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my aunt said u should also look at state taxes cuz some states tax SS and some dont!!! depends where u live
That's an excellent point about state taxation. Currently, 12 states tax Social Security benefits to some extent: Colorado, Connecticut, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, and West Virginia. Each has different thresholds and exemptions. The remaining 38 states and DC don't tax Social Security benefits at all.
One strategy to consider for future years (won't help for 2024): if you have the ability to control income sources, you might be able to stay below the taxation thresholds. For example, taking distributions from Roth accounts (which aren't counted in the combined income formula) rather than traditional IRAs, or timing certain investment decisions. This requires advance planning but can reduce the tax impact on your Social Security benefits.
I wish I'd learned about all this BEFORE I retired! I have some money in a Roth that I could have relied on more this year to stay under the threshold. Will definitely plan better for 2025. Thanks for the strategic advice.
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When you say your benefit is "a little over $2000," is that what your Social Security statement shows for your FRA? Just make sure you're looking at the right number when comparing.
I actually just checked my most recent statement again, and it shows $2,547 at my FRA (which will be 67). I rounded down in my original post, but even with the exact amount, it's still more than 50% of what my ex would get at the maximum benefit level. Thanks for prompting me to double-check though!
I wonder if there's ANY scenario where you could get more? What if he delays claiming until 70? Would 50% of his increased benefit be more than your FRA amount? Just thinking out loud here...
That's a good question, but unfortunately for spousal benefits (including divorced spouse benefits), the maximum you can receive is 50% of your ex-spouse's PRIMARY insurance amount (PIA), which is their benefit amount at their full retirement age. Even if the ex-spouse delays claiming until 70 and gets delayed retirement credits, those increases don't apply to the spousal benefit calculation. So the original poster would still be comparing her own benefit to 50% of her ex's benefit at his FRA, not his age 70 amount.
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Ok I see lots of responses but nobody's mentioning an important point: COLA increases are usually TINY compared to what you LOSE by not taking benefits early! Last year was only 3.2% COLA but if you wait a whole YEAR to claim, you lose TWELVE MONTHS of payments you'll NEVER get back!!! Just saying, do the math for YOUR situation. Not everyone should wait!
While it's true you forgo payments by waiting, there's more to consider. Remember that claiming at 62 means a permanent 30% reduction in your monthly benefit amount compared to claiming at FRA. And if you live to average life expectancy (mid-80s), you'll actually receive more lifetime benefits by waiting. Each situation is different though - factors like health status, financial need, and family longevity should all factor into the decision.
My wife was confused about this same thing! We thought we had to claim right away to get the COLA. Turns out we didn't need to worry. Just FYI though - while COLA adjustments are applied whether you're collecting or not, earnings adjustments (if you're still working) only happen until you start collecting. At least that's what the SSA rep told us.
That's a good point about earnings adjustments! I am still working full-time, so that's another reason waiting makes sense for me. Thanks for bringing that up!
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The original poster should also know that the surviving parent needs to report her own earned income to Social Security if she's receiving the mother/father with child-in-care benefit. For 2025, if she earns over approximately $22,320, her benefit (not the children's) will be reduced by $1 for every $2 she earns above that limit. The children's benefits are safe regardless of the parent's income.
Thank you for the specific limit number! That helps a lot. My SIL is thinking about working part-time, but now she can plan to stay under that threshold if possible. It's good to know the kids' benefits won't be affected either way.
my heart goes out to you and your family during this difficult time. losing a loved one is hard enough without having to figure out all these complicated financial issues. sending hugs to you and those kiddos.
Thank you for the kind words. It's been a tough year for all of us, especially the kids. I'm just trying to help my SIL navigate everything.
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I was in a similar situation but reversed (I'm female). Started widow benefits at 60 and they were about 70% of what I would've gotten at FRA. But it was worth it for me because I needed the income. One thing no one mentioned - if you're planning to work past 60 while collecting, remember those benefits will be reduced if you earn over the limit (which was around $19k when I started but is higher now). For every $2 over the limit, they take $1 from your benefits.
That's really helpful to know about the exact percentage reduction! I am planning to keep working, so I'll need to calculate carefully whether taking reduced benefits at 60 makes sense with the earnings limit. Do you know if the money they withhold due to excess earnings is permanently lost, or do they adjust your benefit amount later?
Good question about withheld benefits due to excess earnings! Those benefits aren't permanently lost. Once you reach your Full Retirement Age, Social Security will recalculate your benefit amount to give you credit for the months when benefits were withheld. It's essentially a recoupment over time. But also consider: if your own retirement benefit will ultimately be higher than the widow benefit, and you plan to switch to your own benefit at FRA anyway, it might be worth analyzing whether taking a reduced widow benefit that's further reduced by the earnings test makes financial sense. Sometimes waiting until you're closer to FRA or working part-time to stay under the earnings limit can be more advantageous.
