Can I claim my own Social Security at 60 and switch to widow benefits at FRA?

You've got it backwards. At 60 you can claim SURVIVOR benefits (reduced), not your own retirement. Your own retirement isn't available until 62 at the earliest. But the real question is whether that strategy even makes sense financially. Have you run the numbers?

The previous commenter is correct. Here's how it actually works: 1. At age 60, you can begin collecting survivor benefits, but they'll be reduced to about 71.5% of your husband's full benefit. 2. Your own retirement benefits aren't available until 62 (at a reduction) or your full retirement age (FRA) which is likely 67 for you. 3. You CAN actually do a strategy where you take one benefit first, then switch to the other later - but you'd want to take the SMALLER benefit first, then switch to the LARGER one. Worth noting: If you take survivor benefits early AND then switch to your own later, your survivor benefits are permanently reduced, but your own retirement can still grow to its maximum if you wait until 70. You should definitely schedule an appointment with SSA to discuss your specific situation and get the exact numbers.

Have u actually called SSA yet??? Their phone lines are IMPOSSIBLE to get through! I spent THREE DAYS trying to talk to someone about my widows benefits last month. Either busy signals or being on hold for HOURS only to get disconnected!!!

I had the same problem trying to reach SSA about my survivor benefits. After days of frustration, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to a real person at SSA in about 20 minutes instead of waiting for hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Totally worth it for me since I needed specific answers about switching between benefits that I couldn't find online. The agent I spoke with actually ran calculations for my specific situation that showed I should take survivors at 60 and switch to my own at 68.

There's actually a specific strategy for widows that not many people know about. It's often called the "widow's strategy" or "survivor's strategy." Here's how it works in your case: - If your own benefit at your FRA will be LESS than your husband's FRA benefit: Take your reduced retirement benefit at 62, then switch to unreduced survivor benefits at your FRA. - If your own benefit at your FRA will be MORE than your husband's FRA benefit: Take reduced survivor benefits at 60, then switch to your own retirement at 70 (to maximize delayed retirement credits). This is one of the few remaining "switch strategies" after the 2015 law changes eliminated most of them. But this one still works for widow(er)s! The key is knowing which of your benefits will be larger at FRA, which determines which strategy to use.

i think theres a rule about working while getting benefits before your full retirement age tho. if u make too much they take some benefits away. happened to my sister in law

Real talk: get a FREE appointment with the SSA. Don't rely on internet strangers for something this important. Everyone's situation is different, and those calculators online don't take into account all the survivor rules. Call and MAKE them explain all your options with ACTUAL NUMBERS.

As others have mentioned, the optimal strategy depends on your specific numbers. However, I want to add one more crucial point: if you're planning to work past age 60, you need to consider how the earnings test might affect your survivor benefits. In 2025, if you earn more than $22,320 while collecting any Social Security benefit before your FRA, they will withhold $1 for every $2 you earn above that limit. This could significantly reduce or even eliminate your survivor benefits if you have substantial earnings. The good news: Once you reach FRA, these reductions stop completely, AND any benefits that were withheld due to the earnings test will be returned to you gradually in the form of a higher monthly benefit. Getting an exact calculation from SSA is essential to make the best decision for your situation.