Based on all the advice you've received, here's a summary of your best path forward: 1. Wait until January 2026 to apply for survivor benefits (you'll be 60.5 by then) 2. Let your own retirement benefit grow until age 70 3. Switch to your own higher benefit at age 70 Also, don't forget that you may be eligible for a one-time death benefit of $255, and if you have any children under 18 or disabled adult children, they might qualify for benefits too. When you do apply, bring your marriage certificate, husband's death certificate, both your Social Security cards, and your birth certificate. You'll save time if you have all documents ready.

I'm so sorry for your loss. What a difficult situation to navigate during such a hard time. You've gotten excellent advice here - the SSA representative definitely gave you incorrect information about the earnings test. The annual earnings limit applies to your entire calendar year earnings, not just the months you're actively working. Since you've already exceeded the 2025 limit, waiting until January 2026 is absolutely the right call. I wanted to add one more consideration: when you do apply in January 2026, make sure to ask about the "file and suspend" option timeline. Since your own benefit at 70 will be significantly higher ($3,700 vs $1,850), you're making the smart choice to take the smaller survivor benefit first. Just be aware that you'll need to actively switch to your own retirement benefit when you turn 70 - Social Security won't automatically give you the higher amount. Also, consider meeting with a Social Security representative in person at your local office when you apply. Given the misinformation you received over the phone, an in-person appointment might help ensure you get accurate guidance and proper documentation of your filing strategy.

i thought WEP only applies if you retire from that non SS job? my friend said if you leave the teacher job and work somewhere else with SS for 5 years you dont get the WEP penalty?? is that true?

One more thing to keep in mind - if your pension payment amount ever changes (like with cost of living adjustments), you should contact Social Security to update your WEP information. Otherwise, you could end up with an overpayment that they'll want back later. I learned this the hard way when my pension got a 3% increase and I didn't report it. SSA discovered it during their annual verification and I had to pay back $420 in SS benefits!

have u checked ur mysocialsecurity acct online? sometimes u can see benefit estimates there

I work as a customer service representative for SSA (though I can't provide official advice here). From my experience, when agents quote survivor benefit amounts over the phone, they SHOULD be giving you the reduced amount based on the age you mentioned. However, mistakes do happen, and some agents might quote the full retirement age amount by accident. Given that you're 61 and mentioned wanting to claim at that age, the $1,768 is most likely already reduced by about 28.5%. But I'd definitely recommend calling back and asking them to clarify exactly what that figure represents. One tip: when you call, ask to speak with a Claims Specialist rather than just any representative. They tend to be more knowledgeable about benefit calculations and can walk you through the math. Also, if possible, try calling right when they open (8am local time) - you'll usually get through faster. Don't feel bad about calling multiple times to confirm this - it's a huge financial decision and you have every right to understand exactly what you'll be receiving.

my brother waited till 70 to collect and then died at 72! all those years of not collecting and higher benefit gone to waste. jus something to think about

As someone who just went through this decision process myself, I'd recommend getting a personalized Social Security statement and running some breakeven analyses. The key factors to consider are your life expectancy, your wife's life expectancy, and your current financial needs. One thing that helped me was calculating the "crossover point" - how long you'd need to live to make up for the benefits you'd lose by delaying. For example, if you delay from 67 to 70, you give up 3 years of payments but get roughly 24% higher benefits for life. Also consider your wife's perspective - she's already 64, so those spousal benefits could provide meaningful income for potentially many years. The guaranteed $625/month might be worth more to your household than the uncertain larger survivor benefit later. Have you looked into whether either of you has any health issues that might affect longevity planning? That could really influence the optimal timing decision.