My neighbor went thru this last year and she said don't forget the $255 death benefit! I know it's not much but every little bit helps right now I'm sure.

To answer your follow-up question: Yes, if your mom takes reduced survivor benefits now at 61, she can absolutely switch to her own retirement benefit later if it would be higher. This is called the "restricted application" strategy for survivors. Since she's still working part-time, she should be aware of the earnings limit. In 2025, if she earns more than $22,300 while collecting survivor benefits before her FRA, SSA will withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 she earns above that limit. The good news is that any benefits withheld aren't lost forever - they'll be returned to her in the form of a benefit recalculation after she reaches FRA. Also, don't forget that she needs to apply for benefits within 3 months of your father's passing to potentially get back payments to the month of his death.

Just a heads up! The earnings recalculation is automatic BUT sometimes they miss it. My husband's wasn't done until he called and asked about it. Then they found the "error" and fixed it with back payment. So apply now, but mark your calendar for October 2025 to check if your benefit increased from the 2024 earnings.

btw if ur turning FRA in march but apply now ur not loosing 8% per year anymore anyway. once ur at FRA thats done. just the max u can get at that point

My neighbor was in construction too, waited til 67 to retire and had a heart attack 3 months later!!! Spent his last year in and out of hospitals. What good did those extra dollars do him? NONE. The system is rigged to make us work ourselves to death.

One thing no one's mentioned yet - have you considered the impact on your spouse if something happened to you? If you claim early and pass away before her, her survivor benefit would be based on your reduced amount (though there are some special rules that might apply). If you think she might rely on your benefit as a survivor someday, waiting for a higher amount might be worth considering. On the other hand, if she'll always use her own higher benefit amount, then this is less of a concern. Just something else to factor into your decision.

has anyone mentioned restricted application? my brother did that with spousal benefits but im not sure if it applies for survivors benefits the same way

After reading through all these comments, I'd recommend scheduling an appointment with SSA to get the exact numbers for your situation. The general advice here is helpful, but only SSA can tell you exactly what your benefit amounts would be with the earnings test applied. If your reduced survivor benefit after the earnings test would be at least a few hundred dollars per month, and your husband's benefit was significantly higher than your own, it might be worth applying now. You'd get some extra income for 4 years, and then switch to your own benefit at FRA. However, if the amount after the earnings test would be minimal, the paperwork and hassle of applying might not be worth it. Remember that you'll need to provide marriage certificate, death certificate, proof of your earnings, and potentially other documentation. Have you considered reducing your work hours to stay under the earnings limit? That might be another strategy worth exploring if it's feasible in your situation.

my sister got survivor benefits 15 years after her husband died so yes its possible. good luck getting anyone at SS to answer the phone tho lol

One final point that might help your brother: When he speaks with SSA, he should specifically ask them to run a computation for BOTH benefits - his own reduced retirement benefit AND what he'd receive as a survivor. The higher amount is what he'll get going forward. If the survivor benefit is higher, they'll essentially switch him to that benefit and discontinue his own retirement benefit.