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just want 2 add - make sure u keep good records! my mom had issues proving my dads income when he passed & it took MONTHS to sort out with SS. keep copies of EVERYTHING
That's excellent advice. I'll make sure our important documents are organized and that my wife knows where everything is. Thank you!
This thread has been super helpful! I'm in a similar situation where I'm considering delaying my benefits to maximize what my husband would get as a survivor. One thing I'm curious about - does anyone know if there are any tax implications we should consider? Like, would the higher survivor benefit amount put my husband in a different tax bracket that might affect the overall value? I know Social Security benefits can be taxable depending on other income, but I'm not sure how that works with survivor benefits specifically.
That's a really good question about the tax implications! I hadn't thought about that angle. From what I understand, survivor benefits are taxed the same way as regular Social Security benefits - so if your husband has other income sources like pensions or retirement account withdrawals, the higher survivor benefit could potentially push more of his Social Security into taxable territory. The thresholds are pretty low too - I think it's around $25,000 for single filers where benefits start becoming taxable. You might want to run some numbers or talk to a tax professional to see how the higher benefit amount would affect his overall tax situation. It's probably still worth it in most cases, but definitely something to factor into the decision!
Great point about the tax implications! You're right that it's worth considering. From my understanding, survivor benefits are subject to the same taxation rules as regular Social Security - up to 85% can be taxable depending on your "combined income" (adjusted gross income + nontaxable interest + half of Social Security benefits). For single filers, if combined income is between $25,000-$34,000, up to 50% of benefits are taxable, and above $34,000, up to 85% can be taxable. So yes, a higher survivor benefit could potentially push more into taxable territory, but you'd still come out ahead overall. The extra $1,100/month would need to result in a pretty significant tax increase to negate the benefit. Definitely worth running the numbers though - maybe use a tax calculator or consult with a tax professional to see the real impact in your specific situation!
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UPDATE: I ended up keeping my original November 18th appointment, but I did verify the call was actually from SSA by calling their main number. Apparently they're trying to process survivor benefits faster and had a cancellation. Thanks everyone for the quick advice - it really helped me figure out what to do while at work without all my documents!
Smart move! Always better to be prepared with all your documents. And congrats on actually getting through on their phone line - that's a miracle in itself lol
Glad you were able to verify it was legitimate! This is such a good reminder for everyone - when in doubt, always call the official SSA number directly rather than trusting incoming calls. Even if they sound official, scammers are getting really sophisticated. You made the right choice keeping your original appointment so you can be fully prepared. Having all your documents ready will make the process much smoother. Sorry for your loss, and I hope the survivor benefits process goes smoothly for you in November.
Absolutely agree with this advice! As someone new to dealing with Social Security, this whole thread has been really eye-opening about how common these scam calls are. It's reassuring to see that legitimate calls do happen sometimes, but the key takeaway seems to be always verify through the official number first. @7767eef2542e I'm sorry for your loss and glad you were able to sort this out without any issues. This community seems really helpful for navigating these confusing government processes!
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pls update us after u talk to SSA! we r in similar spot but im the higher earner (wife). wanna know what happens!
Will do! I'm going to try to get an appointment at our local office to get this all in writing.
I went through this exact same situation last year! My wife took her benefits at 65 ($980/month) and I waited until my FRA at 67. When I filed, she did get a spousal increase, but it was calculated exactly like Hannah explained - they used our PIAs, not the actual benefit amounts. Her total went from $980 to $1,165, which was her reduced benefit plus the difference between 50% of my PIA and her full PIA. The key thing is to get your benefit estimates from SSA beforehand so you can calculate this yourself. Also, make sure to apply for the spousal benefit - it's not automatic! You have to specifically request it when the higher earner files. Good luck!
This is so helpful to hear from someone who actually went through it! The fact that you had to specifically request the spousal benefit is really important - I had no idea it wasn't automatic. Did you have any issues with SSA when you applied, or did they calculate everything correctly the first time? Also, how long did it take for her benefit amount to actually change after you filed?
