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.

my aunt had to deal with this last year and she said the local SS office gave her different info than the phone ppl!!! make sure u get everything in writing when u talk to them

Just wanted to add one more important detail that might affect your planning - if you're still working when you become eligible for survivor benefits, the earnings test still applies. If you're under your full retirement age and earning above certain limits ($22,320 for 2024), your survivor benefits could be temporarily reduced. This is different from delayed retirement credits - you don't get those extra credits for waiting past your survivor FRA like you do with your own retirement benefits. Also, survivor benefits are generally not taxable if they're your only income, but if you have other income sources, up to 85% could be taxable depending on your total income level. Worth factoring into your financial planning since you mentioned you're still several years from retirement.

I'm in a similar situation - widow at 61, trying to navigate the survivor benefits maze. What I've learned from working with a Social Security advocate is that you might want to request a "benefit verification letter" or ask for a consultation with a supervisor at your local office. Sometimes regular reps don't have access to the more complex calculation tools, but supervisors do. Also, since your son is receiving DAC benefits, there's definitely a family maximum in play that affects the total benefits paid on your husband's record. When you claim survivor benefits, it could potentially reduce what your son receives if you're bumping up against that maximum - something else to factor into your decision. Have you considered getting a second opinion from a different SSA office? I've found that knowledge levels vary significantly between locations and even individual representatives.

I'm also a widow navigating this process and wanted to share what I learned from my experience. The lack of clear estimates from SSA before applying is incredibly frustrating - you're definitely not alone in feeling this way! One thing that helped me was contacting the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives (NOSSCR) to find a qualified attorney who specializes in Social Security benefits. Many offer free consultations for survivor benefits cases and can help you understand the timing implications without you having to file an application. Regarding the windexing calculation, I found that benefits estimated using the deceased spouse's earnings from 15+ years ago can be quite different from what you might expect. The indexing often results in higher benefits than simple percentage calculations would suggest, but the early claiming penalties can still significantly impact the final amount. Since you're working part-time and right at the earnings test threshold, you might also want to consider whether reducing your work hours slightly in the claiming year could help you avoid benefit reductions. Sometimes a small adjustment in income can make a meaningful difference in your net benefit. The family maximum issue that others mentioned is real - definitely get clarity on how your claiming might affect your son's DAC benefits before making any decisions.

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I feel much better now. To summarize what I've learned: 1. The inheritance from my father's retirement account won't affect my Social Security benefits 2. Since I'm at FRA, I don't need to worry about the earnings test regardless 3. The 20% tax withholding is standard but I might be able to adjust it 4. I should keep my SSA appointment to discuss the survivor benefits from my ex-spouse I'll call the retirement plan administrator on Monday to get more details about the account type and tax implications, but I won't stress about it affecting my Social Security. Really appreciate all the insights!

Great advice from everyone here! Just wanted to add that when you do receive the distribution, make sure to save all the paperwork (1099-R form, etc.) that the retirement plan sends you. Even though this won't affect your Social Security benefits, you'll definitely need those documents for tax filing purposes. Also, since you mentioned you're new to navigating all these Social Security rules - the SSA website has a really helpful benefit calculator tool that can give you estimates for different scenarios. It's under the "Retirement Estimator" section. Might be worth checking out before your appointment so you have a better sense of what to expect with the survivor benefits vs. your own retirement benefit. Good luck with your appointment next week!

have u thought about reducing ur hours just enough to get under the limit? might be worth it depending on how much ur kid would get

One thing to keep in mind is that the earnings test applies monthly, not just annually. So if you're planning to retire completely at some point during the year (even if you turn 65), you could potentially receive benefits for the months after you stop working, even if your total annual earnings exceed the limit. The SSA uses a monthly test of $1,770 (for 2025) in addition to the annual limit. This might give you some flexibility in timing if you're considering full retirement in the next year or two. Also, make sure you understand exactly when your FRA is - for someone turning 65 in 2025, your FRA is likely 66 and some months, not 66 exactly.