< Back to Social Security Administration

Can I get the same survivor benefits at 60 that my child received from my late husband's Social Security?

I lost my husband 3 years ago after 23 years of marriage. Our daughter qualified for survivor benefits because she was still in high school when he passed. Now I'm trying to plan for my own future - I'm 54 and honestly, I'd like to retire as early as possible at 60 if I can make the numbers work. I'm trying to figure out if my survivor benefit at 60 would be roughly the same amount as what my daughter was receiving? I've searched the SSA website but can't find a clear answer about this comparison. My planning is completely stuck until I understand what kind of survivor benefit I might qualify for. Has anyone been in a similar situation or know how child survivor benefits compare to widow benefits taken early at age 60? Any insights would be so appreciated!

I'm sorry for your loss. The short answer is no - your survivor benefit at 60 won't be the same as what your daughter received. Children typically receive 75% of the deceased parent's benefit amount. As a widow claiming at 60, you would receive approximately 71.5% of your husband's full benefit (rather than the 100% you'd get if you waited until your full retirement age). Also important to know that if you claim at 60, you'll be subject to the earnings test if you're still working - meaning your benefit could be reduced if you earn above certain thresholds.

0 coins

Jason Brewer

•

Thank you for explaining this! So my benefit would actually be a bit less than what my daughter was getting? That's disappointing but helpful to know. Is there any way to calculate exactly what that 71.5% would be in dollar terms? I haven't been able to find my husband's full benefit amount anywhere.

0 coins

Liam Cortez

•

my mom did this exact thing, took her widow benefits at 60. she had to bring my dads death certificate and their marriage certificate to the SS office. they calculated everything for her right there but she had to wait 2 months to start getting payments.

0 coins

Savannah Vin

•

This isn't entirely accurate. Survivors benefits don't always require an in-person visit these days. You CAN apply online for survivor benefits through the SSA website, which is much easier than trying to get an appointment. Also, the payment timing depends on when you apply - it's not automatically a 2-month wait for everyone. Some states process faster than others.

0 coins

Mason Stone

•

You need to be very careful about your planning here. While you can claim survivor benefits as early as 60, there are several things to consider: 1. If you're working and earn above the earnings limit ($22,320 in 2025), your benefits will be reduced by $1 for every $2 you earn above that limit. 2. The reduction for claiming at 60 versus your Full Retirement Age (FRA) is significant - about 28.5% less. 3. You should request a Social Security statement through your my Social Security account online. This will show your own retirement benefit projections and might have information about your potential survivor benefit. 4. If your own retirement benefit might be higher than the survivor benefit, you could consider taking the survivor benefit at 60 and switching to your own benefit at 70 when it reaches its maximum amount. Do you have a my Social Security account set up yet?

0 coins

Jason Brewer

•

I do have a my Social Security account, but I don't see any information about survivor benefits on there - just projections for my own retirement. I didn't realize there was an earnings limit - that's crucial information since I'd probably still need to work part-time. Is there a specific form or calculator on the SSA website where I can estimate my survivor benefit amount?

0 coins

My sister tried calling SS about this same question when her husband died and she sat on hold for 3 HOURS before getting disconnected!!! So frustrating!

0 coins

I had the same problem trying to get information about my survivor benefits. After multiple disconnected calls and hours of waiting, I tried Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to SSA in 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Their service connects you with an actual SSA representative who can look at your specific situation and give you accurate benefit estimates. Worth it when you're trying to make big life decisions based on benefit amounts.

0 coins

Emma Olsen

•

You need to call them direct and ask about the Mother's Benefit not survivor benefit. That's what my neighbor got when her husband died and she was raising kids.

0 coins

This is incorrect information. Mother's/Father's benefits are only for someone caring for the deceased worker's child who is under 16 or disabled. Since the original poster's daughter is already past high school age, she wouldn't qualify for mother's benefits now. She's asking specifically about widow's benefits at age 60, which is the correct benefit type for her situation.

0 coins

Savannah Vin

•

Here's what you need to understand about survivor benefits: The percentage you receive depends on your age when you claim. At 60, you get 71.5% of your husband's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). Your daughter likely received 75% as a child survivor. BUT - these percentages apply to different amounts! Children's benefits are calculated on the deceased parent's PIA. Widow(er)'s benefits might include delayed retirement credits if your husband had waited beyond his FRA to claim benefits. So even with a lower percentage, your monthly amount could potentially be higher than what your daughter received. Also critical: If you're still working at 60, understand that in 2025, the earnings limit will be around $22,320. Earn more than that, and they'll deduct $1 for every $2 above the limit from your benefits. This earnings test disappears once you reach your FRA.

0 coins

Jason Brewer

•

This is really helpful, thank you! My husband hadn't started claiming his benefits yet when he passed, so I don't think there would be any delayed retirement credits. The earnings test is definitely going to affect my decision - I'm not sure I could live on just 71.5% of his benefit if I'm also limited in how much I can work. Might need to rethink my plan to retire at 60.

0 coins

Mason Stone

•

One strategy to consider: If your own retirement benefit at age 70 would be higher than your survivor benefit, you could claim survivor benefits at 60 and then switch to your own retirement benefit at 70. This allows you to receive some income earlier while maximizing your own benefit. This works because survivor benefits and retirement benefits are in different "buckets" - unlike spousal benefits, you can claim one and then switch to the other later. I'd recommend making an appointment with an SSA representative who can run the calculations based on your specific earnings record and your husband's record. They can show you the exact dollar amounts for different claiming ages.

0 coins

Jason Brewer

•

That's a really interesting strategy I hadn't considered. I'll definitely look into whether my own benefit at 70 would be higher than the survivor benefit. Is there a specific type of appointment I should request with SSA to get this kind of detailed analysis?

0 coins

Don't forget that SS benefits are taxed too! My aunt got hit with a big tax bill her first year on survivors benefits that she wasn't expecting!!

0 coins

This is an important point. Up to 85% of Social Security benefits can be taxable depending on your combined income. If you're working while receiving benefits, this is definitely something to factor into your planning.

0 coins

Liam Cortez

•

i was just thinking... have you checked if you can get survivors benefits now? i thought there was something about benefits for widows taking care of kids or something

0 coins

Mason Stone

•

You're thinking of Mother's/Father's benefits, which are available to surviving spouses caring for the worker's child who is under 16 or disabled. Since the original poster mentioned her daughter was in high school when her husband died, and that was 3 years ago, her daughter is likely over 18 now and no longer eligible for benefits. The mother would therefore not qualify for Mother's benefits at this point.

0 coins

TaxRefund AI

Expert Assistant
Secure

Powered by Claimyr AI

T
I
+
7,204 users helped today