I'm sorry for your loss, Sadie. Reading through this thread has been really educational - there's so much conflicting information out there about survivor benefits timing! It's great that you got direct clarification from SSA during your appointment. One thing I wanted to mention that I don't see covered here is that you might want to ask about potentially switching to your own retirement benefits later if they would be higher than your survivor benefits. Since you're 61 now, you could potentially file for your own reduced benefits at 62 and then switch strategies later. The SSA representative should be able to run some projections for you to see what makes the most sense long-term. Also, if you haven't already, consider reaching out to a local SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) counselor - they can help navigate Medicare decisions when you become eligible, especially since survivor benefits can affect those choices too.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Sadie. What a difficult time to have to navigate all these bureaucratic details. I went through something similar when my father passed, and the Social Security timing rules can be so confusing. It sounds like you got great clarity from your appointment - the key point being that since your husband already received his September payment before passing, your survivor benefits start with October (paid in November). I'm glad you asked about the $255 death benefit too. One small tip that helped me: if you haven't already, consider setting up a my Social Security account online at ssa.gov. Once your benefits start, you can track your payments, get benefit statements, and handle some routine business online without having to call. The phone lines can be brutal when you need to make changes later. Wishing you strength as you work through all of this.

As someone who went through this exact situation with my spouse, I can confirm what others have said - definitely keep the SSDI going until FRA! We made the mistake of overthinking it initially and almost considered having my husband switch to early retirement at 62 (thankfully we didn't). One thing I'd add to the great advice already given: when you do get to the point of potentially claiming spousal benefits for your husband, make sure SSA calculates it correctly. The spousal benefit is based on 50% of YOUR Primary Insurance Amount (not your actual benefit if you delay past FRA). So if you wait until 70 to claim, your benefit will be higher due to delayed retirement credits, but his potential spousal benefit is still calculated from your PIA at FRA. Also, since you mentioned you're almost 60, you might want to start thinking about whether you can afford to delay your own benefits. The extra years of delayed credits can really add up, especially as the higher earner. But I know that's easier said than done depending on your work situation!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who works in benefits administration (though not specifically for SSA). The advice you've received here is really solid, especially about not switching from SSDI to early retirement at 62. I see people make that mistake fairly often and it's heartbreaking because it can't be undone. One additional consideration for your planning: since you're the higher earner and likely to have survivor benefits implications down the road, maximizing YOUR benefit through delayed retirement credits becomes even more important. If something were to happen to you first, your husband would potentially be eligible for survivor benefits based on your record (including any delayed retirement credits you earned). Conversely, if he passes first, your survivor benefit would be based on his SSDI/retirement amount, which won't grow beyond FRA. I'd also suggest documenting everything when you do speak with SSA representatives. Get names, dates, and reference numbers for any advice given. The rules around SSDI transitions and spousal benefits can be complex, and having a paper trail helps if you get conflicting information from different agents. You're being smart to research this thoroughly ahead of time rather than making rushed decisions at 62!

can u work part time while collecting survivors benefits? asking for my aunt

Miguel, you've gotten some excellent advice here! Just want to reinforce what others have said - since you reached your FRA in February, you are absolutely in the clear to earn your full $8,000/month salary alongside your survivor benefits with zero penalties. I went through something very similar when I was caring for my father through his Social Security maze. The misinformation from SSA reps is unfortunately very common, especially on these earnings limit rules. I'd recommend documenting this conversation thread and maybe even calling back to SSA to get the correct information on your record. One additional tip: since you mentioned you're planning to retire fully in 4 months, now might be a good time to create a my Social Security account online if you haven't already. You can track your benefits, get verification letters, and monitor any changes without having to call and wait on hold. Congratulations on navigating this successfully - it sounds like you have a solid plan for maximizing both income streams during your transition to retirement!

I'm so sorry for your family's loss. This is such a difficult time, and it's wonderful that you're helping your sister-in-law navigate this process. Just wanted to add a few practical tips from when I went through this with my own family: 1) When you call SSA, have your sister-in-law be the one on the phone since she's the surviving parent - they won't discuss details with other family members due to privacy rules, even with good intentions. 2) Consider calling your local SSA office directly rather than the national number. Sometimes local offices are easier to reach and can schedule in-person appointments if phone wait times are impossible. 3) If your niece has any disabilities or special circumstances, mention this during the call as there may be additional benefits available that continue beyond age 18. 4) Keep in mind that once the benefits start, they'll be deposited monthly and your sister-in-law will need to report them on taxes (though they're often not taxable depending on total household income). The benefits will make a real difference for your niece's future. Take care of yourselves during this difficult time.

I'm very sorry for your loss. Just wanted to share that my experience with SSA was actually much smoother than some others here have described. When my father passed away two years ago, I was able to get through to SSA on my second call (called around 10am on a Tuesday). The representative was compassionate and walked me through everything step by step. A few things that helped me prepare: - I called from a landline rather than cell phone (not sure if this matters but the connection was crystal clear) - Had all documents spread out in front of me before calling - Wrote down questions beforehand so I wouldn't forget anything during the emotional conversation One thing I didn't see mentioned above is that they can sometimes expedite the process in cases of financial hardship. If your sister-in-law is struggling with immediate expenses related to your brother-in-law's passing, it's worth mentioning this during the call. Also, the benefits will likely be retroactive to the month after his death, so even if there's a delay in processing, your niece won't lose out on those payments. Wishing your family strength during this difficult time.

I want to thank everyone for their helpful responses! I feel much better knowing I can manage my annual earnings rather than worrying about each individual month. I'll definitely keep track of my total earnings to make sure I stay under the $22,680 limit for the year. I'm going to call SSA just to confirm this information for my specific situation, but at least now I have a much better understanding of how the earnings test works. This community has been so helpful!

I've been dealing with survivor benefits for about 2 years now and went through a similar confusion with earnings limits. What really helped me was getting everything in writing from SSA. When I called, I asked the representative to send me a letter confirming the annual earnings test applies to my situation (since I'm past my first year of benefits). Having that documentation gave me peace of mind and also serves as proof if there's ever a discrepancy later. The annual limit approach is definitely correct for ongoing survivor benefits, but I totally understand the anxiety about potentially losing benefits - those payments are so important for making ends meet. One more tip: if you do end up earning close to the $22,680 limit later in the year, you can always reduce your hours in December to stay under. I did that last year just to be safe. Good luck with your part-time job - it sounds like a rewarding place to work!