Can I claim my deceased husband's Social Security at 60 while making over $16K, or wait until 70?

The SSA rep gave you partially correct information, but missed some important details. As a widow, you have several options: 1. At 60, you can claim survivor benefits, but they'll be reduced to about 71.5% of your husband's full benefit AND subject to the earnings test ($21,240 for 2025 if you're under FRA). 2. At your Full Retirement Age (66-67 depending on birth year), you can claim 100% of your husband's benefit with NO earnings limit. 3. You can also do a restricted application strategy: claim ONLY survivor benefits at your FRA, let your own benefit grow until 70, then switch to your own (if it's higher). The rep was incorrect suggesting your husband's benefit wouldn't matter. As a widow, you're entitled to the HIGHER of either your own benefit or your husband's.

I dnt think any1 here knows what they talking about. My mom got widow benifits at 62 and they gave her less money than she was supposed to get!!! SS always trying to cheat ppl out of their money!!

I'm in almost the exact same situation - lost my husband 5 years ago and I'm 61 now. I also work full-time making about $65K. When I called SSA last month, they weren't very helpful either. What I learned after doing some research is that the earnings limit for 2025 is $21,240 (not $16K) if you're under full retirement age. For every $2 you earn above that limit, they deduct $1 from your benefits. So with my salary, any survivor benefits would be completely wiped out until I reach my FRA. I'm planning to take survivor benefits at my FRA (66+8mo) when there's no earnings test, then switch to my own benefit at 70 since it'll be higher by then.

Let me clarify something important that many people misunderstand about survivor benefits: 1. If you claim ANY Social Security benefit before your Full Retirement Age while working, you're subject to the earnings limit ($21,240 in 2025). 2. After reaching your Full Retirement Age, there is NO earnings limit. You can earn any amount without penalty. 3. As a widow, you have the valuable option to claim one benefit type first and switch to the other later. Most financial experts recommend: - If your own benefit will be larger at age 70, take the survivor benefit at your FRA and switch to your own at 70. - If the survivor benefit will always be larger, take your own reduced retirement at 62 and switch to the survivor benefit at your FRA. The SSA phone representatives sometimes provide incomplete information. I recommend scheduling an appointment with a claims specialist who can do calculations specific to your situation.

my wife passed to and i tryed to get her SS but they said i had to be 62?? im 58 now so i got to wait i guess. its so confusing. do u have kids? i herd if u had kids under 16 you can get benafits

I tried calling the SSA for WEEKS about my survivor benefits and couldn't get through - constant busy signals or disconnections after waiting on hold forever. Finally found this service called Claimyr that got me connected to an SSA agent in under 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU The agent I spoke with went through all my survivor benefit options and confirmed I could do exactly what others here mentioned - take survivor benefits at my FRA and switch to my own at 70. Total game-changer compared to the incomplete info I got before.

Something no one has mentioned yet is that survivor benefits are based on what your husband would be receiving if he were alive today, including any delayed retirement credits he earned if he died after his FRA. So if your husband would have turned 70 by now and had not claimed benefits before passing, his benefit amount (and thus your potential survivor benefit) would have been increased by 24-32% from delayed retirement credits. This is why it's so important to get a calculation specific to your situation from SSA rather than relying on general information. Your survivor benefit amount depends on several factors specific to your husband's earnings record and when he passed away.

I HATE how complicated they make evrything!!! y cant they just tell us straight what we get?? my friend told me widows get 100% of husbands SS but turns out thats only at full retirment age? such BS!!

Here's a simplified breakdown of your options as I understand your situation: 1. From 60-FRA: Reduced survivor benefits (71.5-99.9% of husband's benefit) BUT subject to earnings test 2. At FRA: Full survivor benefits (100% of husband's benefit) with NO earnings limit 3. At 70: Maximized personal retirement benefit (132% of your FRA amount) Best strategy is usually to claim whichever benefit is smaller first, then switch to the larger one later. For many widows, this means taking survivor benefits at FRA, then switching to their own at 70 if it will be higher. Remember that when comparing, you need to know: - Your FRA benefit amount - Your age-70 benefit amount (with delayed credits) - Your husband's PIA (primary insurance amount) An SSA claims specialist can provide these exact figures for you to make an informed decision.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Mateo. Losing a spouse is incredibly difficult, and navigating Social Security on top of grief can feel overwhelming. I went through something similar when my husband passed three years ago. The information you're getting here is spot-on - that SSA rep definitely gave you incomplete information. You absolutely ARE entitled to your husband's higher benefit amount as a survivor! One thing I'd add to the excellent advice already given: make sure to ask SSA for your complete benefit estimates in writing. When I finally got through to a knowledgeable representative, they provided me with a detailed breakdown showing: - My own benefit at different claiming ages - My survivor benefit amount - Projections for both strategies (claim survivor first vs. claim own first) This written comparison made it so much clearer which approach would give me the most money over my lifetime. In my case, I'm planning to take survivor benefits at my FRA (66+4mo) and then switch to my own at 70 since mine will be about $200/month higher. Don't let that first phone call discourage you - keep pushing for the information you need. You've worked hard and deserve every benefit you're entitled to receive.

I'm really sorry for your loss, Mateo. Dealing with Social Security after losing a spouse is incredibly stressful when you're already grieving. The advice you're getting here is excellent - that SSA rep definitely didn't give you the full picture. I work as a benefits counselor and see this confusion all the time. Here's what I tell clients in your situation: You have THREE key decision points: 1. Age 60-FRA: Reduced survivor benefits with earnings test 2. Your FRA: Full survivor benefits with NO earnings limit 3. Age 70: Maximum personal retirement benefit The "restricted application" strategy others mentioned is huge for widows. Since you're still working full-time, claiming survivor benefits at your FRA while letting your own benefit grow until 70 is often the optimal approach. One tip: when you meet with the SSA specialist, ask them to show you the "break-even analysis" - the age at which your cumulative lifetime benefits would be higher under each strategy. This helps you see the long-term financial impact of your decision. Also, don't forget that survivor benefits aren't taxed the same way as regular retirement benefits if you have other income. This can affect your overall tax planning. The fact that you're asking these questions now at 60 puts you in a great position to maximize your benefits. Take your time to understand all your options before deciding.