I have a very complex question. I started drawing at 62 on my own wages because my ex was not 62 yet. They told me my max wages at that time was around $800.00 or so, and I could only draw about 75%, and said I would be better off to wait til I was 66 to draw off of my ex. The four years I kept in touch with the soc. sec., and was told I should be able to get 50% of his wages since he had almost $2000. a month accumulated, and was actually printed out a matrix on his average wages until he turned 66. When I went to draw off of him, they told me I would have drawn more money than I could get from him, because even though I didn't work very much, I had accumulated almost an extra $300. A question I have is: How does my soc. sec. grow when I don't work? Why did one person tell me I qualified, but then another said I didn't. When you go on line to the soc. sec. site, you can get a statement for each year, but there are no figures as to your benefits. One person tells me my benefits froze when I started drawing, yet another tells me that it continues to grow. Nobody wants to talk to me. How am I suppose to know who is telling the truth, and if they are figuring me properly.
Sorry this is so long, but tried to be as brief as I could. Is there someone who can bring all of this to light for me? Would appreciate any help I can get.

Hi,

From your description, it sounds like you are being told that you don't qualify for divorced spousal benefits because your own full retirement age benefit rate (PIA) is higher than 50% of your ex-husband's PIA.

For example, say Jane has a PIA of $1100, but decides to start drawing her benefits at age 62 and receives a reduced rate of $825. If Jane's ex-husband's PIA is $2000, Jane could not be paid a divorced spousal benefit because her PIA is higher than 50% of her ex's PIA (i.e. $1100 vs. $1000).

If you think that the information you've received from Social Security may be incorrect, you could insist on filing for divorced spousal benefits in order to receive a formal determination. And, you could appeal their determination if your claim is disallowed and you don't receive an adequate explanation. I don't know enough about your case to analyze whether or not you have other options. Your PIA would not have changed after you reached age 62, though, unless you had additional earnings.

Best, Jerry