Has anyone here applied for spousal benefits if they're divorced? I heard it's possible but not sure about the details.

@CyberNinja Yes, you can apply online! Go to ssa.gov and look for "Apply for Benefits" - they have an online application for spousal benefits. It's actually pretty straightforward and you can save your progress if you need to take a break. Just make sure you have all those documents that @Chloe Taylor mentioned ready to upload. Way easier than sitting on hold for hours!

I'm a newcomer here but wanted to share what I learned from my own survivor benefits journey last year. The advice about waiting until FRA or lower earnings is spot-on. One thing I didn't see mentioned - when you do your appointment, ask them to provide you with a "what-if" scenario worksheet showing exactly how the family maximum would split between you and your son at different benefit amounts. Some offices can print this out for you. Also, since you mentioned your husband might have taken the 6-month retroactive option, that could actually work in your favor down the line. If he did take it, his benefit amount for survivor calculations might be slightly higher than his actual monthly payments were. The system IS deliberately confusing, but you're asking all the right questions. Your instinct to protect your son's benefits first is absolutely correct. At $62K earnings, you'd essentially be working to pay back Social Security rather than receiving meaningful benefits. Good luck with your appointment - bring a notebook and don't be afraid to ask them to repeat or clarify anything!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share something that might help with your SSA appointment. When I went through a similar situation after losing my spouse, I found it really helpful to ask the representative to walk through the calculation step-by-step and explain exactly how they arrived at each number. One thing that caught my attention in your post - you mentioned SSA told you that if your son switched to YOUR record, he'd only get 50% instead of 75%. That's actually not quite how survivor benefits work. Your son would continue receiving benefits based on your deceased husband's record, not yours. The concern is whether adding YOU to that same record would trigger the family maximum and reduce his current 75%. Also, regarding your question about applying for your own retirement benefits first - that's generally not a good strategy if you're eligible for higher survivor benefits. Once you file for your own benefits early, that reduction is permanent, even if you later switch to survivor benefits. Since you have until 2026 to reach FRA and the potential $62K job would essentially wipe out your survivor benefits anyway, waiting seems like the smartest move to protect your son's current benefit amount. Use your appointment to get all the calculations in writing so you can make an informed decision when your situation changes.

Great plan Andrew! One additional tip - when you do get through to Social Security, ask them specifically about the effective date of your ex-spousal benefits. Sometimes there can be confusion about whether benefits start the month you applied or the month after, especially with ex-spousal claims that require additional documentation. Getting clarity on the exact start date will help you plan the transition from unemployment more precisely. Also, keep detailed records of all your conversations with both agencies - dates, times, and who you spoke with. This documentation can be really helpful if there are any questions later about timing or overpayments. Good luck with everything!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! I applied for Social Security in January and I'm still waiting for my first payment. What I learned from calling my state unemployment office is that they consider you "available for work" as long as you're actively job searching, even if you've applied for SS retirement benefits. The key is being transparent about everything. I reported my SS application immediately, and they told me to continue certifying for unemployment until I actually receive my first Social Security payment. Then I need to report that income right away. The unemployment caseworker also mentioned that if I get any retroactive SS payments, I might need to pay back some unemployment for those overlapping weeks, but they'll calculate that when it happens. Every state is different though, so definitely check with your specific unemployment office. Hang in there - this transition period is stressful but you're handling it the right way by asking questions and staying on top of the reporting requirements!

I'm a retired federal employee (FERS) who's been following this closely. One important thing to note is that while SSA says they'll automatically recalculate benefits for those previously denied, I'd strongly recommend keeping documentation of your wife's original application and denial. Also, since she has 34 credits, she's actually pretty close to the 40 needed for her own benefit. If she's still under 70, it might be worth having her work a part-time job for a year or two to earn those final 6 credits - that could give her both her own SS benefit AND spousal benefits (she'd get the higher of the two). Just a thought to maximize your household's SS income! The timing couldn't be better for folks like your wife. After decades of being penalized for public service, this feels like justice finally being served.

This is such great news for so many families! As someone who works in benefits administration, I wanted to add a few practical tips for navigating this process: 1. **Document everything** - Keep copies of any previous applications, denials, or correspondence with SSA. This will be helpful if there are any delays or complications. 2. **Be patient with SSA's systems** - They're likely updating their computer systems to handle the GPO/WEP repeal, which can cause temporary glitches or delays in processing. 3. **Consider the timing** - If your wife is under 70, she might want to think about whether to claim spousal benefits immediately or wait, depending on your overall financial situation. The fact that you've been married 42 years and she has substantial work history makes this such a clear case of where GPO was unfairly penalizing public servants. I'm glad Congress finally acted on this - it's been a long time coming! Your wife definitely deserves to receive benefits based on your record after all these years of marriage and her own contributions to Social Security through her part-time work. Keep us posted on how the process goes - your experience will help others in similar situations!

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I've learned so much: - It's 35 highest years, not 6 (big relief!) - I need to pay 15.3% self-employment tax and should make quarterly payments - At my FRA (67), there's no earnings limit - I might want to look into waiting until 70 to maximize benefits - I should open a Solo 401(k) or SEP IRA to reduce my overall tax burden I've created my SSA.gov account and am shocked to see my earnings record going back to my first job! I think I'll try that Claimyr service to ask specific questions about my situation. And definitely hiring an accountant before my first quarterly tax payment is due. Thanks again everyone - this has been incredibly helpful for a newbie like me!

Welcome to the self-employment world! I made the same transition 3 years ago and can share a few practical tips that helped me: 1) Open a separate business checking account immediately if you haven't already. This makes tracking income/expenses for Schedule SE much easier. 2) Set aside 25-30% of each payment you receive for taxes (not just the 15.3% SE tax, but also income tax). I use a high-yield savings account for this. 3) Consider paying quarterly estimated taxes to avoid a big surprise bill. The IRS has a safe harbor rule - if you pay 100% of last year's tax liability through estimated payments, you won't owe penalties even if you owe more at filing. 4) Keep detailed records of ALL business expenses - home office, internet, phone, equipment, etc. These reduce your net self-employment income, which reduces both your SE tax AND your income tax. One thing I wish I'd known earlier: you can actually contribute more to retirement accounts as self-employed than you could as a W-2 employee, which helps offset that higher tax burden. The Solo 401(k) limits for 2024 are $69,000 total ($76,500 if you're 50+). Good luck with the transition!