Can I claim Social Security survivor benefits from ex-spouse while also collecting my own SS at FRA?

Yes, you are eligible for survivor benefits based on your ex-spouse's record! Since you were married for more than 10 years (21 years in your case) and haven't remarried before age 60, you qualify as a surviving divorced spouse. The good news is that unlike spousal benefits, survivor benefits can be taken separately from your own retirement benefits. This means you could potentially: 1. Take the survivor benefit at your FRA in 2027 and let your own retirement benefit continue to grow until age 70, then switch to your own higher benefit. 2. OR take your own retirement benefit at FRA and later switch to the survivor benefit if it's higher. To find out how much the survivor benefit would be, you'll need to contact SSA directly. The survivor benefit would be based on your ex-spouse's full benefit amount (or what they were receiving when they died). You should get 100% of their benefit amount if you claim at your FRA. I recommend calling SSA at 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an appointment to discuss your options. They can calculate both benefits for you so you can make an informed decision.

ive been in your exact situation!! took me forever to figure out all the ss rules. yes youre eligible for survivor benefits from your ex since you were married over 10 yrs and didnt remarry before 60. but heres the thing - you shoukd really think about WHEN to take each benefit. what i learned is that your own ss benefit grows til age 70 but survivor benefits DONT grow after your FRA. so most ppl should take survivors at FRA then switch to their own at 70 if its bigger by then. GOOD LUCK getting anyone at ssa on the phone tho lol i tried for MONTHS!!

I had almost the same situation! Been trying to get someone from SS on the phone for WEEKS with no luck! Kept getting disconnected after waiting on hold for 2+ hours! Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual SSA agent in less than 10 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU The agent confirmed I was eligible for both my own retirement and my ex's survivor benefits, and ran the numbers for both. Turns out my strategy is to take survivor benefits at my FRA and switch to my own at 70 since mine will be higher by then with the delayed credits. Made a HUGE difference in my income planning - like $800/month more than if I'd just taken my own benefit at FRA.

A couple things to keep in mind that others haven't mentioned: 1. If you're still working full-time, be aware of the earnings test if you claim ANY benefit before your FRA. In 2025, you can earn up to $22,320 without penalty, but after that, they'll withhold $1 for every $2 you earn above that limit. Once you reach FRA, the earnings test no longer applies. 2. When you contact SSA, ask specifically about the RIB-LIM rule as it applies to survivor benefits for divorced spouses. This rule can affect the maximum amount you receive. 3. Get a copy of your ex-spouse's death certificate and have your marriage certificate ready when you apply. They'll ask for these. 4. Survivor benefits are taxed differently than retirement benefits, so talk to a tax professional about how this might affect your overall tax situation.

To answer the question about the RIB-LIM rule - it stands for Retirement Insurance Benefit Limitation. It's a calculation SSA uses for people who are eligible for both their own retirement benefits and survivor benefits. Basically, if you're receiving survivor benefits, your own retirement benefit (if you decide to take it) might be reduced by a certain amount. The maximum you can receive is the higher of the two benefits, not necessarily the full amount of both combined. For @OP - this is why it's so important to speak with SSA directly about your specific situation. The calculations can get quite complex, and your optimal strategy will depend on the exact benefit amounts you're eligible for.

The government DOESNT WANT YOU to know this but you CAN get both benefits!! My sister's friend is getting TWO checks every month - one from her own record and one from her ex husband who died!!! The trick is you have to apply for them separately and not tell them about the other one!!!

Has anyone actually crunched the numbers on this strategy? I did something similar (taking survivor benefits at FRA, then switching to my own at 70), and the difference was substantial. In my case: - Survivor benefit at FRA: $2,850/month - My own benefit at FRA: $2,650/month - My own benefit at age 70: $3,480/month (after delayed retirement credits) By taking survivor benefits at FRA and switching to my own at 70, I'll collect about $2,850/month for 4 years, then $3,480/month for the rest of my life. If I had just taken my own benefit at FRA, I would have gotten $2,650/month forever. The difference over a 20-year retirement is more than $145,000! Definitely worth looking into for your situation.

To clarify about switching benefits: With survivor benefits specifically, you CAN choose when to take each benefit and can switch between them. This is different from spousal benefits (when your ex is still alive), where the rules changed after the 2015 Bipartisan Budget Act. For survivor benefits, you can: 1. Take reduced survivor benefits early (as early as age 60) and switch to your own benefits later 2. Take your own reduced benefits early (as early as 62) and switch to survivor benefits at FRA 3. Take either benefit at FRA and switch to the other later The optimal strategy depends on the relative amounts of each benefit and your life expectancy. Since survivor benefits don't grow after FRA but your own benefits grow until 70, many people benefit from taking survivor benefits at FRA and switching to their own at 70.

Just a heads up that the survivor benefit rules for divorced spouses are slightly different than for current spouses. For a divorced spouse to qualify for survivor benefits: 1. The marriage must have lasted at least 10 years (which yours did at 21 years) 2. You must be at least 60 years old (or 50 if disabled) 3. You must not have remarried before age 60 If you remarried after 60, you can still collect survivor benefits from your ex. Also, claiming survivor benefits from your ex has no effect on what other family members might receive on your ex's record. Do you know if your ex had started taking Social Security before they passed away? That can affect the amount of survivor benefits too.

Since your ex-spouse had already started receiving benefits when they passed away, your survivor benefit would generally be based on what they were actually receiving. However, there are some exceptions: 1. If your ex was receiving reduced benefits because they claimed early, your survivor benefit would be limited to the larger of: - What your ex was receiving when they died - 82.5% of your ex's full retirement age benefit 2. If your ex delayed claiming beyond their full retirement age, your survivor benefit would include any delayed retirement credits they earned. This is another reason why getting the specific numbers from SSA is so important. They can tell you exactly what the survivor benefit amount would be based on your ex's specific claiming history.