I'm so sorry for your loss, Zara. I went through something similar when my wife passed away 5 years ago. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to compare the total benefits I'd receive over different time periods - like if I claimed at 60 vs 62 vs full retirement age. The break-even point is usually around age 78-80, meaning if you expect to live longer than that, waiting often pays off financially. But there's also the "bird in the hand" factor - having that monthly income now might reduce stress and improve your quality of life, which has value too. Also, don't forget that as a widow, you might qualify for other assistance programs that could help bridge the gap if you decide to wait on claiming. Some states have property tax exemptions for widows, and there might be local resources available. Your local Area Agency on Aging might have good information about what's available in your area. Whatever you decide, make sure it's based on your complete financial picture, not just the Social Security piece. Good luck!

I'm a newcomer here but wanted to share something that might help with your decision process. When I was researching survivor benefits for my aunt last year, I learned that you can actually apply for benefits and then withdraw your application within 12 months if you change your mind (though you'd have to repay what you received). This might give you some flexibility if you're really torn between claiming now versus waiting. Also, one factor I don't see mentioned much is your health situation. If you have any health concerns that might affect your longevity, that could influence whether the "wait until FRA" strategy makes sense for your specific situation. The financial calculations assume average life expectancy, but your personal health picture might be different. Have you considered doing a trial run with your budget to see if you could manage without the survivor benefits for a year or two? Sometimes seeing the actual numbers on paper (rather than just worrying about them) can help clarify whether waiting is truly feasible for your situation.

I'm new to this community and have been researching Social Security benefits for my own upcoming retirement. This thread has been incredibly educational! As someone who's spent countless hours trying to decode SSA publications, I really appreciate how clearly everyone has explained the distinction between the family maximum benefit rule and what applies to dual-earner married couples. The confusion is so understandable - when you hear "family maximum," it naturally sounds like it would apply to married couples. What really helped me grasp this concept was understanding that Social Security treats each person's work record as completely separate. Even though you're married, the system calculates your benefits independently based on your individual earnings histories. There's no "household" view that would create a combined cap. Your situation is actually ideal from a Social Security perspective - two people with strong individual work records means you get the full benefit of both without any reductions or complications. That $5,900 combined monthly benefit represents decades of contributions from both of you, and you'll receive every dollar you've earned. Thanks to the original poster for asking this question - I'm sure many people have wondered about this same issue!

As someone who recently navigated these same concerns with my own retirement planning, I wanted to add my voice to the chorus of reassurance here! There is absolutely no household maximum or family cap that would limit what you and your husband receive when you're both claiming benefits on your own individual work records. I went through this exact worry about 6 months ago when a neighbor mentioned something about "benefit limits for married couples." Like you, I spent sleepless nights wondering if our retirement projections were wrong. After extensive research and even a consultation with a fee-only financial planner who specializes in Social Security, I learned that the family maximum benefit rule is very specific and narrow in scope. The key insight is that Social Security doesn't view you as a "married household" when you're both claiming on your own earnings histories. Instead, you're treated as two separate individuals who each earned your own benefits through your own work and contributions. Your marriage is essentially irrelevant to the benefit calculation in this scenario. The family maximum only becomes relevant when multiple people are drawing benefits from ONE person's work record - like when you have dependent children, or when a spouse who didn't work claims spousal benefits while there are also kids on the record. Your combined $5,900 monthly benefit ($2,800 + $3,100) is exactly what you should expect to receive. You've both earned these benefits through decades of work and contributions, and there's no rule that would reduce them simply because you're married to each other. Your financial advisor was absolutely correct not to mention any household limits because none exist in your situation. Don't let this confusion derail your retirement planning - you're in great shape!

