OMG this makes me so nervous! I'm turning 60 next month and planning to apply for survivor benefits. Now I'm scared they'll give me wrong info too! Did you research before going in or just trust what they told you? I've been reading so many articles but they all say different things about how survivor benefits work!

This is exactly the kind of bureaucratic nightmare that makes people lose faith in the system. I'm a retired federal employee (not SSA) and have seen this pattern countless times - contradictory information, lost paperwork, and reps who don't understand their own procedures. Your situation highlights a critical flaw: you were given incorrect information that cost you potentially thousands of dollars, then when you tried to correct it, the system failed you again. The fact that your withdrawal has been in limbo for 6 months is unacceptable. Here's what I'd recommend as your next steps: 1. File a complaint with your Congressional representative's office - they have staff specifically for SSA issues and can often get faster results than going through normal channels 2. Document everything in writing and send a certified letter to your local SSA office manager outlining the timeline and requesting immediate action 3. Request all communications be provided in writing going forward The "misinformation provision" mentioned earlier is real and could protect you from penalties, but you need to document that initial incorrect advice you received. Don't let them rush you into decisions at appointments - if something doesn't sound right, ask for time to verify the information. You shouldn't have to become an expert in Social Security law just to get the benefits you're entitled to. This system is broken and your experience proves it.

As someone who just went through this process myself at 62, I wanted to share what I learned. The key thing that helped me decide was understanding that survivor benefits are completely separate from your own retirement benefits in terms of calculation. I ended up claiming at 62 because I realized that even though my monthly amount would be reduced, it wouldn't impact what I'd get as a widow later if my husband predeceases me. Plus, I figured getting something now while we're both healthy gives us more flexibility for things like home improvements or helping our kids. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier - make sure you and your husband both create my Social Security accounts online. You can see all your projected benefits at different claiming ages, and it makes these conversations so much easier when you have the actual numbers in front of you rather than estimates.

This is such a helpful discussion! I'm in a similar situation (turning 63 next month) and have been agonizing over this exact decision. What really clicked for me reading through all these responses is that survivor benefits are calculated independently from when you claim your own retirement benefits. One thing I'd add that my financial advisor mentioned - if you're in good health and your family has a history of longevity, the break-even point for claiming at 62 vs 65 is usually around age 78-80. So if you expect to live beyond that, waiting until 65 gives you more total lifetime benefits from your own earnings record. But as others have pointed out, this doesn't affect the survivor benefit calculation at all. That's based entirely on what your husband earned and when he claims his benefits. The strategy of lower earner claiming early while higher earner delays to maximize the eventual survivor benefit makes a lot of sense when you think about it from a household perspective. @StarSailor, have you considered meeting with a fee-only financial advisor who specializes in Social Security claiming strategies? Sometimes having someone run all the scenarios with your actual numbers can be worth the consultation fee.

If your waiting till FRA anyway, why not just file a restricted application for spousal benefits only? That way you can collect half of her benefit while still letting yours grow until 70. My financial advisor told me this was possible if you were born before 1954.

Thanks everyone for the really helpful information. I think I understand better now - my wife can get the spousal supplement but only AFTER I file for my own benefits, and it'll be based on my FRA amount not my increased age 70 amount if I delay. If I'm understanding correctly, our best strategy is probably: 1. I continue working and delay my benefits until 70 to maximize my own amount 2. Once I file, my wife will automatically get the difference between her reduced benefit and half of my PIA 3. If I pass away before her, she'd then be eligible for survivor benefits equal to my full benefit including delayed credits Is that right? I think we need to run the numbers to see whether it makes sense financially for me to file earlier so she can get the spousal supplement sooner, or if the increase to my own benefit from waiting is worth more in the long run.

One important thing to understand about these benefits - you might be eligible to switch to retirement benefits on your own record when you reach age 62 if that would pay more. Or you could switch to regular survivor benefits (not disability) when you reach full retirement age. It's worth having a benefits planning session with SSA once you're settled into these payments to understand your future options.

I'm sorry for your loss, and congratulations on your approval! As others have mentioned, this is actually a great outcome. Surviving Spouse Disability Benefits can often provide better monthly payments than regular SSDI, especially if your husband had higher lifetime earnings. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure to keep SSA updated if you ever remarry, as that could affect these benefits. Also, if you have any dependent children under 18 (or disabled adult children), they might be eligible for additional benefits on your husband's record too. The fact that you got approved on your first application is really remarkable given how strict the process has become. Take some time to process this good news - you've got financial security coming your way during what I'm sure has been an incredibly difficult time.

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I think I understand better now - it sounds like at FRA, they'll automatically adjust my benefit amount going forward to account for months when benefits were withheld due to my earnings. I'll definitely keep detailed records of which months have benefits withheld and how much is withheld each year. I'm still a bit confused about the possibility of a lump sum that one person mentioned their sister received. I wonder if that might have been related to something else or maybe a retroactive payment of some kind? Either way, it sounds like I'm on the right track claiming survivor benefits now while continuing to work, and then letting my own retirement benefit grow until 70. I appreciate everyone taking the time to explain this complicated process!

I went through something very similar when I started my survivor benefits at 62. The earnings test can definitely be confusing, especially when you get different explanations from different SSA representatives. From my experience, what happens is that SSA keeps track of all the months when your benefits were reduced or withheld due to the earnings test. Then at your FRA, they automatically recalculate your benefit to give you credit for those months - essentially treating you as if you had filed later than you actually did. This results in a permanently higher monthly benefit going forward. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier: make sure you understand exactly how much you're allowed to earn each year without penalty. The earnings limit changes annually, and in 2024 it's $22,320 for people under FRA. Any earnings above that amount result in $1 being withheld for every $2 you earn over the limit. Also, keep copies of all your annual earnings statements and any correspondence from SSA about benefit adjustments. This documentation becomes really helpful if you need to verify the recalculation was done correctly at FRA. Your strategy of claiming survivor benefits now while letting your own retirement benefit grow until 70 is exactly what I did, and it worked out well financially. Good luck with everything!