Can I claim my late husband's Social Security at 60? Married 9 years before his death

Yes, you definitely qualify for widow's benefits at age 60. The 10-year marriage requirement only applies to divorced spouse benefits, not survivor benefits. For widow(er) benefits, you only need to have been married for 9 months before your spouse passed away (with some exceptions). Since you were married for 9 years, you easily meet this requirement. Just be aware that if you claim survivor benefits at exactly age 60, you'll get about 71.5% of your late husband's full retirement age benefit. If you wait until your own full retirement age (probably 67 for you), you'd get 100% of his benefit. You can also consider taking survivor benefits early and then switching to your own retirement benefit later if it would be higher (or vice versa). It's one of the few remaining options for claiming one benefit type and later switching to another.

my mom got widows benifits at 60 but she said it was WAY less money than waiting till full retirement age... like almost half i think? but she needed it cuz she lost her job. just something to think abt

I went through this exact situation last year! Definitely eligible at 60, but I waited until 62 for a slightly higher amount. The SSA website has all the information, but GOOD LUCK actually getting through to anyone on the phone to ask questions. I spent THREE DAYS trying to reach someone to confirm my eligibility before giving up and just applying online. One thing to watch for - if you're still working when you claim survivor benefits before your FRA, you'll be subject to the earnings test. In 2025, if you earn more than $22,320, they'll withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above that limit. Just something to consider in your planning.

I had the same problem trying to reach SSA. Spent hours on hold only to get disconnected. Finally tried Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to a rep in under 15 minutes. They have this service where they wait on hold for you and call when an agent is on the line. Made a huge difference when I needed to confirm my survivor benefit details. Check out their demo video if you're interested: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU As for your actual question - yes, survivor benefits are available at 60, but at a reduced rate. The reduction is approximately 28.5% from what you'd get at your full retirement age. Each month you delay between 60 and your FRA increases the percentage you receive.

DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ HERE!!! My sister-in-law thought she qualified for her deceased husband's SS too but got DENIED because he wasn't fully insured or something like that. The 9 month marriage rule is true BUT they also look at work credits!!! Your husband needed enough work credits to be "fully insured" for you to claim!!! Did he work long enough to qualify for SS himself???

I was in your exact situation 3 years ago. Took my late husband's benefit at 60 and it was the right choice for me, but honestly it depends on your financial situation. The amount I receive at 60 is about $1,730 per month (his FRA benefit would have been about $2,420). I know I'm leaving money on the table by not waiting, but I needed to reduce my work hours for health reasons. One thing no one mentioned - you can apply up to 4 months before you turn 60. I'd recommend doing that to make sure everything is processed in time. You'll need his death certificate, your marriage certificate, and your birth certificate (or passport). Better to have everything ready early than scrambling at the last minute like I did!

wait im confused about something... if u take widow benefits at 60 can u still get ur own SS later? or does taking widow benefits early reduce BOTH benefits? sorry if thats a dumb question lol

my aunt tried to get this and they kept saying she didnt send the right paperwork but she did!!! took her like 5 months to actually start getting the money be prepared for a fight with them!!

Another thing to consider - if you're eligible for both your own retirement benefit and a survivor benefit, you can choose which one to take first. This can be a powerful strategy. For example, you could take the survivor benefit at 60 (at a reduced rate) and let your own benefit grow until age 70, then switch. Or take your own reduced benefit at 62 and switch to the full survivor benefit at your FRA. Run the numbers on both scenarios to see which gives you more lifetime benefits. The best strategy depends on your own work record compared to your late husband's benefit amount.