W2R
Moderator Emeritus
I think this might be the happiest day since the day I retired!
I have been on divorced spousal SS since age 66 (2014), with the idea that my own SS would continue to grow until age 70 (2018) and then I'd switch over to my own SS which would be larger by now.
So, on February 22nd I applied to switch over to SS based on my own employment record. I searched the internet far and wide, and FINALLY found one post over at Bogleheads that indicated that this actually could be done online, here, applying just as though I never had divorced spousal. Our local SS office is horrible beyond belief, and after hearing stories about it from Frank I did not want to go there in person myself.
My worries were:
1) In 2015 a law was passed saying one's own SS would not grow from age 66-70 if doing this; I hoped I was grandfathered but feared I might fall through the cracks.
2) My ex is really on SS disability although he is SS retirement age and I don't understand if that is the same thing or how that works, basically that is a big bottomless abysmal black hole filled with infinite W2R ignorance.
3) Dealing with huge bureaucracies scares the living daylights out of me.
Today, a very nice, sweet lady from the Chicago SS office called me up on the phone, did not ask me a single question except my birthday to verify that I am me, and then told me it is a "go"!!!! I will start getting SS based on my own employment record in June just as I requested.
Not only that, the exact dollar amount will be just $1 less than what I had calculated. Probably a rounding error. At any rate I'm proud of myself for being that close. After Medicare is deducted, I will be getting $555/month above what I have been getting on divorced spousal SS.
I confirmed with her that I will be getting a new Medicare card too, which is needed since my present one is on my ex-husband's account and SSN.
Considering getting a pint of BlueBell ice cream to celebrate....
I have been on divorced spousal SS since age 66 (2014), with the idea that my own SS would continue to grow until age 70 (2018) and then I'd switch over to my own SS which would be larger by now.
So, on February 22nd I applied to switch over to SS based on my own employment record. I searched the internet far and wide, and FINALLY found one post over at Bogleheads that indicated that this actually could be done online, here, applying just as though I never had divorced spousal. Our local SS office is horrible beyond belief, and after hearing stories about it from Frank I did not want to go there in person myself.
My worries were:
1) In 2015 a law was passed saying one's own SS would not grow from age 66-70 if doing this; I hoped I was grandfathered but feared I might fall through the cracks.
2) My ex is really on SS disability although he is SS retirement age and I don't understand if that is the same thing or how that works, basically that is a big bottomless abysmal black hole filled with infinite W2R ignorance.
3) Dealing with huge bureaucracies scares the living daylights out of me.
Today, a very nice, sweet lady from the Chicago SS office called me up on the phone, did not ask me a single question except my birthday to verify that I am me, and then told me it is a "go"!!!! I will start getting SS based on my own employment record in June just as I requested.
Not only that, the exact dollar amount will be just $1 less than what I had calculated. Probably a rounding error. At any rate I'm proud of myself for being that close. After Medicare is deducted, I will be getting $555/month above what I have been getting on divorced spousal SS.
I confirmed with her that I will be getting a new Medicare card too, which is needed since my present one is on my ex-husband's account and SSN.
Considering getting a pint of BlueBell ice cream to celebrate....
