Hi, my birthdate is June 1950. Struggling as a caregiver to take care of my husband who had an eleven year battle with Parkinson's disease, I took my social security benefits at age 64, exercised the 1 year pay back option and resumed social security benefits in March of 2015 to pay bills. He passed away in December 2015. When I went in to the Social Security office to apply for the death benefit, and asked if there was any way to boost my check by claiming ex-spouse benefits on a prior marriage, the agent said yes and typed up an application, pending supporting data of the previous marriage. I cancelled that app because I was so close to turning 66. I waited until now, in July to go back to Social Security to apply for an ex-husband's spousal benefits. Because I have already taken my own benetit, I do not know if I can restrict my application to only ex-spouse benefits and whether I can allow my own benetit to grow, or if I have to take the combination of mine and top it off with his. I am widowed, and do not know what my options are. Thanks, Linda

Linda, I'm sorry for your loss. The benefits your eligible for your retirement benefit, your widow's benefit based on your late husband's record, and a divorced spousal benefit based on your first husband's record. You can receive whichever is larger. Since you're now 1 month past your FRA, you unreduced widow's benefit would have been equal to the benefit your late husband was receiving at the time of his death. Your excess widow's benefit would be added to your unreduced retirement benefit to bring the total up to what your late husband was receiving. Your unreduced divorced spousal benefit would have been equal to your ex's retirement benefit at his full retirement age (FRA). Your excess divorced spousal benefit would be added to your unreduced retirement benefit to bring the total up to his FRA retirement benefit amount. Since you filed for your retirement benefit before your FRA, either the excess widow's or excess divorced spousal benefit will now be added to your reduced retirement benefit, so either your total widow's benefit or your total divorced spousal benefit will be reduced a bit. If you suspend your retirement benefit at FRA to recoup the early filing reduction and then earn increases due to delayed retirement credits, you'd unfortunately not be able to receive any other benefit while your retirement benefit was suspended. Thanks, John