Can I collect Social Security survivor benefits while earning $8000/month for 4 months without exceeding annual limit?

Good news! Since you've reached your full retirement age (FRA) of 66 and 6 months, there is NO earnings limit that applies to you anymore. You can earn any amount without reduction of survivor benefits. The $58,000 figure the rep mentioned might be the 2025 earnings limit for those who are under FRA but in the year they reach FRA (which doesn't apply to you). You can absolutely collect your full $8,000 monthly salary PLUS your full survivor benefits with no penalty or reduction. There's no need to worry about monthly vs. annual calculations because no limit applies to you at all. Congratulations on reaching this milestone - this is one of the advantages of waiting until FRA!

my mom went thru this last year and yes once your at FRA there is NOT a limit!! The SSA person totally gave you wrong info which happens ALL THE TIME with them. enjoy your full benefits AND salary!!

I think u should double check this with another rep because my cousin was told something similar but then got an overpayment notice 8 months later. Better safe than sorry!!

I've been through EXACTLY this situation. Tried calling SSA multiple times to verify the earnings limit rules and got different answers each time! So frustrating!!! After my fifth attempt calling and waiting for HOURS, I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an agent in 20 minutes. They confirmed what others here said - NO earnings limit applies once you reach full retirement age. You can check out their demo video here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Best $20 I ever spent to get straight answers instead of wasting days trying to get through. The agent I spoke with even noted in my file that I'd been given incorrect information so if there were ever questions later, there'd be documentation.

I think everyone is overlooking something important. The $58k annual limit DOES apply to the months in the year BEFORE you reach FRA. So if OP turned 66 and 6 months sometime during 2025, then the earnings in the months before reaching that age could be subject to the limit. Just saying we need more info about WHEN exactly OP reached FRA.

Since you've already reached your FRA (66 and 6 months) in February 2025, you are completely exempt from the earnings test. The representative who mentioned the $58,000 limit was likely confused or mixing up your situation with someone else's. Here's what you should know about survivor benefits at your age: 1. You'll receive 100% of your deceased spouse's primary insurance amount (PIA) or what they were receiving at death, whichever is higher 2. You can earn unlimited income with no reduction to benefits 3. Your own retirement benefit continues to grow until age 70 if you haven't claimed it 4. You might actually want to consider if switching to your own retirement benefit at age 70 would yield a higher monthly amount I suggest getting a Benefits Verification Letter through your my Social Security account online. This will document your current benefit status and can be useful if questions arise later.

Yes, that's exactly the right strategy in your situation. By taking survivor benefits at FRA and delaying your own retirement benefit until 70, you'll get: 1. Full survivor benefits now (100% of your husband's PIA) 2. 8% per year in delayed retirement credits on your own benefit until 70 3. The ability to switch to whichever benefit is higher when you turn 70 This is one of the few remaining "claim now, claim more later" strategies that still works after the 2015 law changes. The SSA representative should have discussed this with you, but unfortunately many aren't trained on these optimization strategies.

just curious how much are ur survivor benefits if u don't mind sharing? trying to figure out what my mom might get

can u work part time while collecting survivors benefits? asking for my aunt