Can I claim Social Security survivor benefits 12 years after husband's death with income limits?

Yes, you can still claim survivor benefits even after 12 years - there's no time limit for applying! However, there are income limits if you claim before your full retirement age. For 2025, the earnings limit is around $22,750 if you're under FRA (which varies based on birth year but is probably 67 for you). Exceed that and they'll withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above the limit. Since you're making $65K, most of your survivor benefit would be withheld. Once you reach FRA, there's no earnings limit, so you could collect your full survivor benefit regardless of how much you work. I'd recommend waiting if possible.

My sister went thru similar thing. Her husband die in 2009 and she just applied last yr. Social security let her get benefits but they took lots off because she still works part time at walmart. Its very confusing system

The previous responses are mostly correct, but let me clarify a few important points about survivor benefits: 1. You can claim reduced survivor benefits as early as age 60 (or 50 if disabled). 2. If you wait until your Full Retirement Age (FRA), you'll receive 100% of your deceased husband's benefit (either what he was receiving or what he would have received at his FRA). 3. The earnings test does apply before FRA as mentioned, but it's important to understand that benefits withheld aren't permanently lost - they're added back once you reach FRA. 4. You can actually claim survivor benefits and later switch to your own retirement benefit if it would be higher, or vice versa. I'd recommend scheduling an appointment with SSA to understand your specific options - they can calculate your potential benefit amounts at different ages based on your work record and your husband's.

omg don't even try calling SS directly... took me 3 WEEKS of trying everyday to get someone on the phone for my moms survivors benefits last month. hours on hold then disconnected constantly. total nightmare!!!

Keep in mind that survivor benefits and your own retirement benefits are completely separate things! I got so confused when dealing with this after my husband passed. If your own SS retirement benefit would be higher than the survivor benefit, you might want to take the survivor benefit early and then switch to your own at 70 when it's maximized. Or vice versa. It's VERY strategic and most people don't realize you can do this.

Just wanted to add that when applying for survivors benefits, you'll need your husband's death certificate, your marriage certificate, your birth certificate, and both your Social Security numbers. Might take some time to gather all that if it's been 12 years, so start collecting documents now if you're planning to apply!

The earnings limit for survivor benefits is adjusted annually for inflation. For 2025, if you're under Full Retirement Age for the entire year, the limit is $22,750. Between that and your FRA, the limit jumps to about $60,500 for the months before reaching FRA. And yes, for every $2 you earn above the limit, $1 is withheld from benefits. With your $65,000 income, claiming now would result in significant withholding. However, you might consider reducing your work hours to bring your income under the limit if the survivor benefit is substantial enough to make up the difference. Also, don't forget about the taxation of benefits - up to 85% of Social Security benefits can be taxable depending on your combined income.

Has anyone mentioned yet that you should check if you're eligible for the lump-sum death benefit? It's only $255 but hey, money is money! Though after 12 years they might say it's too late for that particular benefit.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I'm going to try to contact SSA directly to discuss my specific situation. Sounds like I should probably wait until I'm either closer to 60 or possibly even until my full retirement age given my current income. I appreciate all the information about the different options and considerations - this is way more complicated than I thought it would be!