One thing no one mentioned yet - make SURE you tell them you're applying for the spousal benefit specifically. When I did this, the first agent I talked to just said "you already have benefits" and almost dismissed me. I had to specifically say "I want to apply for the spousal supplement on my husband's record." Use those exact words. Also, I found calling right when they open (8am in most locations) drastically reduced my wait time.

I'm in a very similar situation and have been researching this for months! From what I've learned, you can definitely get the spousal supplement but you need to be prepared for the application process. A few tips that might help: 1) Try calling SSA at exactly 8am when they open - I finally got through after trying this approach, 2) Have your husband's Social Security number and his monthly benefit amount ready (if he's already receiving benefits), 3) Consider visiting your local SSA office in person if phone calls aren't working - you can often walk in for certain services or schedule an appointment online. The key thing to remember is that you're not "switching" benefits but rather adding a spousal supplement to what you're already receiving. Since your husband is 79 and already receiving benefits, this should be pretty straightforward once you get someone on the phone. Don't give up - you're entitled to this additional amount if half of his benefit is higher than what you're currently receiving!

To answer your specific question about percentages: At 62 and 0 months, survivor benefits are reduced by approximately 28.5%, so you get 71.5% of the full benefit. By 63 and 0 months, they're reduced by about 23.5%, so you get 76.5%. So the difference between 62 years 10 months (March) and 63 years 0 months (May) would be roughly 1% of the full benefit amount. Not a huge jump, but still worth considering if you can set the later start date during your March appointment.

I went through this exact same decision process about a year ago when my wife passed. The key thing I learned is that you absolutely CAN apply in March but request benefits to start in May - this is called a "protective filing date" and it's a standard option they offer. Here's what I'd recommend: Keep your March appointment (trust me, getting another one is a nightmare) but tell them you want benefits to start in May when you turn 63. This gives you the best of both worlds - you secure your application date AND get the higher percentage. The monthly increase is about 0.396% per month, so waiting from March to May would give you roughly 0.8% more of your husband's full benefit amount. On a $2,000 benefit, that's about $16 more per month, which adds up to nearly $200 extra per year. Also make sure you have ALL your documents ready - marriage certificate, death certificate, your husband's Social Security number, and your own work history if you have one. They'll walk you through whether survivor benefits or your own retirement benefits (taken later) would be better long-term. Good luck with your appointment - you're making a smart choice by thinking this through carefully.

One more important point for your planning: be aware of the Government Pension Offset (GPO) if you have a pension from a job where you didn't pay Social Security taxes (like some government or teaching positions). This could reduce your survivor benefits. Also, if you're still working, know that claiming survivor benefits at 60 won't affect your own retirement benefit amount when you claim that later. The reduction for early filing only applies to the benefit type you're claiming early.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Ava. I went through something similar when my wife passed three years ago. Here's what I learned about getting survivor benefit estimates before age 60: The online account won't show survivor benefits until you're closer to claiming age, so you definitely need to contact SSA directly. I found the best approach was to visit the local office in person with all your documents (death certificate, marriage certificate, both SSNs, and your ID). One tip that helped me: call first thing Monday morning at 8:00 AM sharp when they open - I had better luck getting through then. When you do get someone on the phone, ask specifically for a "survivor benefit estimate" and mention you're planning financially for the future. Also, don't forget that you might be eligible for Medicare at 65 based on your husband's record even if you haven't claimed survivor benefits yet - that's separate from the cash benefits and can be really helpful for healthcare planning. The waiting is frustrating, but getting those numbers will really help with your financial planning. Hang in there!

this is y i tell everyone to just go to the office in person, its easier than calling

This is such an important story to share! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - I'm 61 and my husband passed 8 months ago. I've been going back and forth about when to file for survivor benefits because I keep getting conflicting information. I had no idea about the RIB-LIM rule until reading your post. It sounds like I really need to do my homework before making any decisions. The fact that you could have lost out on $21,000 by following the first rep's advice is terrifying! Can I ask - when you used those calculators, did you need specific information about your husband's earnings record? I'm wondering how detailed the input needs to be to get accurate results. I have his Social Security statement but I'm not sure if that's enough information for a proper analysis. Thank you for being so detailed about your experience. Stories like this are exactly why I joined this community - the real-world experiences are so much more valuable than the generic advice you find elsewhere.

A bit of planning advice: Since your husband isn't filing until 2027, make sure you keep detailed records of your application for your own benefits now, and then set a reminder to apply for the spousal benefit when he files. Many people forget this second step and miss out on increased benefits for months or even years. The SSA doesn't retroactively pay these benefits beyond 6 months in most cases.

Just wanted to add another important point - when you do apply for your own benefits this summer, make sure to tell SSA that you plan to apply for spousal benefits later when your husband files. They should make a note in your file about this. Also, if your husband is still working when he reaches FRA in 2027, he might want to consider the "file and suspend" strategy... oh wait, that ended in 2016. Never mind that part! But definitely mention the future spousal benefit application when you file your initial claim.