This is such valuable information everyone is sharing! As someone who's navigating similar questions, I wanted to add that you might also want to check if your husband has any pension or retirement benefits that include survivor benefits. These can sometimes coordinate with Social Security in ways that affect your overall planning. Also, I learned that if you remarry before age 60, you lose eligibility for survivor benefits from your first husband, but if you remarry after 60, you can still claim them. It's another factor to consider in long-term planning. The complexity of all these rules really reinforces what others have said about getting professional advice and verifying information from multiple sources!

I just want to echo what everyone else has said about getting multiple opinions from SSA - I had a similar experience to @Evelyn Xu where the first agent I spoke with gave me completely incorrect information about my disability benefits. It took three different calls to three different agents before I got consistent, accurate answers. Now I always ask for reference numbers or documentation in writing when possible. Also, one thing I learned that might be helpful for your planning: if your husband is still working and earning credits, his benefit amount could still be increasing, which would also increase your potential survivor benefit. The SSA recalculates benefits annually if someone continues working past their FRA. So your planning numbers might actually improve over time if he's still in the workforce!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Zoe. This is exactly the kind of situation where SSA's complexity really shows - you're dealing with grief while trying to navigate rules that even their own representatives sometimes get wrong. From reading through all the excellent advice here, it sounds like you have a solid plan forming. The RIB-LIM rule could potentially get you that higher survivor benefit amount (around $2,021 as Steven calculated), and the restricted application strategy could be perfect for your situation since you haven't claimed your own benefits yet. One thing I'd add to the great suggestions already given: when you go to the SSA office, consider asking them to provide you with a written breakdown of your options and the calculations they're using. Sometimes having it in writing helps catch errors and gives you something to reference later if you need to follow up. Also, don't feel pressured to make a decision immediately if the information feels overwhelming during your appointment. You can always ask for time to review your options, especially for something this important to your long-term financial security. The fact that you're asking these detailed questions and doing your research shows you're going to navigate this successfully. This community will be here to help interpret whatever information SSA gives you!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Zoe. Dealing with Social Security survivor benefits while grieving is incredibly overwhelming, and you're asking exactly the right questions. From my own experience helping family members navigate this, the RIB-LIM rule that others mentioned is crucial for your situation. Since your husband claimed at 62, you're not stuck with just his reduced $1,750 amount. The calculation typically uses the higher of what he was receiving OR 82.5% of his Primary Insurance Amount (what he would have gotten at full retirement age). Based on your numbers ($2,450 PIA), that 82.5% would be around $2,021 - significantly more than the $1,750 he was actually receiving. Given that you're 65 and haven't claimed your own benefits yet, you have valuable flexibility. The restricted application strategy could work well - take survivor benefits while letting your own retirement benefit grow with delayed credits until age 70. My advice: Go to your local SSA office in person with all your documents and a written list of questions specifically mentioning RIB-LIM calculations and restricted applications. Phone representatives often don't know these specialized rules well. Don't let them rush you into a decision - this choice affects your financial security for life. Document everything, and please update us with what you learn. Your experience could help other widows facing this same confusing system.

Another factor to consider that hasn't been mentioned much here is inflation protection. Social Security benefits have built-in cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) that help protect against inflation over time. If you take benefits early at a reduced amount, those COLA increases are applied to that smaller base for the rest of your life. For example, if your FRA benefit would be $2,000 but you take $1,400 at 62, and there's a 3% COLA increase, you get 3% of $1,400 ($42) rather than 3% of $2,000 ($60). Over decades, this compounds significantly. Also, @Giovanni Ricci, since you mentioned you're still working part-time, make sure you understand the earnings test. In 2025, if you're under FRA and earn more than $21,240, Social Security reduces your benefits by $1 for every $2 you earn above that limit. This could effectively make your early benefits even smaller if you continue working. The decision really depends on your complete financial picture, health, and family longevity. But mathematically, most people benefit from waiting at least until FRA, especially if they're married and the higher earner.

I'm in a similar situation and found that the key is looking at multiple calculators to get a complete picture. Besides the ones mentioned here, I also used the calculator on FidSafe.com and the one from T. Rowe Price - they each show slightly different perspectives. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to track the cumulative benefits over time. I put in my estimated benefit amounts at different claiming ages (62, FRA, and 70) and calculated the running totals year by year. It makes it really visual to see when the lines cross. For what it's worth, I decided to wait until my FRA after doing this analysis, even though it was tempting to take the money at 62. The peace of mind knowing I'll have a higher monthly payment for life (and that my spouse will too if I go first) was worth more to me than having the money a few years earlier. Good luck with your decision - it sounds like you're doing your homework, which is the most important thing!

One more thing to consider: While your daughter's total monthly benefit only increases slightly, there are some potential advantages to receiving survivor benefits: First, survivor benefits don't have the same strict disability reviews as SSI, so that's one less thing to worry about in the future. Second, survivor benefits typically have fewer reporting requirements than SSI. Third, survivor benefits have no resource limits, so your daughter could potentially have over $2,000 in savings (though this would affect the SSI portion). Lastly, if your daughter's condition improves to the point where she no longer qualifies as disabled for SSI, she could still receive survivor benefits until age 18 (or 19 if still in high school).

I'm so sorry for your loss and the confusion you're dealing with during an already difficult time. As others have explained, the offset is unfortunately how the system works, but I wanted to add a few practical tips that helped me when I went through something similar: 1. Request a written explanation from SSA detailing exactly how they calculated your daughter's benefits - having it in writing helps avoid the conflicting verbal information you've been getting. 2. For the backpay delay, ask specifically about "interim assistance" - sometimes they can provide partial payments while sorting out the full calculation. 3. Keep calling about the backpay every 2-3 weeks. I found that different reps had access to different information, and persistence eventually got results. 4. Consider contacting your local SSA field office directly rather than just the main phone line - they often have more detailed case information. The system is frustrating, but you're advocating well for your daughter. Don't give up on getting the backpay sorted out - it's rightfully hers.

Just wanted to add that you should also consider requesting a Social Security Statement (online at ssa.gov/myaccount) to see your exact FRA benefit amount before you make the final decision. This will give you the precise numbers rather than estimates. Also, if you're still working, remember that withdrawing your application means you can continue earning credits toward your Social Security record, which might increase your benefit amount even more by the time you reach FRA. Good luck with your decision!

I went through this exact process about 18 months ago and wanted to share my experience. The withdrawal process itself was straightforward - I submitted Form SSA-521 with a certified check for the full gross amount I'd received. The tricky part was calculating exactly what to repay since I had to include not just the net benefit but also any taxes that were withheld. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier: keep detailed records of everything! I saved copies of all my benefit statements and the withdrawal paperwork because when I reapplied at my FRA, they asked for documentation. Also, don't forget that if you had any family members receiving benefits on your record (like a spouse), their benefits will also be affected by the withdrawal. The peace of mind knowing I'll get my full FRA benefit was worth the temporary inconvenience. Just make sure you can financially manage without the payments until you reach your FRA - that gap can be longer than you think!