Can I collect widows benefits at 66 and 6 months while still working? Confused about survivor FRA vs my own

Yes, the SSA representative was correct! The Full Retirement Age (FRA) for survivor (widow/widower) benefits is actually different from the FRA for your own retirement benefits. For someone born in 1959, survivor FRA is indeed 66 and 6 months, while your retirement FRA is 66 and 10 months. This is important because: 1. At survivor FRA, you can collect 100% of your deceased husband's benefit amount 2. At survivor FRA, the earnings test no longer applies 3. You can switch to your own higher benefit later (at 70 is usually optimal) This strategy (taking survivor benefits while letting your own grow) is often called the "restricted application" for survivors and it's one of the few remaining ways to optimize benefits after most claiming strategies were eliminated by legislation in 2015.

im in a similar boat i started taking survivor benefits last yr after my wife passed. was born in 55 still working part time and they DEFINITELY dont reduce my check anymore now that im past FRA. the survivor FRA thing is different than your regular one thats a fact

The SSA rep is absolutely right in your case. There's a separate survivor FRA table that most people don't know about. Since you were born in 1959, your widow's FRA is 66 and 6 months, while your retirement FRA is 66 and 10 months. This is great planning on your part! By taking the survivor benefit at widow's FRA and continuing to work, you avoid the earnings test completely. Meanwhile, your own retirement benefit continues to grow with delayed retirement credits until age 70 - potentially increasing by 28.67% over your FRA amount! One thing to remember: When you eventually switch to your own retirement benefit (presumably at 70), you'll need to file an application for that change. SSA doesn't automatically transition you. I'd recommend contacting them 3 months before you want to make the switch.

I went through something similar and let me tell you it's a NIGHTMARE trying to get anyone on the phone at Social Security to verify this stuff!!! I spent THREE WEEKS calling every day just to be disconnected or told the wait was 2+ hours. Total disaster. When I finally got someone they gave me different answers than what I was told at the office!!! The widow benefits thing is real but DONT trust what one person tells you because they make mistakes ALL THE TIME.

Just want to say I'm sorry for your loss. Navigating all this while grieving isn't easy. ❤️

OK everyone is telling you this widow FRA thing is right but IM SO CONFUSED about my own situation now! I'm 62 and taking widows benefits early (reduced) and still working part time. So I AM subject to the earnings test and they take back $1 for every $2 I earn above $22,320 in 2025. Are you all saying this goes away completely at the widow FRA (which for me is 66 even)??? No one ever explained this clearly to me!!

btw dont forget that when ur on widow benefits they'll still take medicare out when you turn 65 unless you tell them not to because ur still working and have other coverage. gotta fill out a form for that!

Just to clarify one thing that hasn't been mentioned: If you work *after* you've claimed survivor benefits (at any age), those ongoing earnings could potentially increase your own future retirement benefit if these are high-earning years for you. The SSA recalculates your benefit based on your highest 35 years of earnings, so if you're replacing lower earning years with higher ones now, your own retirement benefit at 70 might be even larger than currently projected.

My sister did something similar after her husband died. She took the survivor benefit at her FRA for that and kept working. Then at 70 she switched to her own larger benefit. She said it was the best financial decision she made and now has a much more comfortable retirement than she expected. Just thought I'd share a success story!