Can I claim widow benefits at 60 then switch to ex-spouse survivor benefits later?
I recently lost my husband last summer after 11 years of marriage, and I'm trying to understand my Social Security options. I'm approaching 60 and looking at taking widow benefits. My work history is minimal with very low earnings. Before my late husband, I was married to my ex for 11 years (divorced for 12 years before remarrying). I know I can't get spousal benefits from my ex because I remarried, but what happens if my ex passes away in the future? Could I potentially collect survivor benefits from him if his benefit amount would be higher than my current widow's benefit from my late husband? I know this sounds calculating, but I'm just trying to understand all my options for financial stability. Does Social Security allow you to switch between different survivor benefits based on which would pay more?
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Ava Johnson
First, I'm very sorry for your loss. Your question is practical, not calculating - you need to understand your options. Yes, you can potentially collect survivor benefits from an ex-spouse if you were married 10+ years, even if you remarried, as long as your remarriage occurred after age 60. Since you already remarried before 60, you wouldn't qualify for ex-spouse survivor benefits UNLESS your second marriage ends (which it did by death). So in your case, if your ex passes away, you COULD potentially switch to survivor benefits based on his record if they're higher than what you're receiving from your late husband. At age 60, remember you'll get a reduced amount (about 71.5% of the full benefit) regardless of which record you claim on.
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ElectricDreamer
•Thank you so much for this clear explanation. So just to confirm - since my second marriage ended when my husband passed away, I'm now eligible for survivor benefits from either my late husband OR my ex-spouse (if he passes away), whichever is higher? Is there any paperwork I should prepare now, or do I just wait until I turn 60 and then apply for widow benefits from my late husband?
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Miguel Diaz
im in a similar situation! took my widows benefits at 60 (3 yrs ago) from my second husband. my first husband who i was with for 15 yrs makes ALOT more $$ than my second husband ever did. someone at social security told me i can switch if my first husband dies even though i remarried. good to hear someone else confirm this rule!
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ElectricDreamer
•That's reassuring to hear from someone in a similar situation. If you don't mind me asking, was the application process complicated when you applied for widow's benefits? Did they ask a lot of questions about your previous marriage?
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Zainab Ahmed
The other replies are correct, but I want to emphasize something important: When you apply for widow's benefits at 60, you're taking a 28.5% reduction from what you'd get at your Full Retirement Age (FRA). Make sure you understand this trade-off. Also, you should know that Survivor benefits and Retirement benefits are separate. You could potentially: 1. Take reduced widow benefits at 60 based on your late husband 2. Later switch to your own retirement benefits at 70 if they would be higher (with delayed credits) 3. OR switch to ex-spouse survivor benefits if your ex passes away and those would be higher The key is to work with SSA to compare all potential benefit amounts. Many people don't realize they can switch between different types of benefits at different times to maximize their lifetime payments.
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ElectricDreamer
•This is really helpful information! I hadn't thought about possibly switching to my own retirement benefits later. Is there a specific age when I should reevaluate all these options? And does SSA automatically tell you if you qualify for higher benefits on another record, or do you have to specifically ask them to check?
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Connor Byrne
YOU NEED TO KEEP DETAILED RECORDS OF ALL YOUR MARRIAGES!!! SSA lost my marriage certificate when I applied for widow benefits and it delayed everything by MONTHS. Make sure you have certified copies of your marriage certificates AND divorce papers for your ex, and death certificate for your late husband. The SSA system is a nightmare to deal with when they lose your documents!!!
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Yara Abboud
•Yes this!!! Having all your documents ready saves SO much time. I applied for survivors benefits last year and brought everything with me to the appointment - birth certificate, marriage license, husband's death certificate, even our tax returns. Made things go much smoother.
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PixelPioneer
Have you tried calling the Social Security office to get clarification? My mom was in a somewhat similar situation and she spent WEEKS trying to get through to someone who could actually answer her questions. It's beyond frustrating that they make it so hard to get real answers about our benefits that we've earned!
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Keisha Williams
•Getting through to SSA on the phone these days is nearly impossible with the ridiculous wait times. I discovered a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a real Social Security agent in under 20 minutes when I was trying to sort out my survivor benefits. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - saved me hours of frustration and redials. Well worth checking out if you need to speak with someone at Social Security about complex situations like this one.
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Yara Abboud
just want to say that your question doesnt sound calculating at all!! were all just trying to survive and get what were entitled to after paying into the system our whole lives. my aunt was too embarrassed to ask these kinds of questions and missed out on thousands she couldve received.
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ElectricDreamer
•Thank you for saying that. It's been emotionally difficult enough losing my husband without also feeling guilty about trying to understand my financial options. You're right that we're entitled to these benefits after paying into the system for years.
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Ava Johnson
One other important consideration: If you work while receiving widow's benefits before your Full Retirement Age, you'll be subject to the earnings test. For 2025, you can earn up to $22,750 without reduction, but after that, they'll withhold $1 for every $2 you earn above that limit. This is different from the taxation of benefits (which is another issue altogether). Make sure you factor this into your planning if you're still working.
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ElectricDreamer
•I didn't know about the earnings test - thank you! Fortunately, I'm not earning much at all currently, so I shouldn't exceed that limit. But I'll definitely keep this in mind if my work situation changes.
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Miguel Diaz
does anyone know if theres a time limit to apply after your spouse dies?? my neighbor waited almost 2 years before applying for survivors benefits and shes worried she missed out on backpay
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Zainab Ahmed
•Generally, Social Security will only pay up to 6 months of retroactive benefits for survivors, and you must be old enough to qualify during those months. So if your neighbor was already 60 or older when her spouse died, she may have lost some potential payments by waiting 2 years. She should definitely apply as soon as possible to avoid losing more potential benefits.
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Connor Byrne
Has anyone actually successfully switched from one widow benefit to another? My mother tried to do this (switch from her second husband to first husband's record) and the SSA office gave her such conflicting information that she gave up. One person said she could, another said she couldn't - typical SSA confusion!
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Keisha Williams
•I successfully switched from my first husband's survivor benefit to my second husband's higher retirement benefit when he turned 70 (we were still married). Different situation, but yes, SSA will process benefit switches if you qualify. The key is getting to the right person who understands the rules. Using Claimyr helped me get to an experienced agent who processed everything correctly the first time. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - helped me bypass hours of hold time.
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PixelPioneer
I've been reading through all these comments and now I'm confused about one thing - when exactly should the original poster apply? Right at 60? A few months before? After? I know with regular SS retirement you can apply a few months early but when does that process start for widow benefits?
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Ava Johnson
•For widow's benefits, you can apply up to 4 months before you want benefits to begin. So if you want benefits to start the month you turn 60, you should apply when you're 59 years and 8 months old. It's best to apply early rather than late because survivor benefits can only be paid for up to 6 months retroactively, so if you wait too long, you could lose some payments you're entitled to receive.
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