That's excellent information! I didn't realize they recalculate at FRA. I'll need to do some math to figure out the optimal strategy for my situation. Really appreciate all this knowledge - it's helping me understand my options much better.
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When the time comes, you'll need to schedule an appointment with SSA to apply for survivor benefits - you can't do this online. Bring your marriage certificate, divorce decree, his death certificate (when applicable), your birth certificate, and your Social Security card. Also bring your most recent tax return as they may check your earnings. Applying as soon as you're notified of his passing is important, as survivor benefits can sometimes be paid from the date of death if you apply within a certain timeframe.
YES!!! Apply ASAP!!! I didn't know and waited 2 months after my ex died and lost out on those payments! They only paid me from when I applied, not when he died!
i wonder if you get to keep the higher payment for life once you switch? or can they reduce it later?
Once you start receiving survivor benefits, they generally continue for life (with annual COLA adjustments), unless you remarry before age 60. There are some situations where benefits might change - like if you become entitled to a higher benefit on your own record later, or if you're subject to government pension offsets that come into play later.
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So sad to hear about your wife, sending prayers. I went through something similar with my sister last year. One thing nobody mentioned yet - if your wife qualifies for SSDI, she might also qualify for a lump-sum payment for the months between application and approval. With regular retirement, you can only get 6 months of retroactive benefits max, but SSDI can go back further depending on when they establish her onset date. Just something else to consider.
Thank you for the kind words and additional information. I hadn't heard about the retroactive payment difference. That's definitely something to consider since her condition has been affecting her ability to work consistently for several months now, even before the official diagnosis.
DONT forget to ask about survivors benefits for YOU after she passes!!! My neighbor got widower benefits after his wife died from cancer and it really helped him!!! The SSA doesn't always tell you everything you're eligible for unless you ASK SPECIFICALLY!!!
This is excellent advice. Survivor benefits can provide 100% of the deceased spouse's benefit amount if the surviving spouse is at full retirement age. If the surviving spouse is younger, the benefit ranges from 71.5% to 99% depending on exact age. Additionally, there's a one-time death benefit of $255 that can be applied for. These benefits need to be applied for separately as they're not automatic.
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One more thing to consider - if you're applying for divorced spouse benefits, remember you need to have been married for at least 10 years to qualify. Make sure your divorce decree clearly shows the marriage and divorce dates. If it's been less than 10 years, you won't be eligible regardless of having the proper documentation.
Yes, we were married for 22 years before the divorce, so I definitely qualify there. I just need to get that certified copy to prove it!
My friend went through this and she said she mailed her application with a note explaining that the certified divorce decree was on its way from the court. She included her receipt from the court showing she had ordered it. SSA started processing her application and just put a note that the file needed the decree before finalizing. Not sure if all offices do this, but might be worth trying.
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the whole system is rigged anyway... they make it so complicated on purpose so people dont get what theyre owed
I agree! Why can't they just make this stuff simple to understand? Every time I call I get a different answer. My neighbor and I are both widows and somehow got completely different survivor amounts even though our situations were similar!
Here's a technical point that hasn't been mentioned: There's something called the "Retirement Insurance Benefit Limitation" (RIB-LIM) that specifically addresses survivor benefits when someone claims early. This is what protects your wife's survivor benefits from your early claiming decision. Specifically, the RIB-LIM ensures that if you claim early and pass away, your widow(er) will receive the HIGHER of: 1. Your reduced benefit amount you were receiving 2. 82.5% of your unreduced PIA And if your widow(er) waits until their FRA to claim, they get 100% of your PIA regardless of when you claimed. This is why your early claiming decision won't hurt your wife's survivor benefits as long as she waits until her FRA to claim them.
Excellent explanation of the RIB-LIM provision. This is exactly the technical detail that matters in this situation and what I was referring to in my earlier comment. Social Security has these special provisions that aren't widely known but make a significant difference in benefit calculations.
Jungleboo Soletrain
WAIT!!! Are you still working FULL TIME? Because if you are and you claim SS before FRA, you might hit the earnings limit and they'll withhold some of your benefits. After FRA there's no limit but before that they take $1 for every $2 you earn over the limit!! My brother got surprised by this and it was a mess!!!
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Hattie Carson
•The original poster mentioned they're at Full Retirement Age now, so the earnings test wouldn't apply. After FRA, you can earn unlimited amounts without any reduction in your Social Security benefits. The earnings test only applies to those who claim benefits before reaching their FRA.
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Norman Fraser
Thanks everyone for the helpful insights! Based on your feedback, it seems like I might see around a $60-90 monthly increase by working that extra year. I'm leaning toward doing it since I don't mind my job, and that additional amount will add up over time with COLAs. I also appreciate the explanation about the bend points - that helps me understand why the increase isn't proportional to the earnings difference. I'm going to try to speak with SSA directly to get an exact calculation for my situation.
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