@GailL1    I used to ponder benefits for divorced persons. The rule requiring that the marriage be at least 10 years long puts a practical cap on how many ex-spouses who would be eligible for benefits. Probably on the order of 4 to 5, maybe even 6 fo...

By the way, this is likely what you are looking for (I found via a Google search)https://www.aarp.org/videos/social-security/6395248215112/Edited to add:   link also includes the transcript

With the "new" rules for "deemed filing" (which are not really new, they came in sometime around 5-10 years ago) an applicant for retirement benefits is "deemed" to apply for retirement benefit on their own work record as well as applying for spousal...

Thank you for the update. A sad story of misdirection. And presumably some sort of mental illness or personality disorder. Maybe even due to some form of dementia. But a very sad thing indeed   

Being retired already it is difficult for me to change my income streams. Many of the various sources of income listed hinge on being created prior to retirement, and likely best set up (and funded) 20-30-even 40 years before retiring. At or after re...