DON'T TRUST WHAT THEY TELL YOU AT THE FIELD OFFICE!!! My mom was a widow and they told her THREE DIFFERENT THINGS on three different visits! The entire survivor benefit system is designed to confuse people so they take a lower amount than they're entitled to. ALWAYS get a second and third opinion before filing any paperwork. The rules are intentionally confusing and most SSA employees don't understand them correctly!!!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Ava. Navigating survivor benefits during grief is incredibly difficult, and the SSA's explanations can be confusing even under the best circumstances. The advice you've received here is excellent - the 71.5% is indeed applied to your husband's PIA, not his actual benefit amount. Since your husband claimed at 67 (which was likely past his FRA), he was receiving delayed retirement credits that increased his monthly payment above his PIA. One thing I'd add: when you go back to SSA, ask them to print out a "What If" scenario report. This will show you exactly what your survivor benefit would be at different claiming ages (60, 62, your FRA, etc.) and help you make an informed decision about timing. Also consider that if you're currently working and earning $28,000/year, you might want to calculate whether the earnings test reduction makes it worth waiting until 62 when the percentage increases and you're closer to the earnings limit becoming less of an issue. The strategy of taking survivor benefits now and switching to your own retirement benefit at 70 is solid if your own benefit will be higher. Just make sure to get all the projections in writing so you can plan accordingly.

Based on follow-up comments, I want to clarify one more thing - your friend should consider her claiming strategy carefully. At 62, she could: 1. Claim her OWN reduced retirement benefit now and later switch to 100% of her husband's benefit at her FRA OR 2. Claim the reduced survivor benefit now (71.5%) and later switch to her own benefit at age 70 if it would be higher with delayed retirement credits This decision depends on their relative benefit amounts. SSA should calculate both scenarios for her.

I'm so sorry for your friend's loss. As a newcomer here, I'm learning a lot from this discussion! One thing I wanted to add that might help - when my aunt went through something similar, the SSA representative told her to bring copies of ALL the documents mentioned (marriage certificate, death certificate, etc.) rather than originals, since they can make their own certified copies. She was worried about losing important documents in the mail or during processing. Also, I noticed someone mentioned the earnings limit if she plans to work. Just wanted to emphasize that this only applies if she takes benefits before her Full Retirement Age. If she can afford to wait, working won't affect her survivor benefits once she reaches FRA. The strategic planning advice about when to claim which benefits sounds really complex - definitely something she should have SSA walk through step by step with actual dollar amounts so she can make the best decision for her situation.

Don't forget they have that stupid earnings test too if your working!!! If you claim benefits before FRA and earn over the limit (like $21k or something for 2025) they take back $1 for every $2 you earn above that amount. ROBBERY!!!

I went through this exact same situation last year! The key is being very specific about what you're asking for. Don't say you want to "apply" - instead ask for a "benefit estimate comparison" between your own retirement benefit and your potential divorced spouse benefit for planning purposes. When I called, I had to try three different representatives before I found one who understood what I needed. The third one was able to pull up both calculations and give me the monthly amounts at different claiming ages (62, FRA, and 70). This made all the difference in my planning. Also, make sure you have your ex-spouse's full name and Social Security number if you have it - this speeds up the process significantly. If you don't have their SSN, your marriage certificate with both names should be sufficient for them to locate the record. One more tip: if you get pushback, mention that you're trying to comply with the "deemed filing" rules and need to understand your options before making an irrevocable decision. This seems to get their attention and they take it more seriously.

To summarize for anyone else with similar questions: If you die before filing for your own benefits, your wife would receive 100% of your PIA if she claims at her FRA. If you file early and then die, she'd get the higher of what you were receiving or 82.5% of your PIA. If you delay until 70 and then pass away, she'd get your increased benefit with delayed retirement credits. Since you're planning to wait until 70 and she'll claim at her FRA, you're already following an optimal strategy for maximizing her potential survivor benefits.

This string of info is very helpful. If my wife claims SS when she is 62, I wait to claim then pass away, can she still get 100% of my PIA when she is FRA 67?

It sounds like you're in a difficult situation with your SSDI benefits being held up possibly due to a windfall offset determination, especially when you have urgent financial needs. The "windfall offset" typically happens when you're eligible for both SSI and SSDI payments for the same period, and SSA needs to calculate the correct amounts to avoid overpayment. When you're in dire need, there are a few options to consider: - Contact your local SSA office and specifically request an "immediate payment" or "critical payment" due to dire need - Ask to speak with a supervisor if regular representatives aren't being helpful - Provide documentation of your urgent financial situation (eviction notices, utility shutoffs, medical emergencies) - Request a status update on your case through your my Social Security account online Two months of processing for a windfall determination is unfortunately not unusual, but your dire need should expedite things. If you've been told you don't owe any SSI, that's actually positive news as it suggests they're working through the calculations. You might also consider contacting your congressional representative's office, as they often have liaisons who can help constituents with federal benefit issues and sometimes get faster responses than individuals can.