I was married only once, and that marriage lasted more than 10 years. My ex-husband is getting Social Security at a significantly higher rate than I am. Can I get spousal benefits from my ex now? Or do I have to wait until he dies?

It is a common misconception that a divorced woman must wait until her ex-­husband dies to collect benefits on his record. You can get divorced spouse’s benefits while your ex is alive if your own benefit is less than one-third to one-half of your ex’s full retirement age rate. (The exact percentage depends on factors like your age and when you started your own benefits.) Call the Social Security Administration (SSA) to check into this or visit ssa.gov/apply to apply online.

In December 2025, the SSA deposited almost $3,000 in my bank account with no explanation. A few months later, I got a letter saying the money was sent in error, and they stopped my benefits until they recovered the overpayment. Then, earlier this year, I got another letter telling me I still owe the money. I filed an appeal and have called the SSA several times, with no results. Today, I got a letter telling me I owe even more money. I am at my wit’s end. What can I do about this?

I have two suggestions. One is to make an appointment to visit your local Social Security office. If the meeting is not productive, ask to speak to the supervisor or manager. He or she should be able to cut through the red tape and resolve your problem. You could also contact your congressional representative, who likely has a staffer handling Social Security and Medicare issues. I know from experience that when a Social Security office gets a “congressional inquiry,” that case usually gets priority attention.

I retired about 10 years ago, but I went back to work five years ago. I make more money now than I did before I retired, so I expected my Social Security benefits to grow. They haven’t. Do I need to do anything?

You shouldn’t have to. Your retirement benefit was calculated using your highest 35 years of earnings adjusted for national wage growth to account for inflation. If your current earnings are higher than the lowest year of indexed earnings used in your original benefit computation, the SSA will replace that old year with the new higher year, thus raising your benefit. The SSA performs this review annually for all working Social Security beneficiaries, so normally there is nothing you need to do. But if you think you missed an increase you were due, contact the SSA and be ready to show them your latest W-2 forms or tax returns.

I am 12 years older than my wife and always made more than she did. What is the earliest age she can start her own Social Security benefit without reducing what she will get as a widow when I die?

If she wants, your wife can start her own reduced retirement benefits as early as age 62. That reduction won’t carry over to the widow’s benefit she will be due when you die. What might reduce her survivor benefit is her age when she files for it. If she is at her full retirement age or older, she’ll receive 100 percent of what you were getting at the time of death. If she is younger than that, her survivor benefit will be lower.