I'm going through a similar planning situation right now, though my husband is only 8 years older than me. We've been trying to get clear answers on this COLA question for months! Reading through everyone's responses here has been incredibly helpful. It sounds like the consensus is that survivor benefits DO continue to receive COLA adjustments after the worker dies, which is such a relief to know. One thing I'm still wondering about - does anyone know if there's an official SSA publication that clearly states this? I've read through several of their pamphlets and website pages, but they seem to focus more on the basic benefit amounts rather than how COLAs are applied over time for survivors. I'd love to have something in writing to reference when we meet with our financial planner next month. The difference this makes in our projections is substantial, just like in your case!

As someone new to this community, I just wanted to say thank you all for this incredibly informative discussion! I'm in a somewhat similar situation - my spouse is 10 years older and we're trying to figure out our Social Security planning. Reading through all these responses, especially the real-world experiences shared by @Rajan Walker and others, has been so valuable. The "ghost account" explanation from @Avery Davis really helped clarify how the COLA adjustments work technically. I had no idea that survivor benefits continued to receive cost-of-living adjustments after the worker's death - I always assumed they were frozen at the death benefit amount. Learning that Social Security maintains these adjustments makes such a huge difference in long-term planning calculations. The suggestion about getting an official survivor benefit estimate from SSA also sounds like a great next step. Based on what everyone has shared, it sounds like the key takeaway is that survivors receive the deceased worker's benefit amount PLUS all intervening COLAs, which can add up to substantial additional monthly income over many years. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge and experiences - this type of real community support is invaluable when navigating these complex Social Security rules!

I went through this exact situation two years ago when my husband passed. He had also taken reduced benefits at 62, and I was so confused about what I'd receive. Here's what actually happened: SSA calculated both amounts (his reduced benefit and 82.5% of his PIA) and automatically gave me whichever was higher - I didn't even have to ask for the comparison. In my case, the 82.5% of PIA ended up being about $200 more per month than what he was receiving, so that's what I got. The whole process took about 6 weeks once I submitted all the paperwork. One thing I wish I had known: you can actually call SSA and ask them to do this calculation while your husband is still alive. They'll tell you both scenarios so you know exactly what to expect. It really helped with my financial planning during an already difficult time.

I've been following this discussion and it's incredibly helpful to see all the different perspectives and real experiences. As someone who works in retirement planning, I want to emphasize something that several people have touched on but bears repeating: the calculation that determines your survivor benefit can be quite complex, and it's absolutely worth getting the exact numbers from SSA in advance. What I've seen in practice is that many people assume they'll just get whatever their spouse was receiving, but as this thread shows, that's not always the case. The RIB-LIM provision (82.5% of PIA vs. actual benefit received) can sometimes result in a higher survivor benefit than the reduced amount the deceased spouse was receiving. One additional point: if you do decide to visit your local SSA office for the advance calculation, I'd recommend bringing a list of specific questions written down beforehand. Ask them to show you both calculations in writing if possible, and request that they note in your file that you've received this information. This documentation can be valuable later when you actually need to apply for survivor benefits. Also, don't forget to factor in any annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) that would apply to survivor benefits just like they do to regular retirement benefits. This can help with your long-term financial planning.

Just wanted to add from my experience - if you're only $500 over, you might want to double-check your calculation against the exact earnings limit for your situation. The 2024 limit was $22,320 if you're under FRA all year, but make sure you're only counting wages, salary, and self-employment income. Things like vacation payouts, sick leave payouts, and some bonuses might be counted differently depending on when they were earned vs. when they were paid. I thought I was over one year but it turned out some of my "2024" income was actually attributed to 2023 work, so I stayed under the limit after all. Worth verifying before you stress too much about the adjustment!

