Can I claim Social Security survivor benefits at 60 if husband died before reaching his FRA?

I'm sorry for your loss. Yes, you would be eligible for survivor benefits as early as age 60 if you don't remarry before then. However, there are a few important things to understand: 1. Since your husband died before reaching his FRA, your survivor benefit would be based on what he would have received at his FRA (his Primary Insurance Amount or PIA). 2. If you claim at exactly age 60, your benefit would be reduced to about 71.5% of his PIA because you'd be claiming early. The reduction is about 0.396% for each month before your FRA. 3. This is separate from your own retirement benefit. You can actually switch between benefits - many people take the reduced survivor benefit at 60, then switch to their own benefit at their FRA or age 70 if their own benefit would be higher at that point. I'd recommend requesting his earnings record from SSA to get a better estimate of what your survivor benefit might be. This will help with your financial planning.

my mom went thru same thing when my dad passed. she started taking survivor benifits at 60 and it helped alot with bills, then switched to her own SS when she hit 67. they reduce the amount if u take it at 60 but she said it was worth it cuz she needed the money then not later. just dont get married again b4 60 or u lose it!!

You need to be very strategic with this decision as it can mean tens of thousands of dollars difference over your lifetime. Here's what I suggest: 1. Request a benefit verification from SSA for both yourself and your deceased husband's record. 2. Consider your health and expected longevity - if you anticipate living into your 80s, it might be worth delaying your own retirement benefit to age 70 to maximize it, while taking the reduced survivor benefit at 60. 3. If your own benefit at FRA will be significantly higher than the survivor benefit, then taking the survivor benefit early and switching later makes mathematical sense. For proper planning, you should really compare these three scenarios: a) Take survivor benefits at 60, switch to your own at your FRA b) Take survivor benefits at 60, switch to your own at 70 c) Take your own reduced retirement at 62, switch to survivors at your FRA The optimal strategy depends on the specific benefit amounts and your life expectancy.

I went through this exact situation last year. Trying to get through to the SSA was a NIGHTMARE - I called for weeks and either got disconnected or was on hold for hours only to be told I needed to call back with different documents. Finally, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual SSA representative in under 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Once I actually spoke with someone, they confirmed I was eligible starting at 60 since I hadn't remarried. The rep went through all my options and helped me understand the different amounts I'd receive depending on when I claimed. Totally worth it to actually speak with someone who knows the rules.

Wait I'm confused about something. I thought survivor benefits were only for if your spouse was ALREADY collecting SS when they died?? My neighbor told me that his wife couldn't get anything because he hadn't filed yet when he passed. Is that wrong?

The SSA is DELIBERATELY making this complicated to save money!!! I had to fight for months to get my survivor benefits after my husband died. They kept claiming papers were missing or information was incorrect. Then they calculated my benefit wrong and I had to prove it to them! My advice: document EVERYTHING. Record dates, names of who you speak with, take screenshots of online submissions. Don't trust that they're giving you the correct information the first time. And definitely don't remarry before 60 if survivor benefits are important to your financial plan. And yes, you can claim survivor benefits at 60 and then switch to your own retirement later if it's higher. That's what I'm doing.

i thought u only get survivors if ur over 60? or is it different if u have kids?

One thing I want to add that hasn't been mentioned: if you're still working when you claim survivor benefits before your FRA (between 60-67), be aware of the earnings limit. For 2025, if you earn more than $22,800 (approximately - this changes yearly), your benefits will be reduced by $1 for every $2 you earn above that limit. The earnings limit no longer applies once you reach your full retirement age. This is important to factor into your decision about when to claim survivor benefits, especially if you plan to continue working full-time. Sometimes it makes more sense to wait until either you're no longer working or until your FRA to avoid this reduction.

In my experience the SSA makes so many mistakes!!! When my husband died, they told me I wasn't eligible for anything because I was only 48. Then years later my friend told me I should have been getting benefits for our teenage son who was still in high school! By then it was too late to claim the back payments we missed out on. I'd recommend reading everything you can and maybe even talk to a financial advisor who specializes in social security before making any decisions. Don't just rely on what one SSA rep tells you.

I'm really sorry for your loss, Connor. This is such a stressful situation to navigate while you're still grieving. Based on what others have shared here, it sounds like you do have some good options ahead of you. Since you're 53 now, you have about 7 years to really understand your choices and plan strategically. One thing I'd suggest is creating a my Social Security account online at ssa.gov if you haven't already. You can view your own earnings record there and get benefit estimates. For your husband's record, you'll need to contact them directly, but at least you can start getting familiar with your own projected benefits. Also, since you mentioned earning a decent salary, definitely factor in what Yara mentioned about the earnings limit if you're planning to keep working after 60. That could really impact whether it makes sense to claim survivor benefits right at 60 or wait until you're closer to retirement. The good news is you have time to research and plan. Don't feel pressured to figure it all out right now - just start gathering information so you can make the best decision for your situation when the time comes.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Connor. Losing a spouse so young is incredibly difficult, and trying to navigate the Social Security system on top of everything else can feel overwhelming. You've gotten some excellent advice here. One thing I'd add is that you might want to consider getting annual Social Security statements for both yourself and requesting one for your late husband's record. This will help you see exactly what benefits you'd be entitled to and when. Also, since you mentioned having a decent salary, you might want to think about whether continuing to work and delay claiming survivor benefits until closer to your FRA could be beneficial. The earnings test that others mentioned can really eat into your benefits if you're still working full-time. I know several people who've been in similar situations, and the most important thing is not to rush into any decisions. You have time to plan, and getting all the information upfront will help you make the choice that's best for your long-term financial security. The SSA definitely makes this more complicated than it needs to be, but don't let that discourage you from claiming what you're entitled to when the time comes.

I'm sorry for your loss, Connor. Going through this at such a young age must be incredibly difficult. One thing I wanted to add that might be helpful - you mentioned your husband had way more than the required 40 credits, which is great. But keep in mind that survivor benefits are calculated based on his highest 35 years of earnings (adjusted for inflation), just like regular retirement benefits. Since he passed at 58, he may not have had a full 35 years of high earnings, which could affect the benefit amount. Also, I'd suggest keeping detailed records of any communications you have with SSA when you do start the process. Based on what others have shared, it's unfortunately common to get different information from different representatives. Having everything documented will help if you need to appeal or correct any mistakes. The fact that you're planning ahead now puts you in a much better position than many people. Take your time to understand all your options - you've got several years to make the best strategic decision for your situation.

Connor, I'm so sorry for your loss. Losing your husband at such a young age must have been devastating, and dealing with Social Security rules on top of grief is incredibly challenging. Everyone here has given you excellent advice, but I wanted to add one more perspective that might be helpful. Since you're 53 and have 7 years to plan, consider this an opportunity to really optimize your strategy. You mentioned earning a decent salary now - this could actually work in your favor. If you continue working and earning good income for the next 7 years, you'll be building up your own Social Security record. This means when you turn 60, you'll have a clearer picture of whether your own eventual retirement benefit (especially if you delay it to age 70) might exceed the survivor benefit amount. The key is to get those benefit estimates as others suggested, then you can model different scenarios. For example: - Survivor benefits at 60 while working (factoring in earnings test) - Survivor benefits at your FRA - Your own benefits at various claiming ages I work in financial planning and see this situation often. The people who fare best are those who, like you, start planning early and get all the facts before making decisions. You're already ahead of the game by asking these questions now rather than scrambling when you turn 60. Hang in there - you've got time and you're asking all the right questions.