let us know what u find out! im curious what they tell u since ill be in the same boat in a couple years

Just wanted to add a quick tip from my own experience - when you do contact SSA, make sure you have your husband's Social Security statement handy too. They'll need his projected benefit amount to run the calculations for your potential spousal benefit. You can both create accounts at ssa.gov to access your statements if you don't have them already. Also, don't be surprised if different agents give you slightly different answers - I had to call twice to get consistent information, but it was worth it to understand exactly where we stood financially. The automatic adjustment when your husband files is nice though - one less thing to worry about!

Thank you all so much for the helpful information! I've made an appointment at my local SSA office for next week, and I'm gathering all the documents that were suggested. I'm going to explore that strategy of taking survivor benefits now and then possibly switching to my own later - that might work best for my situation. If I have trouble getting through to check on my application status after I apply, I might try that Claimyr service mentioned above. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and advice!

As a newcomer here, I wanted to share something that might help - when you go to your SSA appointment next week, ask them to run a benefit estimate for both scenarios (taking survivor benefits now vs. waiting). They can show you the exact dollar amounts which makes the decision much clearer. Also, don't be surprised if they try to schedule a phone appointment instead of in-person - many offices are still doing that for initial consultations. Good luck with everything, and I hope you get the financial relief you need during this difficult time.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses! I think I understand it better now - the increase is calculated monthly rather than jumping at birthdays, and the exact percentage depends on whether I'm before or after my full retirement age. I'll check the SSA calculator to get a more precise number for my situation and maybe use Claimyr to actually talk to someone at SSA to confirm everything. Definitely feeling better informed now!

One thing to keep in mind is that Social Security benefits are calculated based on your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) and then adjusted for the age at which you claim. The monthly adjustments are applied using actuarial tables, so it's not a simple linear calculation between the annual amounts you see on your statement. Also, since you mentioned you're turning 64 in August 2025, your Full Retirement Age is likely 67 (if you were born in 1961 or later). This means claiming at 64 would give you a reduced benefit, and the reduction lessens each month you wait until you reach your FRA. The SSA applies these reductions/increases on a month-by-month basis, not just annually. If you want the most accurate calculation, I'd recommend using the SSA's online retirement estimator tool where you can input your exact birth date and proposed claim date. It will give you a much more precise figure than trying to interpolate between the annual amounts on your statement.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Edwards. Losing a spouse is incredibly difficult, and navigating the SSA system on top of grief makes it even harder. Based on what you've shared, it sounds like you're in a situation where the earnings test would significantly impact your survivor benefits if you claim early. With your $55K income, you'd be losing most of your benefit to the earnings test anyway, so waiting until FRA might be the smarter financial move. One thing to consider is whether you might want to reduce your work hours in the next few years. If you could get your earnings below the $21,240 limit, claiming survivor benefits early could work out better. You'd need to do the math on whether the reduced work income plus survivor benefits would exceed your current salary. Also, don't forget to factor in your own retirement benefit when making this decision. If your own benefit at 70 would be higher than the survivor benefit, you might want to claim survivors at FRA and then switch to your own at 70. A financial planner who specializes in Social Security could help you run these numbers. Hang in there - this stuff is complicated even for people who work with it regularly!

I'm sorry for your loss, Edwards. This is such a difficult situation to navigate while you're still grieving. From what I'm reading in the thread, it sounds like you're getting some really solid advice about the financial aspects. The earnings test issue is a real pain point - I went through something similar when my mom was widowed and still working. She ended up reducing her hours to part-time specifically to stay under the earnings limit, and it worked out well for her situation. One thing I'd add is that you might want to request a formal benefit estimate from SSA in writing, especially given the confusion about whether that $3900 figure includes delayed retirement credits or not. Sometimes having it in black and white helps cut through the confusion. And definitely consider that Claimyr service someone mentioned - anything that can get you past those endless phone waits is worth it. You're asking all the right questions, and it's clear you're being thoughtful about this decision. Take your time and don't let anyone pressure you into claiming before you're ready. The financial impact is permanent, so it's worth getting it right.

One more thing that confused me during my application - they ask if you want to apply for ALL benefits you're eligible for. Say NO to this question! If you say yes, they'll automatically give you whichever is higher right now (probably your own), which defeats the whole purpose of the strategy of taking survivors now and your own later.

As someone new to this community, I just want to say how incredibly helpful this discussion has been! I'm in a similar situation - my husband passed away 3 years ago and I'm approaching my FRA next year. I had no idea about the survivor maximization strategy or that you could work without penalty at FRA while collecting survivor benefits. The practical advice about what documents to bring and the warning about not applying for "all benefits" is exactly what I needed to hear. It's so frustrating that SSA doesn't make these strategies more widely known - seems like you have to stumble upon communities like this to learn about them! One quick question - does anyone know if there are any gotchas or special rules if your deceased spouse was receiving disability benefits before they passed away? My husband was on SSDI for the last two years before he died.