorce, and it could provide additional financial cushion while you figure out your Social Security strategy. The fact that you're researching all this so thoroughly shows you're going to make a well-informed decision. Take your time and don't feel pressured to decide quickly - these benefits aren't going anywhere!