Just wanted to add one more consideration that might be helpful - you should also check if your ex-husband has filed for his benefits yet. Since you mentioned he started collecting at 65, this shouldn't be an issue, but it's worth confirming. You can only claim ex-spouse benefits if your ex has already filed for his own benefits (unless you've been divorced for at least 2 years). Also, when you do your calculations, remember that the ex-spouse benefit is based on his Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), not what he's actually receiving. So even if he took a reduced benefit by claiming early, your potential ex-spouse benefit would still be calculated from his full benefit amount at FRA. One last tip: if you do decide to wait until 70, make sure you sign up for Medicare at 65 even if you're not taking Social Security yet. You don't want to face late enrollment penalties for Medicare Part B!

I'm in a similar situation and have been researching this extensively. Everything mentioned here about the deemed filing rules is correct - those of us born after January 2, 1954 can't use the old "claim now, switch later" strategy. However, I want to emphasize something that might help with your decision: make sure you get your actual benefit estimates from SSA, not just rough calculations. When I finally got through to them (took forever!), I discovered my own projected benefit at 70 was significantly higher than I expected, making the wait much more worthwhile than the ex-spouse benefit. Also, don't forget that if you do wait until 70, you'll miss out on 5 years of payments. So even though the monthly amount is 24% higher, you need to live long enough for that higher amount to make up for the missed years. The breakeven point is usually around age 82-83, but it varies based on your specific numbers. One more thing - if you're still working and have decent earnings, those high-earning years could boost your benefit calculation even more, making the wait until 70 even more attractive. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Thank you everyone for the helpful information! Just to make sure I understand correctly: 1. My ex's age doesn't matter for my benefit amount 2. MY age when I file is what matters - 62 for reduced or my FRA for full 50% 3. SSA will give me whichever is higher - my own benefit or the divorced spouse benefit 4. I need to watch out for the earnings limit if I'm working I think I'll wait until my FRA to avoid the reduction, unless my financial situation changes. I appreciate all the advice!

One thing I'd add to all this great advice - you might want to request your Social Security Statement online at ssa.gov to see your estimated benefits. It will show you what your own retirement benefit would be at different ages, which helps you compare it to the potential divorced spouse benefit (50% of your ex's PIA). Also, since you mentioned your ex earned substantially more, there's a good chance the divorced spouse benefit will be higher than your own, but it's worth confirming the numbers. The online statement is updated annually and gives you a clearer picture for planning purposes.

One thing nobody's mentioned yet: if you do qualify for additional benefits based on your ex-wife's record, you might be eligible for some retroactive benefits too. Since you're past your FRA, you could potentially get up to 6 months of back payments for the difference amount if it turns out you've been eligible for a while. Definitely bring this up when you talk to SSA. Every little bit helps with today's prices!

You can definitely handle this by phone, especially with the proper documentation ready. When you call, be prepared with: 1. Your Social Security number 2. Your ex-wife's Social Security number (if you have it) 3. Your marriage certificate 4. Your divorce decree showing the marriage lasted over 10 years 5. Birth certificates for both of you If you don't have all of these, don't worry. SSA can often look up some of this information in their system. The most important document is your divorce decree proving the 10+ year marriage. If you prefer, you can also schedule an appointment at your local office using the SSA website. Some people find it easier to discuss complex benefit situations in person.

Thanks everyone for the helpful information! I'm definitely going to go ahead with applying for spousal benefits after we get married. Just to make sure I understand correctly: I'll continue to receive my current benefit plus the difference to make it up to 50% of his benefit, and there's no waiting period to apply once we're married. I'll make sure to bring our marriage certificate to the SSA office. And I appreciate the reminder about survivor benefits too - that gives me peace of mind for the future.

Just wanted to add one more practical tip - when you go to the SSA office to apply for spousal benefits, I'd recommend calling ahead to make an appointment rather than just walking in. The wait times can be really long without an appointment, especially at the beginning of the month when a lot of people are dealing with benefit issues. Also, bring a copy of your marriage certificate in addition to the original, as they sometimes like to keep a copy for their records. The whole process should be pretty straightforward since you're already in their system receiving your own benefits. Good luck with your wedding and the benefit increase!

My condolences on your father's passing. I went through this exact situation last year. Just to add some clarity - the funeral home or mortuary can actually help notify Social Security of the death when they file the death certificate, but it's still good to call yourself to make sure it was processed. When I called SSA after my dad passed, they were able to tell me immediately if I was eligible for the death benefit during that same call. Even though the amount is small, every bit helps with funeral expenses. The key documents you'll need are: death certificate, your father's SSN, your own SSN and ID. One thing I learned - if your dad had any automatic payments set up from his bank account for bills, you'll want to contact those companies too since his SSN will show as deceased in their systems eventually. Just thought I'd mention it since you're handling the executor duties.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Going through all this paperwork while grieving is incredibly difficult. Just wanted to add that when you do call SSA, it might help to have a list of questions ready since the call can take a while to get through. Beyond the death benefit, they can also help you understand if there are any survivor benefits you might be eligible for - sometimes there are benefits available that people don't know about. Also, if your father was a veteran, don't forget to check with the VA about burial benefits too. The funeral home should have mentioned this, but it's easy to overlook when you're dealing with so much at once. Take care of yourself during this process.