Can I claim Social Security survivor benefits at 60 then switch to my own retirement at 67?

Yes, you can absolutely claim survivor benefits at 60 and then switch to your own retirement benefits at 67 if your own benefit would be higher at that point. This is called a "restricted application" strategy and it's actually one of the few remaining ways to maximize your total lifetime benefits. The family maximum limit only applies to the TOTAL amount payable to all family members on one worker's record at the same time. When your children age out of benefits (at 18, or 19 if still in high school), this will free up room under the family maximum. A few important points: 1. Survivor benefits taken at age 60 would be reduced to 71.5% of your husband's full benefit amount 2. If you wait until your FRA (67) to claim survivor benefits, you'd get 100% 3. Your own retirement benefit would not be reduced by claiming survivor benefits early 4. You need 40 credits (10 years of work) for your own retirement benefit I'd suggest you file for your own survivor benefits as soon as your youngest turns 16, as you'd be eligible for mother's benefits at that point without reduction.

The SSA lies to people ALL THE TIME about their benefits!! They told me something similar when my husband died and I had to fight for MONTHS to get my proper benefits. Don't trust what ONE rep tells you - always get a second opinion!!! Family maximum is real but it doesn't mean you NEVER get benefits, it just limits the TOTAL amount paid out at one time. When your kids age out or if one of them gets married before 18, your benefit opportunity changes. And YES you can absolutely claim widow benefits at 60 and switch later!!!! That's EXACTLY what I did.

my condolences on your loss. i went thru this 2 yrs ago. the family max is around 150-180% of your husband's benefit amount (depends on his earnings). once the kids turn 18 youll have room to get your survivors. but yeah you can take reduced survivors at 60 and switch to your own at 67 if its higher. thats what my sister is doing.

I'd recommend calling the SSA directly to get information specific to your situation, but I've had to call them multiple times recently about my mother's benefits and it's nearly impossible to get through. After being frustrated with hours of hold times and disconnects, I found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected with an agent in about 15 minutes instead of waiting for hours. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. As for your specific question, the previous commenters are correct. You can claim survivor benefits as early as 60 (with a reduction) and later switch to your own retirement at 67 if it would be higher. But you need 40 credits (10 years of work) for your own retirement benefit to qualify. The family maximum does not permanently disqualify you from survivor benefits.

Congrats on finding this forum! When my wife died i was so confused about all the SS rules. Just want to say that everyone here is right - you CAN take survivor benefits at 60 and switch later. But remember that working while collecting survivors before your FRA will reduce your benefit check if you earn above the earnings limit ($1,770/month in 2025).

I'm in exact same boat but 2 years ahead of you. Kids r 9 & 14 and I'm getting NOTHING cause of family max. so frustrating!! Did u ask about lump sum death benefit? Its only $255 but at least its something. if ur husband had life insurance u can put some in a college fund for kids since SS stops at 18 (or 19 if still in hs).

There's a lot of good advice here, but I want to clarify a few technical points: 1. The strategy you're describing (claiming survivors at 60, then your own at FRA) is technically NOT a "restricted application" as one commenter mentioned. Restricted applications only apply to spousal benefits, not survivor benefits. 2. You'll need 40 credits (typically 10 years of work) to qualify for your own retirement benefit. At your age, you'd need to earn about 33 more credits. 3. The Family Maximum Benefit (FMB) for survivors is generally 150-180% of your husband's basic benefit rate, though the exact formula is complex. 4. If you work while receiving survivor benefits before your FRA, you'll be subject to the earnings test. In 2025, for every $2 you earn above $22,440 annually, $1 will be withheld from your benefits. 5. Mother's/father's benefits are available until your youngest child turns 16, regardless of the family maximum, so that's another option. I'd recommend scheduling an appointment at your local office rather than just calling - you'll get more personalized attention.

Just to add my two cents - I receive survivors benefits (I'm 63) and I'll switch to my own benefit when I turn 67. It works great! The SSA computer system automatically compares your survivor benefit to your own benefit amount each year, so when your own benefit eventually exceeds your survivor benefit, they'll automatically switch you. You don't even have to file a separate application. BUT - big warning - do NOT claim your own retirement benefit at 62 if you're planning this strategy! If you do, you'll get the LOWER of the two benefits forever. This is a common mistake people make.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Ivanna. Losing a spouse is incredibly difficult, especially with young children to care for. I wanted to add some practical advice that might help with your immediate situation. Since you mentioned the SSA office is hard to reach and you can't take more time off work, consider these options: 1. **Online account**: If you haven't already, create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov. You can view benefit estimates, check your earnings record, and sometimes get information without calling. 2. **Written requests**: For complex questions like yours, sometimes submitting a written request to your local office can get you more detailed, documented answers than phone calls. 3. **Timing your calls**: If you must call, try early morning (8-9 AM) or late afternoon (4-5 PM) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays. Mondays and Fridays tend to be busiest. Regarding your strategy - everyone here is correct that you can take survivor benefits at 60 and switch to your own at 67 if higher. Since you're 45 now, you have 15 years to accumulate those work credits. Working full-time should easily get you the 40 credits needed. One thing to keep in mind: when your youngest turns 16 (in about 4 years), you'll become eligible for mother's benefits, which could provide some financial relief during those crucial working years before you're eligible for survivor benefits at 60. Stay strong - you're asking all the right questions and planning wisely for your family's future.

I'm really sorry for your loss, and I can see you're getting excellent advice here from people who've been through similar situations. One additional point I wanted to mention that might be helpful: when you do eventually apply for survivor benefits at 60, make sure to ask about "protective filing dates." If there's any delay in processing your application, SSA can sometimes backdate your benefits to when you first inquired, which could mean several months of retroactive payments. Also, since you mentioned being a teacher's aide, you might want to double-check whether your school district participates in Social Security or if they have their own retirement system. Some public employees don't pay into Social Security, which could affect your ability to earn those 40 credits you'll need for your own retirement benefit. The fact that you're thinking about this strategy now, 15 years ahead of time, shows you're being incredibly smart about planning for your family's future. Many people don't realize they have these options until it's too late to optimize their benefits. Keep working on building those credits - you've got plenty of time, and this community is here to help if you have more questions along the way.