After reading Get What's Yours, I decided to wait until FRA (August of this year) to file for my divorced spousal benefit-ex was a railroad employee to whom I was married for 30 years. I called in and was convinced that it would make no difference if I just started drawing right away; difference is $23. I work part time and plan to continue. I asked would my own SS continue to grow and was told that it would. Do you think this is wise, or should I suspend before everything goes through?

Hi,

If you filed for divorced spousal benefits from the Railroad (RR) and not Social Security (SS), then you're probably okay. You can receive RR benefits and still be able to accrue delayed retirement credits (DRC) on your own Social Security record from full retirement age until age 70. Assuming that your own SS retirement rate at age 70 will be higher than your divorced spousal benefits from the RR, that sounds like a good plan.

However, if you filed for divorced spousal benefits from SS prior to your full retirement age you would also be deemed to have filed for your own SS benefits and you would not receive DRCs. I really can't give you any advice, though, without more specific information.

Best, Jerry