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Can I collect Social Security survivor benefits at 66 and 6 months instead of my FRA (66 and 10 months)?
I lost my ex-husband in 2023 after we'd been divorced for about 5 years (we were married for 22 years). I'm trying to understand when exactly I can start collecting survivor benefits. I'm getting mixed information and it's so frustrating! Some people tell me I need to wait until my full retirement age which is 67 and 2 months, while others say I can actually start survivor benefits 4 months earlier at 66 and 10 months. I don't understand why there would be a difference - either way I'm not taking them early. Also, what documentation do I need? I have our marriage certificate and divorce decree, but is that enough or do I need his death certificate too? The SSA website is so confusing and I can't get through on the phone. Has anyone gone through this process recently?
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Should I claim Social Security at 65 when affected by WEP as a California teacher retiring in 2025?
I just celebrated my 65th birthday and I'm facing a Social Security decision that's really stressing me out. I've been teaching in California for almost 27 years and plan to retire in August 2025 when I'll start collecting my STRS pension. The problem is that dreaded Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) that's going to slash my Social Security benefit to about 60% of what it would normally be! I've looked at my options, and I'm strongly leaning toward filing for SS now rather than waiting until my Full Retirement Age, which would only give me about $100 more per month. With WEP cutting into my benefit anyway, waiting those extra 2 years seems pointless. Has anyone else been caught in this teacher/WEP situation? Did you claim early or wait? I've contributed to Social Security for over 20 years from jobs before teaching, and it feels so unfair that I can't get the full benefit I earned. Any advice from others who've navigated this mess would be so appreciated!
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After considering the earnings test information and your continued employment until August 2025, here's what I'd suggest: Call Social Security and have them calculate your break-even point with WEP factored in. Then make your decision based on your health/longevity expectations and financial needs. Also, file a
Can someone complete SS disability forms for my brother? Need form name for authorized representative
My brother has MS and his condition has gotten significantly worse over the last few months. His doctor wants him to apply for Social Security disability, but he gets overwhelmed with paperwork due to his cognitive issues. I want to help him complete all the forms and maybe handle his ongoing case, but I'm not sure what form I need to fill out to do this legally. Is there a specific authorization form I need? Will SSA accept forms that I help him fill out or do I need official representative status? We live in different states if that matters (he's in Florida, I'm in Ohio). Any help is appreciated!
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Not to get off topic but make sure your brother applies for both SSDI and SSI at the same time. I didn't know you could do both and it delayed my benefits by months. The SSA should automatically screen for both but sometimes they don't.
That's really good to know. He worked consistently until about 2 years ago when his MS started getting worse, so I think SSDI would be his main benefit. But we'll definitely make sure both are considered.
An update based on the questions - yes, being in different states is not a problem for either the SSA-3288 or SSA-1696 forms. For the SSA-1696, you don't need to show ID when submitting the form, but you will need your brother's signature on it. The easiest approach would be to: 1. Help him start his disability application online 2. List yourself as a contact person on that application 3. Submit the SSA-3288 form to allow information sharing 4. Only pursue the SSA-1696 if you need to formally represent him later This gives you the ability to help with forms and communicate with SSA on his behalf without the more formal representative relationship that's typically used for attorneys or appeal situations.
Thank you so much for this clear step-by-step plan! This makes it much easier to understand. We'll start with the online application this weekend.
Can I switch to spousal benefits after husband files for Social Security at 70?
Hi everyone, I need some advice about maximizing our Social Security benefits. I'm filing for my own retirement benefits next month when I turn 70 in March. My estimated benefit will be about $1,845 per month. My husband is the higher earner in our marriage and plans to wait until his 70th birthday in September 2026 to file for his benefits. His projected benefit at 70 is around $4,200. I'm wondering if I'll be eligible to receive additional spousal benefits once he starts collecting? Should I expect an increase to my payment after he files? I've tried calling SSA three times but got disconnected each time after waiting over an hour. Any insights would be greatly appreciated!
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One more thing to consider - if your husband passes away before you, at that point you would be eligible for survivor benefits. As a widow, you could receive up to 100% of what your husband was receiving (including his delayed retirement credits). So while you might not get additional spousal benefits now, his decision to wait until 70 could still benefit you substantially in the future through higher survivor benefits.
This is exactly why my financial advisor told me and my wife to have the higher earner delay as long as possible - it's like buying life insurance through Social Security! The survivor benefit calculation is sooo much better than the stupid spousal benefit rules.
dont forget about taxes!!!! if you get more SS benefits you might have to pay more taxes on them if your over the limit. my brother got a big surprise at tax time last year
That's a good point. We're already paying some tax on our Social Security, but I'll keep that in mind if there is an increase. Thanks!
Can my 70 y.o. brother claim Social Security survivor benefits from deceased wife who barely worked?
My brother just turned 70 last month and has been receiving his Social Security retirement benefits since age 65. His situation is a bit complicated now. His wife passed away from covid about 3 years ago, and during their marriage, she was primarily a homemaker. From what I understand, she only worked outside the home for maybe 4-5 years total throughout her life, so she had very minimal Social Security credits. Now I'm wondering if my brother might be eligible for any kind of survivor benefits based on her work record, even though it was limited? Or is that not possible since he's already receiving his own benefits? Any insights would really help us figure out if he's leaving money on the table.
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wait i just thought of something else - if ur brother ever gets remarried after 60 it wont affect any of his ss benefits. my uncle got remarried at 72 and was worried but the SSA said it dont matter after age 60!!
That's correct. For survivor benefits, remarriage after age 60 doesn't affect eligibility. However, in this specific situation, it doesn't appear that the brother would be eligible for survivor benefits anyway since his own benefit is likely higher than what his wife's benefit would have been with only 4-5 years of work.
That's good to know! He's not planning to remarry right now, but it's helpful information for the future. Thanks for sharing that detail.
One more thing to consider - if your brother hasn't already, he should make sure the Social Security Administration knows about his wife's passing. Sometimes there can be issues if they aren't properly notified. Also, if he's struggling financially, he might want to check if he qualifies for any other programs like Medicare Savings Programs or Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug costs. These aren't related to survivor benefits but could help with his overall financial situation.
That's a great suggestion about those other programs. He's on a pretty tight budget these days, so I'll definitely mention those options to him. I believe he did notify SSA when she passed, but I'll double-check with him. Thanks for the thoughtful advice!
Andre Rousseau
Update: I finally got through to SSA after trying different times of day (Wednesday at 4pm seemed to have shorter wait times). The agent confirmed that I can indeed claim the full survivor benefit at 66 and 10 months instead of waiting until 67 and 2 months. They also said I absolutely need the death certificate - they won't process the claim without it. I'm going to request one from the county where he passed away. Thanks everyone for your help!
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AstroAdventurer
glad u got thru! good luck with everything!
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Jamal Carter
MAKE SURE you keep copies of EVERYTHING you send them!!! My friend had her original marriage certificate LOST by SSA and it was a nightmare to replace!!! They deny everything when they make mistakes!!!
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Andre Rousseau
AuthorOh no, that's terrible! Thanks for the warning - I'll definitely make copies of everything before I submit anything.
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