Calculating Social Security survivor benefits with windexing - is 75% + 25% formula accurate?

Unfortunately, that simple math won't work. Survivor benefits are more complicated than just adding 25% to what your son receives. Windexing (wage indexing) factors in your husband's earnings history adjusted for wage growth over time, then applies reduction factors based on your age when you claim. Since your husband died 15 years ago, his earnings would be indexed to the year he died, plus two years. The SSA rep was correct that they can't provide an exact calculation until you apply because several personalized factors affect the final amount. If you're trying to decide between claiming now or later, the general rule is that survivor benefits reach maximum at your Full Retirement Age (FRA). Claiming earlier results in a permanent reduction (about 0.396% per month before FRA). One option: you could file a protective filing date statement, which preserves your filing date while you gather more information without starting benefits immediately.

i went thru this last yr with my mom. its SO frustrating that they wont tell u the numbers until u apply!! like how r we supposed to plan?? the 75%+25% thing is WAY off tho. my mom got almost double what my disabled brother gets. something about maximum family benefits and stuff.

The SSA representative was correct that they can't provide exact calculations until you apply, but they certainly should have been able to give you some estimates! This is exactly why many people get frustrated with Social Security. If you want to get some answers without fully applying, I'd recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected to an SSA representative by phone without the typical 2+ hour wait. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU I used them last month when I needed clarification on my survivor benefits calculation, and I was able to get a knowledgeable rep who walked me through several scenarios. Much better than waiting at the office just to be told they can't help you!

I worked for SSA for 15 years before retiring, and I can provide some clarity here: 1. Your son's benefit as a disabled adult child (DAC) is indeed 75% of your late husband's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). 2. However, as a widow, your survivor benefit would be up to 100% of your husband's benefit if you claim at your Full Retirement Age. 3. Windexing does complicate things because your husband died so long ago. His earnings would be indexed to 2 years before his death. 4. Since you're 62 (based on your comment), claiming now instead of at your FRA would reduce your benefit by approximately 29.5% (0.396% × 60 months early). 5. There's also the Family Maximum Benefit (FMB) to consider which limits the total benefits paid on one earner's record. If you're trying to decide about timing, compare what you'd collect over 5 years by claiming early versus the higher monthly amount for claiming at FRA. For most survivors, break-even point is around age 80-82.

The WHOLE Social Security system is DESIGNED to be confusing!!! They WANT you to make mistakes so they don't have to pay out as much!!!! I've been fighting with them for TWO YEARS about my husband's benefits after he passed. Every time I call I get a different answer and now they're saying I was OVERPAID $4,250 which is RIDICULOUS when they're the ones who calculated everything wrong in the first place!!!

i think i saw something on the ssa website about a benefit estimator or calculator you can use? maybe try that to get rough numbers before deciding. good luck!

This reminded me of my situation with my late wife's benefits. What complicated things for me was that I was still working while trying to collect survivor benefits. The earnings test reduced my benefit until I reached FRA. Are you still working? If so, that's another factor to consider before claiming early.

I'm in a similar situation - widow at 61, trying to navigate the survivor benefits maze. What I've learned from working with a Social Security advocate is that you might want to request a "benefit verification letter" or ask for a consultation with a supervisor at your local office. Sometimes regular reps don't have access to the more complex calculation tools, but supervisors do. Also, since your son is receiving DAC benefits, there's definitely a family maximum in play that affects the total benefits paid on your husband's record. When you claim survivor benefits, it could potentially reduce what your son receives if you're bumping up against that maximum - something else to factor into your decision. Have you considered getting a second opinion from a different SSA office? I've found that knowledge levels vary significantly between locations and even individual representatives.

I'm also a widow navigating this process and wanted to share what I learned from my experience. The lack of clear estimates from SSA before applying is incredibly frustrating - you're definitely not alone in feeling this way! One thing that helped me was contacting the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives (NOSSCR) to find a qualified attorney who specializes in Social Security benefits. Many offer free consultations for survivor benefits cases and can help you understand the timing implications without you having to file an application. Regarding the windexing calculation, I found that benefits estimated using the deceased spouse's earnings from 15+ years ago can be quite different from what you might expect. The indexing often results in higher benefits than simple percentage calculations would suggest, but the early claiming penalties can still significantly impact the final amount. Since you're working part-time and right at the earnings test threshold, you might also want to consider whether reducing your work hours slightly in the claiming year could help you avoid benefit reductions. Sometimes a small adjustment in income can make a meaningful difference in your net benefit. The family maximum issue that others mentioned is real - definitely get clarity on how your claiming might affect your son's DAC benefits before making any decisions.