I'm currently going through the exact same process - turning 67 next month and planning to file for both my own retirement benefits and divorced spouse benefits. After reading all these responses, I'm definitely leaning toward the phone route now, especially after learning about services like Claimyr that can help avoid the long hold times. One thing I wanted to add that might be helpful - I called SSA last week just to ask some preliminary questions, and the representative mentioned that they can actually do a "benefit estimate" over the phone to help you understand what you'd receive from each option before you formally apply. This might be worth doing first so you know whether the divorced spouse benefit would actually increase your monthly payment. Also, regarding the marriage certificate - I was in the same boat and couldn't find mine after 20+ years. I was able to order a certified copy online from the county clerk's office where we got married for about $15, and it arrived in less than a week. Much easier than I expected! Good luck with your application process!

I'm in a very similar situation - just turned 67 last month and was married to my ex-husband for 15 years. After reading through all these responses, I decided to go with the phone route and it worked out really well! A few things that might help you: 1) I used Claimyr to avoid the hold time - totally worth the small fee! Got connected to an SSA rep in about 20 minutes instead of waiting hours. 2) The rep was able to do a quick benefit estimate right on the call. Turns out my ex's benefit was high enough that I'll get about $200 more per month than just my own benefit alone. 3) They started my application over the phone and gave me a protective filing date, then mailed me forms to complete and return with my documents. This felt much less stressful than trying to do everything online. 4) The rep specifically told me that divorced spouse benefits are one of the most error-prone applications when done online because people often misunderstand the questions or enter dates incorrectly. One tip - even if you don't have your ex's SSN, they can still process your claim. I only had his name and approximate birth year, and they found his record just fine. The whole process took about 45 minutes on the phone and now I'm just waiting for my first payment next month. Much smoother than I expected!

This is incredibly helpful information! I had no idea there were so many different layers of protection available. I think I'll start with just the Electronic Access Block since I already have my credit frozen. Really appreciate everyone's advice here!

Just wanted to add another security tip that's worked well for me - consider setting up account alerts with the Social Security Administration if you do keep online access, or make sure to regularly check your Social Security Statement (Form SSA-1099) when it comes in the mail each year. I caught a discrepancy in my earnings record this way that turned out to be someone using my SSN for employment. Even with all these blocks in place, it's still good to periodically verify that your actual benefits and earnings history look correct. The earlier you catch these issues, the easier they are to resolve!

I'm dealing with a similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I wanted to add one more resource that really helped me understand my options: the Social Security Administration has a retirement estimator tool on their website that can help you project different benefit amounts. What I learned from using it is that you can actually model different claiming scenarios - like taking SSDI now, switching to survivor benefits at 60, or waiting until FRA. It helped me visualize the financial impact of each choice over my expected lifetime. Also, I found that writing down specific questions before calling SSA made a huge difference. Instead of asking "what are my options," I'd ask things like "Can I switch from SSDI to survivor benefits at age 60 even though I'm currently receiving SSDI?" The more specific your questions, the better answers you tend to get. Good luck with your planning - you're asking all the right questions now to maximize your benefits later!

I just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this whole discussion has been! As someone who's been navigating the SSA system for years due to my own disability issues, I can confirm that getting consistent information is like pulling teeth. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're planning to make any major decisions about switching benefits in the future, consider getting a written statement from SSA about your projected benefit amounts. I learned this the hard way when my verbal estimates turned out to be way off from what I actually received. You can request a detailed benefit statement that shows your survivor benefit amount at different ages (60, FRA, etc.) compared to your SSDI/retirement benefit projections. Also, @Aisha Abdullah, since you mentioned your husband never filed for Social Security before he passed, his benefit calculation might be more complex. Make sure any SSA representative you work with understands they need to calculate his "deemed" retirement benefit based on what he would have received at his FRA. This is different from cases where someone was already receiving benefits when they died. The fact that you're thinking about this now at 52 puts you way ahead of most people. You have 8 years to get all the right information and make an informed decision!

This is such a common concern for early retirees! I went through the exact same anxiety when I stopped working at 62. The dropping numbers feel alarming at first, but it's just the system becoming more accurate about your actual situation rather than projecting hypothetical future earnings. One thing that helped me understand it better was realizing that the SSA calculator is essentially doing you a favor by showing you realistic projections. Before you retired, it was making optimistic assumptions about continued income. Now it's giving you the real deal based on your actual work history. The $10/month drop you've seen so far is pretty typical. In my experience, the annual decreases get smaller over time, especially if you have a solid work history like you do with 32+ years. And remember, by waiting until your FRA, you're making a smart financial decision that will maximize whatever your final benefit calculation turns out to be. Don't let the declining projections stress you out too much - you're on the right track!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! Took early retirement at 59 and have been watching my projected benefits slowly decline over the past year. At first I thought there was an error in the system, but after reading everyone's explanations here, it makes complete sense. The part that really clicked for me is understanding that the original estimates were basically "best case scenario" projections assuming I'd keep working at my peak salary until FRA. Now that I've stopped contributing, the reality is setting in and the numbers are adjusting accordingly. What I found helpful was running the detailed calculator with different scenarios - inputting zeros for all my remaining years until FRA versus putting in some part-time earnings. It really shows how each year of zero income affects the calculation. Since I'm planning to do some consulting work occasionally, it's reassuring to know that even modest earnings can help offset some of the decline. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's so much less stressful when you understand this is completely normal!

This is such a complex situation, and I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and knowledge here. As someone who's dealt with similar Social Security questions for family members, I wanted to add that timing really is everything with these benefits. One thing I learned that might be helpful - when you do get that official written analysis from SSA that others have mentioned, make sure to ask them to run scenarios for different claiming ages. Since you're 58, you have several years to optimize your strategy. For example, if your own benefit would be significantly higher by waiting until age 70 due to delayed retirement credits, that might end up being your best option regardless of the survivor benefit limitations. Also, don't forget to factor in Medicare planning alongside your Social Security decisions. The interaction between when you claim benefits and when you need to enroll in Medicare can affect your overall retirement income strategy. The frustrating reality is that the remarriage before age 60 does limit your options with your ex-spouse's record, but it sounds like you have several other pathways to explore. Good luck with your planning!

I've been working in retirement planning for over 15 years and wanted to add some clarity to this discussion. The information you've received about the remarriage before 60 rule is absolutely correct - this is one of the most misunderstood aspects of Social Security. Since you remarried at age 58 (before 60), you've permanently forfeited any future claim to survivor benefits from your ex-husband, regardless of when either spouse dies or the order of their deaths. This is a hard rule with no exceptions. However, don't let this discourage your overall retirement planning! Here are some strategies to consider: 1. **Maximize your own benefit**: Since you're still working at 58, these are crucial years for boosting your Social Security calculation. Consider working until 70 if possible for the delayed retirement credits. 2. **Spousal benefits from current husband**: While he's alive, you may be eligible for spousal benefits up to 50% of his full retirement age benefit. 3. **Survivor benefits from current husband**: If he predeceases you, you'd be eligible for 100% of his benefit amount. 4. **File and suspend strategies**: Depending on your birth year and his, there may be claiming strategies that optimize your combined lifetime benefits. I'd strongly recommend getting a personalized Social Security statement and having SSA run projections for multiple scenarios. The rules are complex, but understanding all your options will help you make the best decisions for your situation.