I'm so sorry for your loss, Serene. This is unfortunately a very common situation for working widows. The SSA rep was correct - with your $85,000 income, you're well above the 2025 earnings limit of $22,320, so any widow's benefits would be completely offset by the earnings test reduction. However, I'd strongly recommend getting a written benefit estimate that shows the exact calculations. Sometimes if the deceased spouse's benefit was very high, there might be edge cases where a small amount could still be payable. Also, definitely consider whether reducing your hours might make financial sense - you'd need to run the numbers on lost wages vs. potential widow benefits. And remember, once you hit your FRA at 66 and 10 months, you can earn unlimited income without any reduction in benefits. The waiting is frustrating, but those benefits will be there when you're ready to claim them!

I'm really sorry for your loss, Serene. This is such a difficult situation to navigate while you're still grieving. The SSA representative was technically correct about the earnings test, but I'd definitely encourage you to dig deeper into the specifics of your case. With your husband receiving $2,800/month, that's a substantial benefit amount - and your potential widow's benefit could be close to that figure. Here's what I'd suggest: Request a detailed written analysis showing exactly how much your widow's benefit would be before any reductions, then ask them to calculate the earnings test at different income levels. For example, what if you reduced your hours to earn $60k? $50k? $40k? You might find there's a sweet spot where the combination of reduced wages plus partial widow's benefits actually puts you ahead financially. Also, definitely ask about filing strategies for when you reach your FRA. You might be able to claim widow's benefits then while letting your own retirement benefit grow until age 70 - but only if your own projected benefit would eventually be higher than the widow's benefit. The timing and strategy can make a huge difference in your lifetime benefits. Good luck navigating this complex system!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Connor. I went through something very similar about 18 months ago when my husband passed. The confusion you're experiencing is completely understandable - even some SSA representatives don't fully grasp how survivor benefits work independently from your own retirement benefits. The short answer is: your early filing for your own retirement benefits does NOT reduce your survivor benefit amount. Since you waited until after your FRA to apply for survivor benefits, you're entitled to 100% of what your husband was receiving (or would have received at his FRA). Here's what helped me: I kept detailed notes of every conversation with SSA, including the representative's name and ID number. When I got conflicting information, I was able to reference previous calls. Also, don't be afraid to hang up and call back if you get a rep who seems unsure - I learned this the hard way after getting incorrect information twice. One thing that really caught my attention in your post - you mentioned applying for survivor benefits "about a year after reaching your FRA." Make sure to ask specifically about retroactive payments. You might be eligible for up to 6 months of back payments, which could be substantial depending on the benefit amounts. The waiting and uncertainty is stressful, but you should end up with whichever benefit is higher - either your current reduced amount or your husband's full benefit amount. Hang in there!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Connor. This is definitely one of the more confusing aspects of Social Security, and you're not alone in getting mixed messages from different representatives. The good news is that everyone here is giving you correct information - your early filing for your own retirement benefits absolutely does NOT affect your survivor benefit amount. These are calculated completely separately. Since you wisely waited until after your FRA to apply for survivor benefits, you're entitled to receive the full 100% of your husband's benefit if it's higher than your current reduced benefit. I'd strongly recommend calling back and specifically asking them to explain in detail how they calculated your new benefit amount. Ask them to confirm that they're giving you the higher of: (1) your current reduced retirement benefit, or (2) 100% of your husband's benefit amount. If the representative seems uncertain about this, don't hesitate to ask to speak with a supervisor or call back for a second opinion. Also, definitely ask about retroactive payments since your husband passed away over a year ago and you're just now applying for survivor benefits. You could be entitled to several months of back pay. Document everything - names, dates, what was said. The rules are clear on this, but sometimes it takes persistence to get them applied correctly. You should end up in a much better financial position once this gets sorted out properly.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that if you're currently receiving spousal benefits on your husband's record while he's alive, those would automatically convert to survivor benefits when he passes away (assuming the survivor benefit is higher). This can make the transition a bit smoother since SSA already has your information on file. Also, since you mentioned you're still working part-time, you might want to consider how your own earnings record is being affected. If you're earning credits now, it could potentially increase your own future Social Security benefit, which might factor into your claiming strategy decision. Every year you work and pay into Social Security (up to 35 years of earnings) can potentially increase your own benefit amount. It's really admirable that you're taking the time to understand all these details ahead of time. Having this knowledge will help you make informed decisions if and when the time comes.

