Social Security survivor benefit expert here. Let me clarify exactly what's happening: 1. As a surviving spouse at FRA, you're entitled to 100% of your deceased husband's benefit amount. 2. How SSA processes this internally: - They pay your own retirement benefit first - Then they add a "partial survivor benefit" to reach the total - The sum equals your husband's full benefit amount 3. Why they suggested filing for your retirement: - Retirement claims process faster than survivor claims - You'll get some income (your retirement + 6 months backpay) while waiting - When the survivor portion is approved, your total will equal your husband's benefit - You'll also get retroactive survivor payments back to the month after his passing 4. This dual-entitlement processing is standard procedure and doesn't reduce your total benefit. The rep was actually trying to help you by suggesting this approach. It gets money in your pocket faster while the more complex survivor portion processes.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Ava. Losing a spouse is devastating, and dealing with SSA bureaucracy on top of grief makes it even harder. The rep explained it correctly - you'll receive the full amount your husband was getting, but SSA splits it administratively between "your benefit" and "survivor portion." This is completely normal and you're not being shortchanged. Since you've been without income since October, I'd strongly recommend taking their suggestion to file for your retirement benefits now. Here's why: - You'll get your retirement benefit plus 6 months backpay within a few weeks - Survivor benefits can take months to process fully - Once approved, you'll get retroactive survivor payments back to November 2024 - Your total monthly amount will equal your husband's full benefit One tip: get everything in writing or take detailed notes during calls, including the rep's name and date. SSA processing can be inconsistent, and having documentation helps if you need to follow up. You're doing everything right - hang in there. The financial relief is coming.

Update: I called SSA this morning (took forever to get through!) and have an appointment next week to apply for the survivor benefits. The representative confirmed that since we were married over 10 years and I haven't remarried, I'm eligible even though we were divorced. She also verified I can take these benefits now while letting my own retirement benefit grow until 70. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!

This is such valuable information for anyone in a similar situation! I'm 64 and divorced after 12 years of marriage. My ex-husband is older than me and in poor health, so this thread has been really eye-opening about potential future options. The key takeaways I'm getting are: 1) Marriage must have lasted 10+ years, 2) You can't have remarried, 3) You can collect survivor benefits at FRA while delaying your own until 70, and 4) Act quickly since there's only 6 months of retroactive benefits. Taylor, please keep us updated on how your appointment goes - it could help others navigate this process!

My cousin said if u work for 10 more years after taking early SS they have to recalculate everything and give u the higher amount. Is that right???

I'm new to this community but going through a similar situation - started collecting at 62 and now wondering about what happens at FRA. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! It's frustrating that the SSA doesn't explain these permanent reductions more clearly upfront. I had no idea that the early filing reduction would stick with me forever. For anyone else in this boat, it sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) Your own retirement benefit reduction is permanent, 2) Your spousal benefit might see a small increase at FRA, and 3) You'll still get annual COLAs. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world info that's hard to find elsewhere!

My cousin retired last year and she told me that the first $22,320 you make in a year doesn't count at all against Social Security regardless of when you earn it. But then her neighbor told her that was wrong and now she's all confused too. The Social Security rules are so complicated!!! Why can't they just make it simple?

I went through this exact same situation two years ago and wanted to share what I learned. The monthly earnings test ($1860/month) only applies AFTER you start collecting benefits in August. Your January-July earnings won't affect your Social Security at all. However, here's something crucial that saved me from problems: make sure you understand how SSA defines "earnings" for that monthly test. It's not just regular wages - it includes any compensation for services you perform in that month. So if you do any consulting work, freelance projects, or even help a friend with their business for pay after August, that counts toward the $1860 limit. Also, I'd strongly recommend calling SSA about 2-3 months before you plan to start benefits to go over your specific situation. Yes, it's hard to get through, but it's worth it to avoid any surprises. When I called, they walked me through exactly what would and wouldn't count as earnings in my first year. One more tip: keep detailed records of when you officially stop working and any final payments you receive. SSA may ask for documentation later to verify your earnings timeline.

one thing nobody mentioned - make sure ur doing guardianship paperwork before she turns 18!!! we didnt realize we needed that and it was a NIGHTMARE when my nephew turned 18 even tho he functions like a 7 yr old

I'm a retired SSA employee and wanted to add some clarity to this discussion. First, your granddaughter can indeed potentially receive benefits on your record if it would be higher - this is called "dual entitlement" and SSA is supposed to automatically pay whichever is higher, but sometimes you need to specifically request the comparison. However, I want to echo the Medicaid warnings here - this is CRITICAL. Many states have "spend down" programs or disability waivers that might protect her coverage even with higher income, but you absolutely must verify this BEFORE making any changes. A few additional points: - At 73, your benefit amount is likely significantly higher than your son's was at 29, so there's a good chance she'd get more on your record - She should qualify as a "child disability beneficiary" which means benefits can continue past 18 if she remains disabled - Document everything about her current medical needs and expenses - this will be important for both SSA and Medicaid reviews I'd strongly recommend visiting your local SSA office with all her medical documentation and requesting a formal benefit calculation comparison. Don't rely on phone calls for something this important.