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My experience with survivor benefits last year confirms what others have said - the percentage does increase monthly. I waited 8 months after turning 60 before applying, and when I called SSA to verify my benefit amount, they specifically mentioned my benefit percentage was higher because I was 60 years and 8 months old rather than exactly 60. The SSA representative calculated my benefit amount based on my exact age in years AND months when I applied. This is also documented in the SSA Program Operations Manual System (POMS), though that's not something easily accessible to the public.
Thank you for sharing your real experience with this! It's so helpful to hear from someone who's actually gone through the process. I think I'm going to wait a few more months before applying based on all this great information.
One more important thing to consider - if you're still working while collecting survivor benefits before your FRA, you'll be subject to the earnings limit ($22,320 in 2025 for people under FRA). Going over this limit will reduce your benefits by $1 for every $2 you earn above the limit. Sometimes waiting until closer to your FRA makes sense if you have significant earnings. This is separate from the percentage increase issue, but it's another factor that might influence your decision about when to start collecting.
my neighbor lost half her survivors benefits because she didnt know about this earnings limit! she was working part time and went over by just a little bit. they took back money she already spent! be careful about this!
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I remember reading somewhere that there's a limit to how much one family can receive from one worker's record... something called the "family maximum benefit." Does that apply in situations like this?
The Family Maximum Benefit (FMB) typically doesn't impact a situation with just a retired worker and spouse. It becomes more relevant when there are multiple beneficiaries on one record - like when dependent children or parents are also receiving benefits. For a married couple where one spouse is receiving a spousal benefit, you generally don't need to worry about the FMB reducing your benefits. The FMB is more likely to come into play with survivor benefits or when there are multiple children receiving benefits.
my cousins wife went thru this and she said you gotta keep ALL the letters ssa sends you cuz they might ask for them later when they do the switch!! also check your mySocialSecurity account online every week to see if anythings changed
Good advice! I'll definitely keep all the paperwork organized and check my online account regularly. Thanks!
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best wishes on your marriage! its nice to hear good news on this site for once instead of all the problems people have with ssa!
Has anyone checked if this is different for divorced survivor benefits vs. regular widow benefits? I thought I read somewhere that ex-spouse rules are different but I could be mixing it up with something else???
The same remarriage rules apply for both divorced surviving spouses and regular surviving spouses - if remarriage occurs after age 60, benefits continue unchanged. This is specifically addressed in SSA's Program Operations Manual System (POMS) section RS 00207.003.
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I just reread your post and noticed you said he was 64 when he passed. So he took early retirement at 64 and was also applying for disability? Just wondering because my friend's mom got denied when she tried to switch from early retirement to disability. They told her once you take early retirement you're stuck with it or something? But maybe it's different in your case since he applied for both at the same time??
This is a common misunderstanding. You can absolutely receive SSDI after filing for early retirement if you qualify medically. If approved for disability, SSA will essentially adjust your benefit to remove the early retirement reduction. However, you're right that applying for both simultaneously can sometimes create confusion in the processing system, which might be contributing to the problem here.
Thank you all for your helpful responses. I'm feeling more prepared for my appointment now. I'll definitely ask specifically about whether his claim received medical approval before he passed away and request documentation. I'm going to bring copies of everything I have, including the abatement letter. I'm still confused about why they would send a letter saying "no money is due" if I might be entitled to a higher survivor benefit. The wording makes it sound like everything is completely finished and denied.
That letter was likely addressing your husband's individual entitlement, not your survivor benefits. Since he passed away, no further disability payments would be made directly to him or his estate. Your survivor benefits are a separate determination. This is exactly the kind of confusing communication that makes dealing with SSA so difficult during an already stressful time. I hope your appointment provides clarity and the correct benefit amount.
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Just be aware that if they determine you earned too much, they don't just reduce benefits for that month - they take BACK money they've already paid you! My neighbor had to repay almost $4,000 because he didn't properly document his retirement from his small business. The monthly earnings test is actually more complicated than the annual one because the burden of proof is on YOU to show when you earned what.
That's terrifying! I definitely want to avoid an overpayment situation. I think I'll need to talk to my accountant about the best way to structure my final months of work and document everything carefully.
One additional suggestion - consider setting up a meeting with your local SSA office BEFORE December. Bring documentation of your planned retirement date and ask them specifically what they'll need from you. Getting ahead of potential issues is much easier than fixing them after the fact. Also, make sure you understand how the earnings test works if you exceed the limit. For every $2 you go over the limit, benefits are reduced by $1. However, it's not a cliff - you don't lose all benefits just for going over. In the year you reach FRA, the earnings test becomes more lenient ($56,520 for 2024), and the reduction is $1 for every $3 over the limit. But this only applies to earnings in the months BEFORE the month you reach FRA.
Thank you for this advice! I've scheduled an appointment with my local office for next month. I'll bring my planned retirement documentation and a list of questions. I understand the earnings test basics, but I want to make absolutely sure I'm handling the monthly vs. annual limits correctly for self-employment income. Planning ahead seems like the best approach.
