I collected my first Social Security check this week.

No. I’m not celebrating any kind of milestone birthday. Rather, a direct deposit landed in my checking account for the benefit of my minor child whose father turned 62 in January and who elected to “retire” early.

As you know, this has been a challenging year on the money front. So an extra $409 per month feels like it came straight from Heaven! The Lord does work in mysterious ways.

What’s best is, barring complete government collapse, I can depend on Uncle Sam to keep these payments coming. The grand total for the year will fall below $5,000, so the benefits will remain tax free as well. Almost makes up for the decline in the value of the 529 account I opened 9 years ago to help finance my daughter’s college education.

Marrying an older man (or woman) can suck you into an older age bracket earlier than you intend. But one of the little benefits if a spouse retires (even if you’re divorced) is the Social Security that keeps going for your child until age 18 or the end of high school. (Check all the details on the official Social Security website.)

I know all about surviving child benefits, but I’d totally forgotten about the child of retiree benefit. My former husband was proud to inform me our daughter would be getting something when he announced his “official” retirement.

When I called the local Social Security office to confirm the amount I could expect and to set up the direct deposit, the clerk I spoke to was the most congenial civil servant I’ve ever had the privilege of addressing.

This may be the lone body of government that bends over backwards to help. Or maybe it’s because in his usual way, my daughter’s father had managed to charm her.

A truly amazing friend of mine recently lost her husband and is now back to work full-time and raising two little boys. As she continues to sort out the five-figure hospital bills, setting up her Social Security survivor benefits has been the most matter-of-fact aspect of her experience.

As the former spouse of the household’s primary breadwinner, my daughter’s father would be eligible to collect his Social Security based on my higher salary. But he won’t be able to do that until I myself am retired.

Dream on.

What’s your experience been with Social Security or the economic issues of marriage to a significantly older spouse? What would you do with the extra money?