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm in a somewhat similar situation with my disabled adult son, and I've been struggling to understand these family benefit calculations for months. One thing I wanted to add that might be helpful - when I spoke with an SSA representative last month, they mentioned that the system automatically recalculates family benefits not just monthly, but sometimes even more frequently if there are significant changes in reported earnings. They also told me that if you're close to retirement and planning this out in advance (which is smart!), you can actually request a benefit estimate that shows different scenarios with varying earnings levels for family members. @Jamal Wilson, given your proactive approach to planning this out, you might want to request these scenario-based estimates from SSA before you file. That way you'll have a clearer picture of exactly how the benefits will adjust as your wife's earnings change, rather than trying to estimate based on general rules. Also, has anyone here dealt with the situation where the DAC becomes entitled to benefits on their own work record? I'm wondering how that might affect these family benefit calculations, since my son has been doing some part-time work recently.

This is such a comprehensive discussion! As someone who recently went through a similar situation with my disabled daughter, I want to emphasize something that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure to understand the timing of when benefits actually change. When my spouse started working and her CIC benefits began reducing due to earnings, there was about a 2-3 month lag before my daughter's DAC benefits increased to compensate. During that period, our total family benefits were actually lower than they should have been under the FMB rules. SSA eventually corrected this with retroactive payments, but it created some budgeting challenges in the interim. So @Jamal Wilson, when your wife starts working, be prepared for potential temporary reductions in total family benefits while the system catches up with the recalculations. Also, I'd strongly recommend setting up a my Social Security account online if you haven't already. It makes tracking these monthly benefit adjustments much easier, and you can spot discrepancies quickly rather than waiting for paper statements. The key takeaway from everyone's experiences here seems to be: the system does work as intended (benefits redistribute under the FMB as earnings change), but it's not always immediate or error-free, so active monitoring and good record-keeping are essential.

Thank you all for the amazingly helpful responses! I'm leaning toward claiming at 62 based on our specific situation with the age gap and eventual spousal boost. I'll make sure to discuss with my husband about him possibly delaying until 70 for the survivor benefit protection. I'm going to try contacting SSA directly before making my final decision - hopefully I can get through without hours of waiting (thanks for the Claimyr suggestion). The earnings test information was also really valuable since I do plan to continue part-time work. I'll need to keep an eye on those limits.This has been incredibly helpful - I feel much more confident about making this decision now!

Welcome to the community! As a newcomer here, I've been reading through all these responses and they're incredibly thorough. One thing I'd add from my recent experience - when you do contact SSA, ask them to run scenarios for both claiming at 62 vs waiting until FRA using your actual earnings record. Sometimes the online calculators don't capture everything, especially if you have gaps in earnings or pension offsets that could affect your benefits. Also, since you mentioned potentially working part-time, make sure to understand how the earnings test works in practice - some people get surprised when their checks are reduced temporarily. The community here seems really knowledgeable and supportive for navigating these complex decisions!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet: if your son is receiving benefits as a disabled adult child (DAC) on your husband's record, and your PIA is higher, when you file for retirement, his benefit will automatically be recalculated based on your record instead. However, there's an important timing issue to be aware of. If you file for reduced retirement benefits before your FRA, and your son's benefit switches to your record, his benefit would also be reduced proportionally. If you wait until your FRA to file, his benefit would be the full 50% of your PIA. This is one of those situations where waiting until your FRA might be significantly beneficial for both of you, depending on the difference between your and your husband's PIAs.

I went through this exact situation with my disabled daughter two years ago! Here's what I learned: SSA will automatically compare your PIA to your husband's when you file, and your son will get benefits based on whichever is higher. The key thing is that it's not additive - he won't get benefits from both records, just the higher amount. What really helped me was creating a MySocialSecurity account and looking at my benefit estimate. While it doesn't show family benefits directly, you can at least see what your PIA will be and calculate 50% of that to compare with what your son currently gets from your husband's record. Also, since your son gets SSI, remember that any increase in his Social Security benefits will reduce his SSI payment (minus the first $20). So the overall increase to your family's total income might be less than you expect. But definitely worth calling SSA to get the exact numbers - I found early morning calls (right when they open at 7 AM) had shorter wait times.