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I'm worried now because I just realized I've been paying Medicare premiums directly for 3 months since turning 65, but I just filed for retirement benefits last week. Should I call SSA to let them know about the potential overlap or just wait for them to figure it out like they did for you?
You don't need to call specifically about this issue. When your retirement benefits are approved, the system will automatically register that you've paid premiums in advance and should process a refund for any overlap. Just make sure to keep documentation of all your Medicare premium payments in case you need to verify the refund amount later.
Thank you! That's a relief. The whole process of coordinating Medicare and Social Security timing has been so confusing. Appreciate the clear explanation.
my freind got a bigger refund like $900+ from SSA for the same thing but shes on SSDI not retirement. wonder if thats why hers was more???
Hmm, that's interesting. I think the refund amount just depends on your premium amount and how many months of overlap there were. My Part B premium is the standard amount, but if she has higher income or additional parts of Medicare, that might explain the difference.
The difference is probably because Medicare premiums vary based on income levels. If your friend has Parts B & D plus an IRMAA surcharge due to higher income, her monthly premiums would be much higher than the base amount, resulting in a larger refund for the same overlap period. IRMAA can add $200-500+ per month depending on income tier.
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be careful cancling part B!! my sister did that and when she tried to get it back later they made her wait till special enrollment period and charged her more money forever!! make sure u really don't need it
This is actually an important point, but there's a key distinction. What happened to your sister was likely because she didn't have qualifying employer coverage when she canceled Part B. When you have qualifying employer coverage (from an employer with 20+ employees), you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period when that coverage ends, avoiding the late enrollment penalty. It's only people who cancel Part B without having other qualifying coverage who face penalties later.
Update: I finally got through to someone at Medicare this morning! They confirmed what many of you said - my husband CAN disenroll from Part B without penalty since I have employer coverage. We need to submit those two forms mentioned earlier and should get a refund for premiums already paid. They said processing could take 6-8 weeks but at least we're on the right track now. Thank you all for your help!
Great news! Make sure to keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit and get a confirmation number or receipt if possible. It doesn't hurt to follow up if you don't see the refund after 8 weeks. Glad you're getting it sorted out!
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When my mom died my dad got that $255 payment automatically I think. But that was like 15 years ago so maybe the rules changed? It showed up in his bank account but he was already getting her SS check as a survivor benefit so maybe that's why it was automatic. The whole SS system is so confusing!!
The $255 death benefit is never paid automatically - someone must apply for it. What likely happened was that your dad applied for survivor benefits, and they processed the death benefit at the same time. It might have seemed automatic because it was all handled in one appointment or phone call. You're right that the system can be very confusing though!
Thank you everyone for the helpful information. I've made an appointment at my local SSA office for next week. I'll bring both our marriage certificate and his death certificate. I'm also going to ask about the survivor benefit options since it sounds like I might be leaving money on the table if I don't understand all the choices. I really appreciate the support during this difficult time.
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Based on what you've shared, it sounds like your best strategy would be to: 1. Take the survivor benefit at your FRA (66 and 8 months) 2. Let your own retirement benefit grow until 70 3. Switch to your own benefit at 70 when it reaches $1,850 This maximizes your lifetime benefits. Just be aware that when you apply, make sure to specify that you want to restrict your application to survivor benefits only, so you don't accidentally claim your own retirement early.
Thank you so much for this clear plan! I'll definitely specify that I only want to apply for survivor benefits when I reach FRA. This community has been so much more helpful than my hours on hold with SSA.
Just be careful with the working part - if ur under FRA and collecting ANY SS benefits there's an earnings limit. Think it's around $20k for 2025. If u earn more than that they take back $1 for every $2 over the limit. Once u hit FRA no more earnings limit.
That's a good point about the earnings limit. I only make about $15,000 a year from my part-time job, so I should be under that limit. But it's definitely something to keep in mind.
Darren Brooks
One more thing to consider - if your son's dyslexia is accompanied by other conditions that together substantially limit his ability to work/function, then an SSI application might be worth considering. But based on what you've described (A/B Honor Roll, motivated student), it doesn't sound like he would qualify. The SSA is looking for conditions that prevent substantial gainful activity, which academic success generally contradicts.
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Naila Gordon
•yep the SSA basically wants to see that the kid can barely function in daily life before they'll approve anything. my sons doctor told me not to even bother applying.
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Rosie Harper
Since your son is doing well academically, I'd recommend focusing on college preparation rather than Social Security benefits. Many colleges have excellent support services for students with dyslexia, and there are scholarships specifically for students with learning disabilities. Organizations like the National Center for Learning Disabilities and the Learning Disabilities Association of America have resources that might be more relevant to your situation than Social Security.
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Khalid Howes
•That's excellent advice - thank you! He's definitely college-bound, and I hadn't thought about looking into specific scholarships for students with learning disabilities. I'll check out both of those organizations. Much more productive direction than pursuing benefits he wouldn't qualify for anyway.
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