Can I collect my late husband's Social Security now at FRA and switch to my own at 70?
My husband passed away last month and I'm trying to figure out the best strategy for Social Security benefits. I just reached my full retirement age (66 and 10 months), but I'm still working full-time as a nurse. My husband was already collecting his retirement benefits at his FRA when he died. Looking at my Social Security statement, my own benefit at 70 would be about $2,875, while his survivor benefit would be around $2,790 now. I've read conflicting information online - some saying I can collect survivor benefits now and then switch to my own higher retirement benefit at 70, others saying I have to take the higher of the two. Can someone clarify if this strategy is allowed? Would working affect my survivor benefits? I'm so confused about the best approach here.
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Jabari-Jo
Yes, you absolutely CAN collect survivor benefits now at your FRA and then switch to your own retirement benefit at age 70. This is one of the few remaining strategic claiming options after the 2015 law changes. Since you're at your FRA, there's no reduction in your survivor benefit. And your own retirement benefit will continue to earn delayed retirement credits until age 70, increasing by 8% per year. The earnings test does NOT apply to survivor benefits once you've reached your FRA, so your work income won't reduce your survivor benefits. This is the perfect strategy in your situation - collect the slightly lower amount now, then switch to your higher benefit later.
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Kristin Frank
•This is super helpful. My mom is in a similar situation but she's only 63. I think the earnings test WOULD apply to her since she's under FRA, right?
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Micah Trail
im sorry for your loss first of all. i tried to do this exact same thing last year but the SSA rep on the phone told me I HAD to take the higher benefit?? they said i couldnt switch later. maybe i got a bad rep?? so confused with all the different info
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Jabari-Jo
•You definitely got incorrect information. This is absolutely allowed - collecting survivor benefits at FRA and switching to your own higher retirement benefit at 70 is explicitly permitted under Social Security rules. The rep might have been confusing this with spousal benefits (where different rules apply) or simply didn't understand the survivor benefit rules correctly. Unfortunately, not all SSA representatives give accurate information. I'd suggest calling again and speaking with a different representative.
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Nia Watson
Yes you can do this! I lost my husband 3 years ago and took survivor benefits at my FRA which was 66 and 4 months. Im still working too! Working doesnt affect it after FRA. Planning to switch to my own benefit when I turn 70 next year since mine will be about $200 more by then.
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Seraphina Delan
•Thank you for sharing your experience! This makes me feel better knowing someone else has successfully done exactly what I'm planning to do. Did you have any issues when applying for the survivor benefits? Was there a lot of paperwork involved?
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Nia Watson
•No it wasnt too bad! Had to provide death certificate, marriage certificate, and my ID. The interview took about an hour. They asked about work history and other basic info. First payment came about 6 weeks later.
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Alberto Souchard
THE SSA WILL TELL YOU ANYTHING!!! I was told 3 different things by 3 different reps when my wife died!!! One said I could collect survivors now and switch, another said I couldn't, and a third one said I could only if I was under FRA!!! THE EXACT OPPOSITE of what's true!!! Their own employees don't understand their rules!!! RIDICULOUS!!!!
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Katherine Shultz
•I know the frustration. I tried calling SSA for three weeks straight when my husband passed - either couldn't get through or got disconnected after waiting over an hour. When I finally reached someone, they gave me incorrect information about how survivor benefits are calculated. I ended up using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to SSA. They somehow get you past the busy signals and connect you directly to a representative, usually in under 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Finally got a knowledgeable representative who confirmed I could take survivor benefits at FRA and switch to my own at 70.
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Marcus Marsh
This is one of the questions I get most frequently in my practice as a retirement planner. Here's the definitive answer: 1. Yes, you can absolutely collect survivor benefits at FRA and then switch to your own retirement benefit at age 70. 2. This works because survivor benefits and retirement benefits are in different "buckets" under Social Security rules. 3. Since you're at FRA, your work income will not reduce your survivor benefits (the earnings test doesn't apply after FRA). 4. When applying, make sure to specify that you are ONLY filing for survivor benefits. If you don't clearly specify this, they might automatically give you whichever is higher at that moment. 5. Keep in mind that survivor benefits don't grow after your FRA, while your own retirement benefit will increase by 8% per year until age 70. This strategy will maximize your lifetime benefits. You'll get approximately $2,790/month now, then switch to approximately $2,875/month at age 70 (plus any COLAs in between).
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Seraphina Delan
•Thank you for such a clear explanation! You mentioned specifying that I'm ONLY filing for survivor benefits - is there a specific form or language I should use when applying to make sure this is clear?
