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i thought if you remarry before 60 you lose widow benefits? is that true or just another SS myth?
That's actually correct. If you remarry before age 60, you generally cannot receive widow's benefits (with some exceptions). If you remarry at 60 or later, you can still collect widow's benefits based on your deceased spouse's record. It's an important consideration for long-term planning.
Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I'm going to create my SSA account today and start documenting everything. I think I'll also look into that Claimyr service someone mentioned to get specific answers about my situation. It sounds like I need to plan for: 1) Working while staying under the earnings limit or accepting the reduction 2) Preparing financially for the gap years 3) Figuring out which claiming strategy will be best when I reach 60-67 I really appreciate all your help during this difficult time.
Good plan! And don't forget to check your benefit statements EVERY YEAR. I found errors in mine twice that would have reduced my future benefits if I hadn't caught them. The SSA makes mistakes all the time and it's on US to catch them!!!
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Another thing to watch is if youre still CONTRIBUTING to the Roth while collecting SS benefits! If youre putting money IN, that money had to come from somewhere and if it came from working that DOES count toward the limit!! The SSA looks at your TAX RETURN not just your W2!!
This is partially correct but needs clarification. If you're working and earning income, it's the earnings from work that count toward the limit, not the Roth contribution itself. The act of contributing to a Roth doesn't impact your benefits - it's the work income that generated the money that matters. And if you're using money from savings or non-work sources to contribute to a Roth, that doesn't affect the earnings test at all.
im so confused about all this survivor benefit stuff... i turn 60 next month and my husband died 3 years ago. should i take survivors now or wait? does the roth thing affect when i should file??
The Roth question doesn't really impact when you should claim survivor benefits. That decision should be based on: 1. Your current income needs 2. Your health/life expectancy 3. Your own Social Security retirement benefit amount 4. Your current earnings from work If you claim at 60, you'll get about 71.5% of your husband's full benefit. Each year you wait (until your Full Retirement Age of 67), the benefit increases. If you're still working with substantial earnings, you might want to wait due to the earnings limit. Consider speaking with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security claiming strategies, as the right choice varies greatly depending on your specific situation.
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I'm going through something similar right now. My neighbor told me that after I get SSDI, I can still work part-time up to like $1,470 per month without losing benefits. Is that true? Sorry to hijack your thread but thought you might be wondering about this too since we're in the same boat!
Yes, that's correct! It's called Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). In 2025, the monthly SGA limit is $1,470 for non-blind individuals. You can earn up to that amount without jeopardizing your SSDI benefits. However, you must report all work activity to SSA regardless of how much you earn.
Thank you everyone for the helpful responses! You've really cleared up my confusion about SSDI vs. early retirement. I'm relieved to know my benefit won't be reduced just because I'm 58. I'm going to start gathering all my medical records to strengthen my application. My rheumatologist is supportive and has already documented how my condition prevents me from performing nursing duties. I'll also look into that Claimyr service when I'm ready to call SSA - sounds much better than spending hours on hold! Wish me luck with the application process. I'll update this thread when I have news.
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Another important consideration: Since you mentioned your ex-husband was a high earner and you worked in education, have you checked if you might be subject to the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or Government Pension Offset (GPO)? If you receive a pension from work not covered by Social Security (like some public school systems), it could affect your benefits.
Thankfully I don't have to worry about WEP or GPO. I worked at private schools, not public, so all my earnings were covered by Social Security.
I just want to say its really smart that your planning ahead like this. When my husband passed suddenly I was completely unprepared for all the complex benefit decisions and probly made some costly mistakes. Wishing you and your ex the best!!
Thank you for your kind words. I'm sorry for your loss and appreciate you sharing your experience. It's helping me be better prepared.
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Will my disabled adult child's Social Security benefits increase when child-in-care benefits decrease due to earnings?
I'm trying to figure out how the Family Maximum Benefit (FMB) works with multiple beneficiaries when earnings come into play. My situation is complicated: I'll be filing for my retirement benefits next year. My calculations show my PIA will be around $2,700. I have a disabled adult child (DAC) who would qualify for benefits on my record, and my wife would qualify for child-in-care (CIC) benefits while caring for our DAC. Here's what's confusing me: I understand that initially, my DAC would get 50% of my PIA, and my wife would also get 50% for CIC. But once both are collecting, the 175% FMB limit kicks in, reducing both to about 37.5% each (according to opensocialsecurity.com). But what happens if my wife works and her earnings reduce her CIC benefit? Let's say her earnings reduce her benefit to only 15% of my PIA - does my DAC's benefit increase back up toward 50%, or does it stay capped at 37.5% regardless? I thought if one beneficiary's amount goes down, the other beneficiary can get more without exceeding the FMB. But opensocialsecurity.com seems to calculate it differently. Can anyone clarify how this actually works?
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To answer your follow-up question - I think it's definitely worth proactively calling SSA when your wife starts working to make sure they're aware of the situation. But honestly, what helped us most was keeping good records of all her earnings reports and confirmation numbers. That way, when the benefits didn't adjust properly, we had documentation showing we'd reported everything correctly.
YES!!! DOCUMENTATION IS EVERYTHING!!! Take screenshots of online reports, get confirmation #s, and ask for everything in writing!!! Our case was only resolved because I had PROOF of every earning report we submitted!!!
One more thing I just thought of - the opensocialsecurity.com calculator is primarily designed for retirement benefit optimization, not necessarily for complex family benefit scenarios with disability benefits and earnings tests. That might be why it's not showing what you expect. For your specific situation with a DAC, I'd recommend using the SSA's own calculators or speaking directly with them for the most accurate information.
