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!

This is such valuable information for anyone in a similar situation! I want to add one practical tip that helped me when I was researching survivor benefits: the SSA website has a publication called "Survivors Benefits" (Publication No. 05-10084) that specifically explains the different FRA for survivor benefits vs. retirement benefits. It's buried pretty deep in their resources, but it's the official documentation that confirms what everyone here is telling you. Also, when you do file for your survivor benefits in September, make sure to explicitly tell them you want to "restrict your application to survivor benefits only" and that you want to delay filing for your own retirement benefits until later. This ensures there's no confusion about your intent to switch strategies later. You're making a really smart financial move here - maximizing both benefits over time while still being able to work at a job you love. Best of luck with everything!

I'm so glad you found this community helpful during such a difficult time! Just wanted to add one more resource that might be useful - the SSA also has a "What Every Woman Should Know" publication (No. 05-10127) that has a section specifically about survivor benefits for widows. It covers scenarios like yours where you might want to take survivor benefits while letting your own retirement benefits grow. Also, when you do make that switch to your own benefits at 70, keep in mind that you'll want to compare not just the dollar amounts but also consider any cost-of-living adjustments that might have occurred between now and then. The delayed retirement credits are substantial, but the total picture includes all the annual adjustments too. You're handling this with such grace and wisdom - your husband would be proud of how thoughtfully you're planning for your future while still doing work you love. Wishing you all the best as you move forward with this strategy!

I'm so sorry for your loss, and I want to commend you for being so proactive about understanding your options during such a difficult time. The information you received from the SSA representative is absolutely correct, and it sounds like you have a solid strategy in place. One additional consideration I'd mention is to keep detailed records of all your interactions with SSA - dates, names of representatives you spoke with, and what was discussed. Given how complex these rules can be and how sometimes you might get conflicting information (as others have mentioned), having a paper trail can be really helpful if any issues arise later. Also, since you mentioned you were the higher earner, you might want to get an updated Social Security Statement closer to when you turn 70 to see your projected benefit amount with the delayed retirement credits. This will help you make the most informed decision about when exactly to make that switch from survivor benefits to your own retirement benefits. You're making a really smart financial move that will serve you well in the long run. Take care of yourself through this process!

What a thorough and helpful discussion! I'm relatively new to understanding Social Security benefits, and reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly educational. I wanted to add one small point that might be helpful for anyone else in a similar situation: when you do file for survivor benefits in September, you might want to ask the SSA representative to provide you with a written summary of your benefit election and the key dates (like when the earnings test no longer applies). Having that documentation could save you from having to re-explain your situation if you need to contact them again later. Also, I'm curious - has anyone here used the SSA's online "my Social Security" account to track their benefits once they start receiving them? I'm wondering if it clearly shows both your survivor benefit status and your own retirement benefit projections, or if you need to call in to get that information. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge - this kind of peer support is invaluable when navigating these complex government programs!

I'm so sorry for your loss, and I want to echo what others have said - you're handling this incredibly difficult situation with such wisdom and foresight. As someone who works in financial planning, I can confirm that everything you've been told here is absolutely correct. The survivor FRA being different from your retirement FRA is one of those lesser-known Social Security rules that can make a huge difference in your financial security. You're essentially getting a "bridge benefit" that allows you to optimize both your immediate needs and your long-term retirement income. One small additional tip: when you file in September, consider asking the SSA representative to calculate and show you the exact dollar difference between what you'll receive as survivor benefits versus what you'd receive if you filed for your own benefits at that time. Having those concrete numbers can be reassuring and help you feel even more confident about your decision to wait until 70 for your own benefits. You're doing everything right - taking survivor benefits at FRA to avoid the earnings test, continuing work you love, and maximizing your own future benefits through delayed retirement credits. This strategy will serve you well for decades to come.

I just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! As someone who's been putting off learning about Social Security benefits (thinking I had plenty of time), reading through all these detailed explanations has been eye-opening. The distinction between survivor FRA and regular retirement FRA is something I never knew existed, and I'm sure many others don't either. It's concerning how this kind of crucial information isn't more widely publicized - imagine how many people might miss out on optimizing their benefits simply because they don't know about these different timelines. @Natasha Kuznetsova, I'm so sorry for your loss, but I'm truly impressed by how thoroughly you've researched this and how you're planning for your future. Your situation and everyone's responses have created such a valuable resource for anyone facing similar circumstances. I'm bookmarking this discussion to share with friends and family. The practical tips about documenting interactions with SSA, requesting written summaries, and knowing exactly what publications to reference are gold. Thank you all for being so generous with your knowledge and experience!

I'm really grateful for this comprehensive discussion - it's been incredibly educational! As someone who's been helping elderly family members navigate Social Security, I can't emphasize enough how important it is to understand these nuances about survivor benefits. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet: if you're planning to work past your survivor FRA (which you clearly are), make sure your employer's HR department understands that you're receiving Social Security benefits. Some employers have specific policies about coordination with Social Security that could affect things like health insurance elections or retirement plan contributions. It's worth having that conversation proactively. Also, I've found that keeping a simple spreadsheet tracking your annual earnings while receiving survivor benefits can be helpful. Even though the earnings test won't apply to you after September 2025, having that documentation can be useful for tax planning and for verifying that your continued work earnings are being properly credited toward your future retirement benefit calculations. Your strategy of taking survivor benefits while letting your own benefits grow is textbook optimal planning. You're setting yourself up for financial security while still being able to do work you love - that's really the best of both worlds!

This thread has been absolutely invaluable! As a newcomer to this community, I'm amazed by the depth of knowledge and support everyone has shared. @Natasha Kuznetsova, first let me express my condolences for your loss - navigating these complex financial decisions while grieving takes tremendous strength. I wanted to add one perspective that might be helpful: consider scheduling a follow-up appointment with SSA about 6 months after you start receiving survivor benefits (maybe March 2026) to review your file and confirm everything is tracking correctly. This gives you time to see how the payments are working in practice and ensures there are no administrative issues before you get too far into the process. Also, since you mentioned loving your job and wanting to continue working, you might want to explore whether your employer offers any kind of phased retirement or flexible work arrangements. Some companies have programs that allow long-term employees to gradually reduce hours while maintaining benefits - this could give you even more options as you approach 70 and consider the transition to your own retirement benefits. The strategy you're implementing really is optimal for someone in your situation. You're maximizing your financial security while maintaining the personal satisfaction of meaningful work. That combination of financial wisdom and personal fulfillment is exactly what good retirement planning should achieve. Wishing you all the best as you move forward with this plan!