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Marcus Marsh
•When you call to schedule your application appointment, explicitly state: "I want to apply for survivor benefits only, and I want to restrict my application to survivor benefits." Then during the interview, repeat this and ask them to note it in your file. The application form is SSA-10 (Application for Survivor Benefits), and you can write "I am restricting my application to survivor benefits only" in any comments section. Also get the representative's name and direct number if possible, and take notes during your conversation for future reference.
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Kristin Frank
my dad just went through this whole process! one thing to watch out for - when he applied, they tried to give him both benefits at once, which would have messed up the strategy. make sure you tell them SPECIFICALLY that you only want survivor benefits now, not retirement. he had to ask for a supervisor when the first person didn't understand what he was trying to do.
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Jabari-Jo
•Great point. The technical term you want to use is that you're "restricting the scope of your application" to survivor benefits only. Having this specific language can help ensure they process it correctly.
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Micah Trail
Not to confuse things but are you sure the $2,875 is what you'll get at 70? Did you factor in the COLA increases that will happen between now and then? And also remember that survivor benefits get COLA increases too while you're collecting them. Just something to double check in your calculations.
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Seraphina Delan
•You're right! I haven't considered the COLA increases. I just looked at the current numbers on my statement. With COLA factored in, the difference between the two benefits might be even more significant by the time I turn 70.
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Nia Watson
Does your my Social Security account show if you are eligible for both benefits? I'm helping my sister with this same issue and we can't figure out where to see the survivor amount online.
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Marcus Marsh
•Unfortunately, the My Social Security online account doesn't show survivor benefit estimates. It only shows your own retirement benefit estimates. For survivor benefit estimates, you'll need to call SSA directly or visit a local office. They'll need information about your deceased spouse's benefit amount to calculate the survivor benefit properly.
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Seraphina Delan
Thank you all for the helpful responses! I'm going to call SSA tomorrow and specifically request survivor benefits only. I'll make sure to use the phrase "restricting the scope of my application" as suggested. It's so frustrating that there's so much conflicting information out there, even from SSA representatives themselves.
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Alberto Souchard
•Good luck getting through!! I had to call 14 TIMES before someone picked up!! So ridiculous!!!
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Giovanni Gallo
I'm so sorry for your loss, Seraphina. I went through something very similar when my spouse passed away 2 years ago. Based on my experience and what others have shared here, you're definitely on the right track with this strategy. One additional tip that helped me: when you call SSA, try calling right when they open at 8 AM or during lunch hours (around 12-1 PM) - I found those times had shorter wait times. Also, if you get a representative who seems unsure about the survivor-to-retirement benefit switch, politely ask to speak with a supervisor or someone who specializes in survivor benefits. The folks here are right about being very specific with your language. I actually wrote down exactly what I wanted to say before I called: "I am applying for survivor benefits only at this time, and I want to restrict the scope of my application to survivor benefits. I plan to switch to my own retirement benefit at age 70." The process took about 2 months from application to first payment for me, so don't be discouraged if it seems slow. Keep all your paperwork and get confirmation numbers for everything. You've got this!
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Chloe Martin
•Thank you so much for sharing your experience and the practical tips! I really appreciate the specific language you used - I'm going to write that down word for word before I call. The timing suggestions are also really helpful. I've been dreading the long wait times I keep hearing about, so knowing when to call for shorter waits is gold. It's reassuring to hear from someone who actually went through this process successfully. Two months seems reasonable for such an important benefit. I'm feeling much more confident about moving forward now!
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Alice Pierce
I'm so sorry for your loss, and I want to echo what others have said - you absolutely CAN do this strategy! I work as a benefits counselor and see this situation frequently. A few practical points to add to the excellent advice already given: 1. When you call SSA, ask for the "survivor benefits specialist" - they tend to be more knowledgeable about these specific rules than general representatives. 2. Consider applying in person at your local SSA office if possible. Sometimes face-to-face interactions help ensure they process everything correctly, and you can get documentation of exactly what you're applying for. 3. The survivor benefit amount you mentioned ($2,790) - make sure that's the actual survivor benefit and not just what your husband was receiving. Survivor benefits are calculated differently and could be higher than his retirement benefit was. 4. Document everything! Get the representative's name, the date you applied, and ask for written confirmation of what benefits you're receiving and when you plan to switch. Your strategy is sound - collecting $2,790 now versus waiting and potentially losing out on 3+ years of payments just to get an extra $85/month doesn't make financial sense. You're making the right choice!
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