Just wanted to share that I went through this exact situation two years ago. I was $800 over due to an unexpected consulting payment, and SSA didn't adjust my benefits until about 6 months after I filed my taxes. They sent me a letter about 2 weeks before they made the deduction explaining they would withhold $400 (half the overage amount). What surprised me was that they actually gave me the option to pay it back as a lump sum instead of having it deducted from my monthly check - I chose the lump sum since it was easier for my budgeting. The whole process was much less scary than I thought it would be once it actually happened. Just make sure you keep that letter they send you for your records!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so grateful to have found this incredibly detailed and helpful discussion! I'm 61 and my husband is 64, so we're approaching these critical Social Security decisions ourselves. Reading through everyone's experiences and advice has been like getting a crash course in retirement planning that I never knew I needed. The most important thing I learned here is that survivor benefits and retirement benefits are completely separate systems - I had always assumed that claiming early would permanently reduce all future benefits. Knowing that I can claim my own reduced benefit at 62 or 65 but still have the option to switch to a full survivor benefit later (if needed) removes so much of the anxiety from this decision. I'm also taking detailed notes on all the practical advice shared here: setting up online SSA accounts now, organizing important documents, keeping records of phone calls, and knowing about services like Claimyr to actually reach a human being. The real-world experiences from people who have navigated the survivor benefit process are invaluable - especially learning about potential delays and the importance of being proactive with documentation. This thread has motivated me to stop procrastinating and start preparing now while we're both healthy and can think clearly about our options. Thank you to this amazing community for creating such a supportive environment where people share both their knowledge and their personal experiences. It makes all the difference when facing such important financial decisions!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to express my sincere gratitude for this incredibly comprehensive and helpful discussion! I'm 59 and my husband is 62, so we're just beginning to seriously consider our Social Security strategy. This thread has been an absolute goldmine of information that I couldn't find anywhere else. The most significant revelation for me was learning that survivor benefits are completely separate from retirement benefits. I had been operating under the assumption that any early claiming decision would permanently lock us into reduced benefits across the board. Understanding that I can claim my own benefits early for immediate income while still preserving the option for full survivor benefits later has completely transformed how I'm approaching our planning. Beyond the technical knowledge, I'm equally impressed by the practical wisdom shared here - from setting up online SSA accounts proactively, to organizing important documents now while we're both healthy, to services like Claimyr that can help cut through the phone system frustrations. The real-world experiences from people who have actually navigated survivor benefits are invaluable and provide insights you simply cannot get from government websites or pamphlets. I'm inspired to take action immediately - this weekend I'll be setting up our online accounts, creating an organized file with all our important documents (marriage certificate, birth certificates, Social Security cards), and starting a timeline of key decision points for both of us. This community has shown me that being prepared and informed ahead of time is so much better than scrambling to understand complex rules during an already stressful situation. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this discussion - your generosity in sharing both expertise and personal experiences is truly making a difference for people like me who are trying to navigate these critical financial decisions!

As a newcomer here, I just want to thank everyone for this incredibly thorough discussion! I'm turning 67 in July 2025 and have been procrastinating on my Social Security application because I was intimidated by all the details. This thread has answered so many questions I didn't even know I had. The confirmation that you only specify the month (not the day) is such a relief - I was overthinking that completely. The advice about applying 3-4 months early, creating a my Social Security account first to verify information, and using the online application gives me a clear action plan. I also had no clue about the payment timing - that your first payment comes the month after benefits start and then follows the Wednesday schedule based on your birth date. This community is amazing for providing real-world experiences and practical guidance. I feel so much more confident about moving forward with my application now!

As a newcomer to this community, I have to say this thread has been incredibly enlightening! I'm approaching my FRA in early 2025 and was really stressing about the Social Security application process. Reading through everyone's shared experiences has been so reassuring - especially the unanimous confirmation that you only need to specify the month, not a specific day. I was definitely overthinking that aspect! The practical advice about applying 3-4 months in advance, creating a my Social Security account first to verify all information, and using the online application provides such a clear roadmap. I also learned so much about payment timing that I never would have known otherwise - like how benefits are paid for the previous month and follow that Wednesday schedule based on birth date. It's amazing how much valuable, real-world knowledge this community shares. Thank you all for making what seemed like an overwhelming process feel much more manageable!