Since your friend's husband hadn't started benefits yet, she should definitely understand the "deemed filing" rules don't apply to survivor benefits. This means she could potentially take reduced survivor benefits now at 62 and then switch to her own retirement benefit at 70 if it would be higher (or vice versa - take her reduced retirement now and switch to full survivor benefits at her full retirement age). This is one of the few remaining ways to use a "claim now, claim more later" strategy since the 2015 rule changes. The chart should help explain this, but it might be worth her consulting with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security to run the numbers for her specific situation.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm a widow myself (lost my husband 18 months ago) and I wish I had found that flowchart back then. I made some mistakes early on because I didn't understand all my options. Just wanted to add a few things that might help your friend: 1. She should definitely apply for the $255 death benefit if she hasn't already - it's a one-time payment but every bit helps during this difficult time. 2. If she's working, there are earnings limits that could affect her survivor benefits before her full retirement age (but NOT after FRA). 3. The Social Security office will want to see the death certificate, so make sure she has certified copies. 4. Don't let anyone pressure her into making quick decisions about when to claim - she has time to figure out the best strategy for her situation. The grief makes everything so much harder to process, so having visual aids like that flowchart really does help. Sending good thoughts to your friend during this tough time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Hannah. Losing your husband so young and having to navigate these complex Social Security rules while grieving is incredibly challenging. Everyone here has given you solid advice about the earnings test - with your $53K income, you'd definitely lose most of your widow benefit if you claim at 62. The 2025 earnings limit is around $23,040, so you'd be looking at losing about $15,000 in benefits annually. One thing I want to emphasize that others have touched on: your husband's benefit at 69 is significantly higher than what it would have been at his FRA of 66. Those delayed retirement credits from 66-69 add up to about 24% extra - that's a substantial amount that you don't want to leave on the table. Here's something practical that might help: before making any decisions, try to get a Social Security statement for both you and your husband (you'll need his death certificate and your marriage certificate). This will show you exactly what his benefit was worth at 69 and what yours would be at different claiming ages. Having those real numbers makes the decision much clearer. Given your situation, waiting until 67 to claim the widow benefit seems like the smartest financial move, even though I know waiting 5 years feels daunting right now. You can keep working without penalty and get 100% of what your husband earned with his delayed credits. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

Hannah, I'm deeply sorry for your loss. Losing your spouse at such a young age while navigating these complex benefit rules is truly overwhelming. Based on what you've shared, I want to reinforce what others have said about your husband's benefit amount - since he passed at 69, you'd receive what he would have gotten with ALL his delayed retirement credits from age 66-69. That's roughly 32% more than his full retirement age benefit (8% per year for 3 years plus the 8% he would have earned from 69-70). This is a significant amount that makes the waiting strategy even more worthwhile. However, with your $53K income, you're correct that the earnings test would be brutal. You'd lose about $1 for every $2 over the ~$23K limit, which could wipe out most of your benefit. One strategy to consider: you mentioned you're 62 now and your FRA is 67. Could you potentially reduce your work hours or income as you get closer to 67? Even dropping below the earnings limit for just the final year or two before your FRA could allow you to claim some benefits while still avoiding the full impact. But honestly, given the substantial amount you'd receive at 67 with no earnings test, waiting seems like the most financially sound approach. Just make sure to get those exact benefit calculations from SSA so you can see the real dollar impact of your decision. You're handling an incredibly difficult situation with great thoughtfulness.

As someone new to this community, I just wanted to say how helpful this discussion has been! I'm approaching retirement myself and had no idea about the monthly vs annual earnings test distinction for the first year. The advice about formally notifying SSA about mid-year retirement seems crucial - I'll definitely keep that in mind when my time comes. It's frustrating that such an important rule isn't more widely known or automatically applied. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and knowledge here!

As another newcomer to this community, I wanted to thank everyone for such a thorough discussion! This thread perfectly illustrates why having access to real experiences is so valuable. The distinction between the monthly and annual earnings tests for first-year retirees is something I would never have known to ask about, yet it could make a huge financial difference. @Scarlett Forster, your situation with the mid-year retirement due to health issues really resonates - it's reassuring to see how the community rallied with practical advice and personal experiences. The emphasis on proactive communication with SSA seems to be a recurring theme that all of us planning for retirement should take to heart!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Jean Claude. Having to navigate these bureaucratic details while grieving is exhausting, and you're handling it with remarkable grace. Based on all the experiences shared here, it really sounds like you can breathe easier about that September payment. The consistent pattern everyone's describing is reassuring - when someone was alive for the entire month that a Social Security payment covers, they don't reclaim it. Since your dad was alive all of August, that September payment was rightfully his. I went through something similar when my uncle passed away last year. We spent weeks anxiously checking his account, expecting Social Security to withdraw his final payment, but they never did because he was entitled to it. The waiting and uncertainty was honestly the hardest part of the whole process. The fact that no October payment came through is actually a positive sign - it shows Social Security already knows about your dad's passing and correctly stopped future benefits. I'd suggest keeping that buffer in the account for another month or so for complete peace of mind, but you should feel confident using those funds for his final expenses. Creating that timeline document everyone mentioned is such a smart idea too. Having all the dates organized will help you feel more in control and be prepared for any future conversations with SS representatives. You're handling an incredibly difficult situation with such thoughtfulness and care. Take things one day at a time, and remember to be gentle with yourself during this process.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Jean Claude. Having to navigate Social Security bureaucracy while you're already dealing with grief is incredibly difficult and stressful. From everything I've read in this thread, it really sounds like you can feel confident about that September payment staying in your dad's account. The pattern everyone's describing is very consistent - Social Security pays benefits for the previous month, so that September payment was for August when your dad was alive the entire month. Since he was entitled to it, they shouldn't take it back. The fact that no October payment came through actually shows the system is working correctly - they already know about his passing and stopped future benefits appropriately. I went through something very similar with my grandmother last year, and we spent weeks anxiously waiting for them to reclaim her final payment, but they never did because she had earned it. I'd recommend keeping a reasonable buffer (maybe $800-1000) in the account for another month just for complete peace of mind, but you should be able to use those funds for his final expenses with confidence. Getting that written confirmation from Social Security that others have mentioned is also a great idea for your records. You're handling an impossibly difficult situation with such care and thoughtfulness. This community has provided such helpful guidance, and it's clear you're doing everything right. Take care of yourself during this challenging time.

This is such valuable information everyone! As someone who's been dreading navigating all this retirement stuff, this thread has been a lifesaver. I had no idea about the spousal benefit rules or how the timing works between spouses. My situation is probably pretty common - I'm the higher earner and my spouse worked part-time. It sounds like we need to think strategically about when each of us claims rather than just both filing at our FRAs. Are there any good resources for running different claiming scenarios to see what makes the most financial sense for couples in our situation?

This has been such an informative thread! I'm in a similar boat - born in 1961 so my FRA is 67, and my husband was born in 1959 (FRA 66 and 10 months). What's really helpful is seeing how the math works out for the reductions and increases. One thing I wanted to add that I learned from my financial planner: if you're still working when you reach FRA, make sure you understand the earnings test. Before your FRA, if you earn too much, they temporarily reduce your benefits. But once you hit your FRA, you can earn unlimited income without any benefit reduction, AND they recalculate to give you credit for any benefits that were withheld due to earnings. Also, don't forget that your highest 35 years of earnings are used to calculate your benefit. If you're still working and earning more than you did in earlier years, those higher earnings can actually increase your future benefit amount even after you've already started collecting! The system is definitely complex, but threads like this really help break it down into understandable pieces. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!