I just turned 66, born 6/9/1951. I was married for over 10 years and did not remarry. I was not a high earner. My former husband was a (very) high earner. He is still alive (born in 1935). I want to claim divorced spouse benefits and wait to claim mine until I reach 70. I cannot do this online - too confusing. But I am TERRIFIED that if I go into my local Social Security Office they will try to cheat me and somehow manipulate me into taking my own Social Security Retirement Benefit at my current age instead of the divorced spouse benefit and wait on mine. I have read/heard so many horror stories. A friend just tried to do this (same age, same circumstances) at my local SS office and was told collecting divorced spouse benefits and waiting on retirement benefits on her own account was "not possible." They tried to trick her into filing for her own SS retirement benefits. How do I protect myself? And - I don't know when to file so I won't get manipulated in this way. HELP! I bought your book but can't find anything in it about protecting myself against SS deliberately tricking or manipulating me into losing out in the long run!

Hi,

I worked for Social Security for 36 years, and I can assure you that Social Security employees are not trying to cheat people. Our cases were reviewed, and the worst offense we could commit was making a mistake that disadvantaged a claimant.

That's not to say, though, that Social Security employees don't make mistakes. Budget limitations have caused numerous problems, among which is a lack of adequate training. So, it's best to make sure that you know what you want to do, and what the Social Security law permits you to do, before contacting Social Security. One of the best ways to do that is by subscribing to one or more of the available services available on the purchase page on this website. And, if you believe that a Social Security employee is giving you misinformation, ask to speak with a technical expert or supervisor.

Since you were born prior to January 2 1954 and it sounds like you meet all of the requirements for divorced spousal benefits (https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.03/handbook-0311.html), you do have the option of filing for divorced spousal benefits only at full retirement age while allowing your own benefit rate to grow until age 70. Unless the benefit rate on your own account is higher than your divorced spousal rate when you reach age 70, though, there likely won't be any advantage in filing for your own benefits at that time.

Best, Jerry