That's a good point. These third-party calculators are great tools, but they don't always capture the full complexity of family benefit calculations, especially with disability benefits in the mix. The SSA's systems actually recalculate family benefits monthly based on reported earnings, which is something most online calculators can't simulate accurately.
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Update from a banking perspective: Many banks have recently changed their early deposit policies due to the Federal Reserve implementing the FedNow service. This is causing some banks to adjust how they handle pre-authorized deposits like Social Security. Some are becoming more conservative about releasing funds early while they adapt to the new system. To add to the confusion, if your bank's early deposit feature was marketed as a "courtesy" or "when possible" service, they have complete discretion over when to apply it. It's not regulated like the actual payment dates.
That's interesting about FedNow. I wonder if that's what's happening with my bank. Still frustrating that they're inconsistent without explanation.
UPDATE: Thank you everyone for your helpful responses! I finally heard back from my bank. They confirmed they've changed their policy on early deposits. Now they only release Social Security payments early "when operationally feasible" which basically means whenever they feel like it. The representative admitted they're using an algorithm that determines which accounts get early deposits based on factors they wouldn't specify (probably profitability). At least now I know to always budget based on the official payment date (3rd Wednesday for me) and treat any early deposits as a nice surprise rather than something to count on. I'm considering switching banks to one that might be more consistent, but sounds like this is becoming common practice everywhere.
Thanks for updating us! Unfortunately, this is becoming standard practice among financial institutions. As I advise my clients - always budget based on the official SSA payment calendar available on ssa.gov, and consider any early deposits a bonus rather than something to rely on.
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When my mother had a similar issue with SSA misclassifying some income, we ended up contacting our Congressional representative's office. They have caseworkers who deal with federal agencies, and they contacted SSA on her behalf. The issue was resolved within 3 weeks after struggling for months on our own. Might be worth considering if your local office visit doesn't help.
I never thought about involving my representative. That's a great backup plan if the local office visit and Form SSA-632 don't work. Thanks for sharing what worked for your mother.
And watch out for the tax implications too!! If they eventually rule in your favor and pay back all the money they took, they might count THAT as income for the year they repay you!!! The whole system is a NIGHTMARE of circular problems!!!
This is partially correct. If they repay withheld benefits, it's not counted as new income, but you may need to file an amended return for the tax year in which the overpayment occurred. The IRS has specific rules for Social Security repayments under the "claim of right" doctrine. You'll want to consult with a tax professional when this is resolved.
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To clarify some confusion in this thread: The GPO repeal being implemented has specific timelines. The reduction will decrease by 1/3 in 2025, another 1/3 in 2026, and be fully repealed in 2027. So you'll likely see a partial increase in 2025 rather than the full amount immediately. Your February appointment is perfect timing to get information about how this phased implementation will affect your specific case.
Thank you for explaining the timeline! That helps set my expectations. I wasn't sure if it was an immediate full repeal or phased in. This gives me a better idea of what to plan for financially.
And they'll probably DELAY it even more! Government always drags their feet when it comes to PAYING us but are quick to TAKE our money in taxes!!
One additional tip: During your phone appointment, ask them to mail you your deceased husband's earnings record. They can send an official copy that shows his lifetime earnings under Social Security, which is what they'll use to calculate your survivor benefit. This document is very useful for your own planning and verification even if they can't give you an official GPO-adjusted estimate yet.
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My sister worked for SSA for 35 years and told me they NEVER automatically give you the best deal! You HAVE to ask specifically or they'll just keep quiet and you lose money forever! They shoulda told you all this when you first applied but they dont care about us seniors!
This isn't entirely accurate. While it's always good to be informed about your benefits, the SSA systems are designed to automatically calculate dual entitlement (when someone is eligible for their own retirement plus spousal benefits). However, it is true that they don't automatically *advise* you on claiming strategies that might maximize your benefits. They'll process what you apply for, but they don't typically suggest when you should file or how to coordinate between spouses. That's why it's good to do research or talk to a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security claiming strategies.
Thank you all for the helpful information! I've learned so much from this discussion. We're going to reconsider when my husband should file based on all your advice about spousal and survivor benefits. I think we need to look at this as a family strategy rather than just individual benefits like someone suggested. I'm also going to make an appointment with our local SSA office to make sure we understand all our options before making a decision. The difference between filing at 65 versus waiting until 70 could mean tens of thousands of dollars over our lifetime. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to explain things so clearly!
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Hattie Carson
I want to add an important point about Medicare timing that affects this decision. Even if you delay taking Social Security until your FRA of 67, you should still sign up for Medicare at 65 to avoid late enrollment penalties. This is separate from your Social Security decision but commonly overlooked in retirement planning. Regarding your primary question: with only 4 years of full-time work, your own benefit is likely to be quite limited. The ex-spouse benefit (50% of his FRA amount) will almost certainly be higher. The key decision is timing - each year you delay between 62 and 67 increases your benefit amount by about 7-8%.
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Thais Soares
•I hadn't even thought about Medicare yet! Thank you for bringing that up. So I should file for that at 65 regardless of when I take SS? And that 7-8% increase per year of waiting sounds significant... I'm going to need to really crunch these numbers.
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Nalani Liu
Yes, absolutely file for Medicare at 65 regardless of your SS decision! The two systems are connected but have different optimal timing. That 7-8% annual increase for delaying SS is why many financial advisors recommend waiting if you can afford to. But if you need the income sooner, taking it at 62 isn't wrong - it's just a different strategy. Your personal financial situation (savings, other income sources, health, etc.) should guide this decision more than anything else.
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