I'm a Social Security Administration representative and want to clarify a few key points for everyone following this discussion: 1) **Multiple survivors CAN collect**: As mentioned correctly, multiple eligible survivors (current spouse, ex-spouse, children, etc.) can all receive benefits from the same deceased worker's record without reducing each other's amounts. 2) **Ex-spouse eligibility requirements**: The ex-spouse must have been married to the deceased for at least 10 years AND generally must be unmarried (or remarried after age 60) to qualify for survivor benefits. 3) **Benefit amounts**: Current spouses receive 100% of the deceased's benefit if claimed at Full Retirement Age. Ex-spouses also receive 100% if they meet all requirements and claim at their FRA. 4) **Important reminder**: You cannot receive both your own retirement benefit AND survivor benefit simultaneously - SSA pays the higher of the two amounts. For personalized advice about your specific situation, I recommend scheduling an appointment with your local SSA office or calling our national number at 1-800-772-1213. Every situation is unique, and we can provide guidance tailored to your circumstances. My thoughts are with you during this difficult time of planning and uncertainty about your husband's health.

I'm just getting started with understanding Social Security calculations and this thread has been a goldmine of information! As someone who's always been intimidated by the complexity, seeing everyone break down the formulas and share their approaches is incredibly helpful. I'm particularly interested in the collaborative spreadsheet template idea that several people have mentioned. It sounds like between @Alice Coleman's original scenario, @Owen Jenkins' indexing expertise, @Evelyn Rivera's financial planning background, and @Reginald Blackwell's Excel implementation, there's enough collective knowledge here to create something really useful. One thing I haven't seen discussed much is how to validate your spreadsheet calculations against known results. Are there any good test cases or sample scenarios with published results that you can use to check if your formulas are working correctly? I'd hate to spend months building a model only to discover I made an error in the basic calculations. Also, for those who have tackled this project - what was the biggest "gotcha" or surprise you encountered when building your SS calculator? I want to learn from everyone's mistakes before I dive in myself! This community is amazing for sharing this kind of detailed knowledge. Thank you all for taking the time to explain these complex concepts!

This has been such an enlightening thread! I'm relatively new to planning my Social Security strategy and had no idea about the complexity behind the calculations. Reading through everyone's expertise has been incredibly educational. I'm particularly fascinated by @Alice Coleman's scenario of stopping work before FRA and then returning after FRA while delaying benefits to 70. The math seems to show this could be a really powerful strategy - getting both the benefit of replacing lower-earning years AND the 8% annual delayed retirement credits. As someone who's been intimidated by the technical aspects, I really appreciate how @Owen Jenkins, @Evelyn Rivera, and others have broken down the indexing formulas and calculation steps. The detail about using AWI ratios for earnings before age 60 and face value after 60 was especially helpful. I'm also excited about the potential for a collaborative spreadsheet template that several people have mentioned. It sounds like there's enough collective expertise here to create something much more flexible than the official SSA calculators. I'd love to contribute to testing and validation if this moves forward. One question I haven't seen addressed: for those modeling scenarios with gaps in employment (like Alice's planned 3-year break), how do you factor in the impact on other retirement accounts like 401(k)s or IRAs? I imagine the Social Security optimization needs to be considered alongside the overall retirement income strategy. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed knowledge! This community is an incredible resource.

Just to provide a complete answer: The SSA automatically processes survivor benefits in situations where: 1. Both spouses were receiving benefits 2. The marriage is properly documented in SSA records 3. The death is reported through official channels (funeral homes, vital records) The process includes: - Payment of the one-time $255 death benefit - Adjustment to the higher of the two benefit amounts You should verify that your new monthly amount equals what your wife was receiving. If her benefit was higher than yours, you'll now receive that amount instead of your own benefit. The only reason you might need to contact SSA is if: - Your new benefit amount seems incorrect - You have eligible dependents who might qualify for survivor benefits - You need to update other information (banking, address, etc.) Otherwise, the automatic processing you experienced is working as designed and is becoming more common as SSA improves their systems.

I'm so sorry for your loss. It sounds like everything processed correctly for you, which is wonderful during such a difficult time. The automatic processing happens when SSA has all the necessary information on file - your marriage records, both of your benefit amounts, etc. One thing I'd recommend is creating or logging into your mySocialSecurity account online if you haven't already. This will let you verify your current benefit amount and see the official records of the changes. It's good to have documentation showing the transition happened properly, just for your own peace of mind. You're right to trust the system when it works this smoothly. The people insisting you need to visit an office likely had different circumstances or are thinking of how things used to work years ago when more manual processing was required.