Can I collect my deceased husband's Social Security benefits now without reducing my own SS benefits at FRA?

This is one of the smartest Social Security strategies available! You absolutely CAN collect survivor benefits now and then switch to your own retirement benefits at your FRA without ANY reduction to your own benefit amount. This is called a "restricted application" for survivor benefits. When you apply, make sure to be very clear with SSA that you ONLY want to file for survivor benefits now, not your retirement benefits. Specify that you want to delay your own retirement benefits until your FRA in 5 months. This way, you'll collect approximately 100% of your husband's benefit for 5 months, and then switch to your own higher benefit at FRA. Those 5 months of survivor benefits are essentially "free money" that you'd otherwise leave on the table. I did something similar when my husband passed, and it worked exactly as planned.

When I tried doing this last year, the SSA rep I talked to got really confused and almost filed BOTH applications at once! Be super careful. They kept saying I couldn't do what I was asking for, even though I knew I could. I had to hang up and call back three times before I got someone who understood what I was requesting. The online system also doesn't make it very clear how to apply for JUST survivor benefits while indicating you want to delay your retirement benefits. So frustrating! If you're having trouble getting through on the phone, try using Claimyr (claimyr.com). It's a service that gets you through to a real SSA agent without the endless waiting. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. I used it when I was dealing with my survivor benefits mess and actually got through to someone who knew what they were doing.

I tried to do the same thing but the lady at social security told me I couldn't collect my husband's benefits since I was still working part time. So maybe check if your still working affects this? I dunno if the rules are different in different states or if the person I talked to was just wrong.

Yes, what you're describing is completely legitimate and won't hurt your future benefits at all! It's called a survivor benefit strategy. Here's exactly how it works: 1. You apply ONLY for survivor benefits now (based on your deceased husband's record) 2. You collect those benefits for 5 months 3. When you reach your FRA, you switch to your own retirement benefits Your own retirement benefits will be exactly the same as if you never took survivor benefits at all. No reduction whatsoever. This is one of the few remaining "claim now, claim more later" strategies after the 2015 law changes eliminated most of them for spousal benefits. Just be extremely clear when applying that you are ONLY filing for survivor benefits and want to delay your retirement claim. I recommend applying in person at your local field office with a written statement of your intent, since the phone representatives often get confused about this.

my cousin tried this but somehow ended up filing for both at once and it was a HUGE mess to fix!!! she had to go to the office like 4 times and fill out so many forms to withdraw the retirement application. be really careful when you file! good luck!!

I WENT THROUGH THIS EXACT SITUATION!! The SSA people will try to tell you that you HAVE to file for both at the same time, but that is 100% WRONG!!! I had to fight with them and even had to speak to a supervisor before they would process my application correctly. They are either poorly trained or deliberately trying to prevent people from maximizing their benefits!! Don't let them bully you into filing for both! You have the RIGHT to file for survivor benefits only and then switch to your own later. Print out the rules from SSA's own website before you go in and DEMAND they follow their own policies!!

Wait so your own benefit is higher than your husbands? In my case my husbands benefit was way higher than mine would ever be so I just took his. But if yours is higher then yeah do what everyone is saying.

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice! I'm going to try making an appointment at my local office instead of dealing with the phone system. I'll be very clear that I ONLY want survivor benefits for now. I'll also bring printouts of the SSA rules about this to the appointment, just in case. It's so frustrating that even the SSA employees seem confused about their own policies sometimes. I just want to make sure I'm not leaving money on the table while I wait for my FRA in a few months.