Definitely contact the SSA directly. I've found the SSA agents to be very knowledgeable and helpful once you actually get to speak with one. They'll need your husband's SSN and earnings history to give you an accurate estimate. Since it's been quite a while since his passing, having his SSN and death certificate information handy when you call will speed things up.

I'm in a similar situation - widow at 58 and trying to plan ahead. One thing I learned from my research is that you might also want to check if you're eligible for any divorced spouse benefits if you were married to anyone else for 10+ years before your husband. Sometimes people don't realize they have multiple options to consider. Also, when you do call SSA, ask them to run scenarios for you at different claiming ages (60, 62, your FRA, etc.) and get those numbers in writing if possible. I've heard stories of people getting different answers from different representatives, so having documentation helps. The representatives are usually very patient about explaining the calculations if you ask them to walk through it step by step. Good luck with getting through to them - the wait times can be brutal but it's worth it for accurate numbers for your planning!

After reading through this thread, I want to offer some additional information that might help with your decision: 1. You can request a detailed benefit calculation from SSA that will show exactly what your benefit would be at 62, FRA, and 70, as well as what your husband's spousal benefit would be once you file. 2. Remember that if you file at 62, your benefit will be reduced by approximately 30% from your FRA amount for life. 3. If your husband is receiving $625/month now, and your FRA benefit would be around $3,400, then his spousal benefit would potentially increase his total to around $1,700 (half your FRA amount). 4. This means filing at 62 could give him an additional $1,075/month, but would permanently reduce your own benefit by about $1,000/month compared to what you'd get at FRA. 5. The breakeven calculation should consider both your life expectancies and immediate financial needs. Have you considered whether you might work part-time between 62-67? If you claim benefits early but continue working, you'd be subject to the earnings test, which could temporarily reduce or eliminate your benefits until you reach FRA.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you might want to consider a "file and suspend" strategy if it's still available, though I believe the rules changed in 2016. Also, since you're still 5 years away from 62, you have time to potentially increase your benefit even more by maximizing your earnings in these final working years. Social Security calculates benefits based on your highest 35 years of earnings, so if you're earning more now than in some of your earlier years, these next 5 years could significantly boost your eventual benefit. Another consideration: have you looked into whether your husband might be eligible for any other benefits? Sometimes people miss out on things like supplemental security income (SSI) if their regular Social Security is very low, though I'm not sure if his pension would disqualify him. Given that you're planning to work until 65+ anyway and would be subject to the earnings test, waiting definitely seems like the right call. The extra spousal benefit for a few years likely won't offset the permanent reduction to your own benefit that you'd be receiving for potentially 25+ years.

I work as a benefits counselor and can confirm what others have said - IRA contributions absolutely DO count toward the Social Security earnings limit. The SSA uses your gross wages (before any deductions) to calculate whether you've exceeded the annual limit. One additional tip I always give clients in your situation: consider asking your employer if they can structure your compensation differently. For example, if they were planning to give you a small raise, you might ask them to contribute that amount to a workplace retirement plan instead (if available) OR provide non-cash benefits like additional health coverage. While retirement contributions still count as earnings, some employer-provided benefits might not. Also, double-check that you're using the correct earnings limit. Since you're 63 and won't reach Full Retirement Age until later, you're subject to the lower annual limit ($22,320 for 2025). The year you reach FRA, there's a higher monthly limit that applies only to earnings before the month you reach FRA. Keep excellent records of all your earnings throughout the year - it will save you headaches later!

As someone who just went through this process at age 62, I can confirm what everyone else is saying - IRA contributions definitely count toward your earnings limit. I learned this the hard way when I was trying to maximize my retirement savings while working part-time. What I found helpful was setting up a simple spreadsheet to track my year-to-date earnings every month. I included columns for gross pay, cumulative total, and how much "room" I had left before hitting the $22,320 limit. This helped me make informed decisions about picking up extra hours or saying no to overtime. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier: if you're close to the limit near the end of the year, you might want to consider taking unpaid time off rather than risk going over. The penalties for exceeding the limit can really hurt your monthly benefit payments. Also, don't forget that investment income (like dividends or interest from your IRA) doesn't count toward the earnings test - only wages and self-employment income do. That might give you some additional flexibility for your financial planning. Good luck navigating this - it's definitely one of the more confusing aspects of early retirement benefits!

wait i just rememebred my cousin's husband did something with his pension and military time??? i think he got some kind of exception because he was in the military before being a firefighter? maybe theres exceptions for some people??

Just wanted to add my perspective as someone who went through this exact decision two years ago. I was a teacher in California for 28 years and faced the same GPO situation with my husband's Social Security. We ultimately decided to take the monthly pension instead of the lump sum, and here's why: even though the GPO reduces my spousal benefits, the guaranteed monthly income from the pension provides more security than trying to manage a large lump sum in this volatile market. The peace of mind knowing we have that steady income stream has been worth more than any potential investment gains. Plus, our pension has COLA adjustments which helps with inflation - something you lose with a lump sum. The GPO is frustrating but it's just one factor in a much bigger retirement picture.

Just wondering... have u checked what ur survivors benefit would be if ur ex passes away? That's different from the ex-spouse benefit while he's alive. If he dies, u can get his FULL benefit amount (what he would get at his FRA) if that's more than your own. My mom got my dad's full benefit after he passed even though they were divorced.

One thing that might help you decide on timing is to create a break-even analysis. If you take $1,400/month at 62 versus waiting for $2,000/month at 67, you'd collect $84K over those 5 years ($1,400 x 60 months). After age 67, you'd need about 11.5 years (until age 78.5) to make up that difference with the higher monthly payments. Given average life expectancy and your health concerns, this math might actually favor taking benefits earlier in your case. You could also consider working part-time after 62 if possible - you can earn up to about $22K annually without affecting your SS benefits. Just make sure to factor in Medicare costs starting at 65 if you retire before then.