I was married to my first husband for more than 10 years then divorced 1971. I remarried for 18 years until my husband died in 2001. I was age 56 and collected on my deceased husband's reduced benefit (because he had an offset pension that I was unable to collect from because of option he chose at retirement). Because my benefit was more I switched to my benefit at age 62. NO ONE TOLD ME I COULD SUSPEND MY BENEFIT AND COLLECT MY FIRST HUSBAND'S BENEFIT UNTIL MY FULL RETIREMENT AGE THEN SWITCH TO MY OWN AND RECEIVE MY FULL BENEFIT. I visited the social security office and made several calls to social security to discuss my options but was never told I could collect on by divorced spouse. Is there anything I can do now? I could really use the extra income as my only additional income is a small pension from my credit union retirement. Please let me know if there is anything I can do or if it is too late.

Thank you,
Eileen

Hi Eileen,

If you started drawing on your own record less than a year ago, you can withdraw your claim and reapply when you reach full retirement age, or probably better yet, at age 70. You'd have to repay any higher benefits you've received on your own record up to now, though. But, if you've been drawing on your own account for more than a year now, there's probably nothing you can do.

It sounds like you could potentially be entitled to benefits on your first husband's record at some point. For you to be eligible on his account while he's living, his full retirement age benefit amount would have to be more than twice as much as yours. But, if he dies before you, you could be eligible for his full benefit amount if it's higher than your own.

Best, Jerry