Divorced, Widowed, and Wondering: How to Maximize Your Social Security Benefits

Social Security can be a maze of rules and decisions to make if you’re widowed or divorced, which makes claiming a daunting task.

Most claiming decisions are permanent and can make a difference of tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars over the rest of your lifetime, so you want to get it right.

In this episode, Cameron Valadez, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Enrolled Agent shows you how to navigate these important decisions faced on your own.

More specifically, Cameron discusses:

• The current state of Social Security and why early filing may not be in your best interest
• What divorcées need to know about benefit eligibility, what they may be entitled to, and future changes in life circumstances
• Questions Cameron has received in the past from divorcées
• What widows need to know about survivor benefit eligibility, what they may be entitled to, and future changes in life circumstances
  • Differences between widow and divorced widow benefit eligibility
  • Coordinating survivor benefits with your own potential retirement benefits
• Questions Cameron has received in the past from widows
• Tax withholding implications on Social Security benefits

Resources From The Episode:

• Retired-ish Newsletter Sign-Up
• Access Show Notes Here 
• Schedule a 20-Minute Discovery Call & Get Your Copy of “Finding Financial Clarity & Confidence When Starting Over”: 10 Blind Spots You Should Know To Help Mitigate Financial Uncertainties In Your New Life

Key Moments:

(01:11) The Social Security Crossroads (02:09) Debunking the Bankruptcy Myth (08:19) Understanding Divorcee Benefits (12:04) The 10-Year Rule and Its Impact (17:03) Real Questions from Real Divorcees (22:06) Survivor Benefits: What You Need to Know (27:06) Strategic Options for Survivor Benefits (29:22) Understanding Survivor Benefits and Earnings Limits (32:20) Navigating Remarriage and Survivor Benefits (35:03) Full Retirement Age Confusion: Survivor vs. Retirement Benefits (36:00) Strategic Switching: Survivor to Retirement Benefits (37:20) Tax Considerations for Social Security Recipients (40:33) Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways