When i started SS last year i had to quit my good payin job and find something with less hours cause of this stupid rule!! I'm still MAD they dont explain this stuff better!

Just wanted to add one more helpful detail - if you're tracking your earnings throughout the year, Social Security uses your gross wages (before taxes) when calculating against the earnings limit. So make sure you're looking at your gross pay from that part-time job, not your take-home pay. Also, if you get a raise or bonus during the year, factor that in too. The SSA website has a really helpful earnings test calculator where you can plug in your expected annual earnings to see exactly how it would affect your benefits if you do go over the limit.

Thank you everyone for all the helpful responses! I've learned so much: 1. My son's benefits should continue unchanged on his father's record 2. Need to double-check about the family maximum limit 3. Must remember to apply for my own benefits at 70 (not automatic) 4. Will try Claimyr to actually reach someone at SSA 5. Should compare benefit amounts when I turn 70 to see if my record would give him more I feel much more prepared now to make these decisions. I'll update this thread once I talk to SSA if I learn anything else that might help others!

Great summary, Caleb! One additional tip from my experience: when you do reach SSA (whether through Claimyr or otherwise), ask them to run a "what if" scenario calculation showing exactly what would happen to both your and your son's benefits at each step. This way you'll have concrete numbers rather than general guidance. Also, consider getting the representative's name and reference number for your call - it makes follow-up much easier if issues arise later. Good luck with everything!

Another tip that might be helpful: Consider gathering important documents now while your husband can help. You'll need his Social Security number, birth certificate, death certificate (when the time comes), your marriage certificate, tax returns, and military records if applicable. Having these organized in advance can make the application process smoother. Also, survivor applications cannot be done online - you'll need to call SSA for an appointment or visit an office.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also consider how survivor benefits might interact with any health insurance coverage you currently have through your husband's employer or Medicare. When my neighbor's husband passed, she lost his employer health coverage and had to scramble to find new insurance while dealing with everything else. If your husband is already on Medicare and you're on his employer plan, you'll want to understand what happens to your coverage and whether you'd be eligible for COBRA or need to find marketplace insurance until you're Medicare-eligible yourself. It's another layer of planning that's easy to overlook but can be financially significant, especially if you have ongoing medical needs.

Since your question hasn't been fully answered yet: Yes, your children will receive higher survivor benefits than they were getting as dependents. What's important to understand is the Family Maximum Benefit (FMB) calculation will need to be redone. With two teenage children, they'll likely each receive 75% of your ex-husband's PIA (Primary Insurance Amount), but if that exceeds the family maximum, their benefits will be proportionally reduced. You'll only know the exact amounts after SSA processes the claim. One more critical point - these survivor benefits are payable through age 18, or 19 if still in high school. This is something to plan for as the benefits will stop when they graduate or turn 19, whichever comes first.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Miguel. I went through this exact situation when my ex-husband passed away 3 years ago with kids who were 15 and 17 at the time. Your children should definitely see an increase - mine went from receiving about $800 each to around $1,200 each per month when they converted from dependent to survivor benefits. A few things that helped me navigate this process: 1. Don't wait for the death certificate to arrive - call SSA and report the death immediately. They can start the process and you can submit the certificate later. 2. The conversion isn't automatic despite what some offices might tell you. You absolutely need to contact them and request the survivor benefits. 3. Keep detailed records of when you call and who you speak with. I had to call back multiple times because information got lost between representatives. 4. If possible, try to get an in-person appointment even if it's weeks out - sometimes they can process things faster when you're there with all your documents. The whole process took about 2 months for us, but we received backpay to the date of death. Your kids should be able to keep receiving benefits until they graduate high school or turn 19. Hang in there - the financial help will come!

One other tax consideration: Filing status for income taxes will change if they marry, which could result in either a marriage penalty or bonus depending on their income levels. If both have significant income besides Social Security, they might want to consult with a tax professional to see how marriage would affect their tax situation. Also, if estate planning is a concern, marriage provides certain legal advantages for inheritance purposes beyond just Social Security benefits. In many states, a spouse has automatic inheritance rights that a non-married partner doesn't have, even with a will in place. For the most personalized advice, they might want to consult with both a financial advisor who specializes in retirement planning and an elder law attorney who can advise on the broader implications for their specific situation.

As someone new to this community, I wanted to thank everyone for sharing such detailed and helpful information! This thread has been incredibly educational. One thing I'd add based on what I've learned from my own family's experience - it might be worth having your aunt and her partner sit down together and make a list of all their current benefits, assets, and potential liabilities before making the marriage decision. Things like Medicare supplemental insurance, any pensions, property ownership, etc. Sometimes marriage can affect things you don't initially think about. Also, since they're in Florida, they might want to check if there are any state-specific considerations for married couples regarding things like homestead exemptions or Medicaid asset protection that could factor into their decision. The timeline pressure mentioned by others is real though - at 75, waiting too long could be risky if the goal is to secure those survivor benefits. Wishing your aunt the best with this important decision!