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I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! Like you, I had no idea about spousal benefits when I first applied. Here's what I learned: You definitely need to call and specifically ask about "excess spousal benefits" - they won't automatically check for you. The key thing is that it's based on 50% of your husband's PIA (Primary Insurance Amount), which is what he would have gotten at his full retirement age. Since his benefit is around $3,100, his PIA is probably in that ballpark too. So 50% would be roughly $1,550. Since your benefit is $1,850, you probably won't qualify for additional spousal benefits because your own benefit is already higher than 50% of his PIA. But definitely still call to verify - sometimes the actual PIA calculations can be different than what people are currently receiving, especially if there were delayed retirement credits involved. I used the Claimyr service that someone else mentioned because I couldn't get through the regular SSA line, and it was worth every penny to avoid the endless hold times!
This is really helpful, thank you! I hadn't thought about the delayed retirement credits potentially affecting the calculation. My husband did start collecting right at his FRA, so his current benefit should be pretty close to his PIA. Based on what you're saying about the $1,550 threshold, it sounds like I might not qualify since I'm already getting $1,850. But you're absolutely right that I should still call to verify - maybe there are other factors I'm not considering. I'll definitely look into that Claimyr service if I keep having trouble getting through to SSA directly!
I'm a Social Security representative and wanted to clarify a few things I'm seeing in this discussion. First, you absolutely should call to request a spousal benefit review - this isn't something we automatically process when someone is already receiving their own retirement benefits. The calculation is indeed based on 50% of your husband's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), not his current monthly payment. Since he started at his Full Retirement Age, his current benefit should equal his PIA. With his $3,100 monthly benefit, 50% would be $1,550. Given that your current benefit is $1,850, you likely won't qualify for additional spousal benefits since your own benefit exceeds that 50% threshold. However, I still recommend calling because there can be nuances in the calculation based on your specific work history and benefit computation. When you call 1-800-772-1213, ask specifically for a "spousal benefit eligibility review" and have both Social Security numbers ready. The best times to call are typically Tuesday-Thursday between 10 AM-2 PM to avoid peak volume times. Regarding retroactive payments, the maximum is 6 months from your application date for retirement/spousal benefits, and this policy is strictly enforced except in cases of clear administrative error on our part.
Maggie Martinez
I'm in a very similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm 64 and still working, earning about $80k annually, while my husband just turned 65 and his SSDI converted to retirement benefits. Reading through all these responses, it seems like the key factors are: 1. Your own benefit amount vs. spousal benefit amount 2. Your current earnings level 3. Whether you plan to keep working past FRA Based on what everyone's shared, it sounds like for most people still working with decent salaries, waiting until FRA makes the most sense. The earnings test would just wipe out most benefits anyway, and if your own benefit is higher than spousal, there's really no advantage to filing early. Has anyone here actually tried using that my.ssa.gov benefit calculator to compare scenarios? I've looked at mine but find it confusing to figure out exactly what I'd get under different timing options.
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Dallas Villalobos
•Welcome to the community! You've summarized the key points perfectly. I found the my.ssa.gov calculator pretty confusing at first too, but here's what helped me: focus on the "estimated monthly benefit" section and compare your projected benefit at FRA versus what 50% of your husband's benefit would be. The calculator also shows you what your reduced benefit would be if you filed early, but like everyone's mentioned, with your $80k salary, the earnings test would likely wipe out most payments anyway. One tip - you can also call SSA and ask them to mail you a more detailed benefit estimate that breaks down different scenarios, which some people find easier to understand than the online version. Given your situation mirrors the original poster's so closely, waiting until your FRA seems like the smart move!
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Fiona Gallagher
I'm new to this community but going through almost the exact same situation! I'm 65, still working full-time making about $68,000, and my husband's SSDI just converted to retirement benefits when he turned 65 last month. Reading through all these responses has been so enlightening - I had no idea about the "deemed filing" rule or how the earnings test actually works. I've been stressing about whether I should apply for something NOW, but it sounds like with my salary level, most benefits would just get withheld anyway. One question I haven't seen addressed - if I wait until my FRA to file, will there be any issues with the fact that my husband's benefits converted from SSDI to retirement? Does that timing affect my eligibility for spousal benefits at all, or is it just treated the same as if he had regular retirement benefits all along? Also, has anyone here actually received those calculation worksheets that were mentioned? I called SSA twice but couldn't get through, and I'm wondering if it's worth trying that Claimyr service that was suggested or if I should just be patient and keep trying the regular number. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - this has been more helpful than anything I found on the SSA website!
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