Welcome to the community, Gael! I'm so sorry for your loss as well. It's heartwarming to see how supportive everyone is here. When I first joined this community three years ago after my husband passed, I was completely lost with all the survivor benefit rules and regulations. The fear of making a financial mistake that could jeopardize my benefits was paralyzing. But the knowledge and real-world experience shared here by members like Mei, AstroExplorer, and others has been absolutely invaluable. The earned income vs. capital gains distinction that everyone has explained so well in this thread is a perfect example - it's such crucial information that isn't clearly communicated by the SSA. I hope this discussion about property sales gives you confidence to make the financial decisions that are right for your situation. This community truly is a lifeline for navigating these complex waters.

Welcome to the community! I'm also relatively new here and have found this discussion incredibly enlightening. I lost my spouse 18 months ago and have been so cautious about any financial moves because I was terrified of inadvertently affecting my survivor benefits. Like many others have mentioned, the SSA website really doesn't make these distinctions clear at all. Reading about how capital gains from property sales don't count toward the earnings limit is such valuable information - I've been holding off on selling some inherited stock for the same fears that Amara mentioned. It's wonderful to see how this community comes together to share real-world knowledge and support each other through these challenging situations. The expertise and kindness shown here gives me so much more confidence in navigating these complex benefit rules.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Nora. What you're asking about is absolutely a legitimate strategy and you're smart to research it thoroughly before making any decisions. You can indeed collect survivor benefits starting at age 60 (you're already 62) while allowing your own retirement benefits to continue growing until age 70. This is one of the few remaining "claim now, claim more later" strategies that survived the 2015 Social Security rule changes. Here's what you need to know for your specific situation: - At 62, your survivor benefit would be about 71.5% of your husband's full SSDI amount due to early claiming reductions - Your current earnings of $19,800 are safely under the 2025 earnings limit of $22,320 for people under Full Retirement Age - Your own retirement benefit will earn 8% delayed retirement credits each year from your FRA (67) until age 70, potentially increasing it by 24% The most critical part of this strategy is being extremely specific when you apply. You must tell SSA that you want to apply ONLY for survivor benefits. Use this exact phrase: "I wish to exclude retirement benefits on my own record." If you don't specify this, they might automatically process your application for all benefits you're eligible for, which would eliminate your ability to let your own benefit grow. I'd strongly recommend getting written benefit estimates from SSA before making your final decision - both for your survivor benefit now and your projected retirement benefit at 70. This will help you see the actual dollar amounts and confirm this approach makes financial sense for your situation. Take your time with this decision and don't let anyone pressure you into claiming your own benefits early. You're in a great position to maximize your lifetime Social Security income.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Nora. What you're describing is absolutely a legitimate and smart strategy. You can collect survivor benefits while letting your own retirement benefit grow until 70 - this is one of the few "claim now, claim more later" options that still exists. Your situation looks good for this approach: - At 62, you'd get about 71.5% of your husband's SSDI amount as survivor benefits - Your $19,800 earnings are safely under the 2025 limit of $22,320 - Your own benefit will grow 8% per year from age 67-70 (potentially 24% total increase) The key is being very specific when applying. Tell SSA: "I wish to exclude retirement benefits on my own record." Without this exact language, they might automatically file for all benefits you're eligible for, which would ruin the strategy. I'd recommend getting benefit estimates from SSA for both scenarios - survivor benefits now vs. your own benefits at 70. This will show you the actual dollar amounts to confirm this makes sense financially. One word of caution about the earnings limit - even small bonuses or overtime can push you over, and they'll want money back. Consider staying a bit under the limit as a buffer. This strategy can really maximize your lifetime Social Security income. Take your time making the decision and don't let anyone pressure you into claiming your own benefits early.

Just wanted to add something I learned when helping my mom navigate this - there's also a Medicare consideration to keep in mind. If you're under 65 when your husband passes and you start receiving survivor benefits, you won't automatically get Medicare until you turn 65 (unless you qualify for disability). This is different from retirement benefits where Medicare kicks in at 65 regardless. So factor in health insurance costs when you're calculating the financial impact of different claiming strategies. My mom had to get marketplace insurance for 3 years between when she started survivor benefits at 62 and when Medicare started at 65, which was an unexpected expense in her budget planning.

There's one more aspect worth considering that I don't see mentioned yet - the earnings test. If you're under your FRA and working while receiving survivor benefits, Social Security will reduce your benefits if you earn over certain thresholds (for 2025, it's $23,400 annually). They withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above that limit. However, this doesn't apply once you reach your FRA. This could be important for your planning since you're only 55 now. If you plan to keep working after becoming widowed and before reaching your FRA, the earnings test might make claiming survivor benefits early less advantageous. The withheld benefits aren't lost forever though - Social Security recalculates your benefit at FRA to account for months when benefits were withheld due to earnings. Just another factor to weigh when deciding between the different claiming strategies everyone has outlined!

Yes, I've factored in the 30% reduction. My situation is that I have some health concerns and family longevity isn't great, so waiting until 67 doesn't make sense for me. I'll be working very part-time, well under the earnings limit. I appreciate the verification on those numbers though!

As someone who just went through this process myself (turned 62 last year), I wanted to add a few practical tips that really helped me: First, gather ALL your documents before you start the online application - W2s for the last couple years, bank account info for direct deposit, etc. The application times out if you take too long looking for stuff. Second, when you apply in April, you'll get a confirmation number - SAVE IT! You'll need it if you have to call them about anything. Third, they'll send you a letter about 6 weeks before your first payment explaining exactly when it will arrive and how much it will be after any deductions. This really helped me plan my budget. Good luck with your application!

While calculators are certainly helpful, I'd recommend also considering your broader retirement picture. The best claiming strategy depends heavily on your overall financial situation: 1. Do you have sufficient savings/investments to delay claiming? 2. How does your health and family history affect your longevity expectations? 3. Are you married? Coordinating spousal benefits can significantly impact optimal claiming strategies. 4. Do you plan to work after claiming early benefits? Remember the earnings test may reduce benefits before FRA. 5. What other income sources will you have in retirement (pensions, 401(k), etc.)? The Social Security claiming decision is one of the most important financial choices many retirees make. It's essentially buying a larger inflation-protected annuity by waiting, which has genuine value that many calculators don't fully capture.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the impact of Medicare premiums on your Social Security benefits. If you delay claiming until 70, your higher benefit amount will also mean higher Medicare Part B and D premiums (due to IRMAA - Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount) if your total income crosses certain thresholds. For 2024, IRMAA kicks in at $103,000 for single filers and $206,000 for married couples filing jointly. The premium surcharges can be substantial - potentially adding hundreds per month to your Medicare costs. This is another variable that many calculators don't account for but can significantly impact your net benefit from waiting. Just something else to factor into your analysis alongside the tax implications others have mentioned!