Can I keep part of my Social Security survivor benefits after switching to my own retirement benefits?

That's so disappointing. I was hoping there might be some partial survivor benefit I could keep. Thanks for clarifying. Is there ANY situation where someone can get both types of benefits?

Wait are u sure about that? My neighbor gets both her disability and widows benefit combined! The rules are so confusing and SSA never explains anything clearly 😡

Thank you for such a clear explanation. That 32% increase is huge! I think I'm definitely going to try to hold out until 70 then. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing out on additional money if there was some way to get both.

I had the same problem trying to get through to Social Security about my disability review last month. After three days of trying, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual SSA agent in under 10 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU It was worth it just to avoid the endless hold music and getting disconnected. The agent I spoke with was able to fully explain how my benefits would change when I reached retirement age.

That's not quite accurate. VA benefits and Social Security benefits are completely separate systems. You can receive full benefits from both simultaneously because they're administered by different federal agencies. However, within the Social Security system itself, you generally can't receive both survivor and retirement benefits - just the higher of the two.

That's really helpful to hear a real example. $1,000 more per month is significant! I'm hoping for a similar outcome. Thanks for sharing your sister's experience.

I understand your frustration, but it's important to understand how Social Security was designed. It's not a savings account where you get back exactly what you put in. It's insurance against loss of income in old age or due to death/disability. The dual-entitlement rule (limiting you to essentially one benefit) has been part of the system since 1939. The policy rationale is that Social Security aims to provide a basic floor of protection, not multiple full benefits for the same person. There are definitely valid criticisms of this approach, but that's the current policy framework.

Waiting is usually the better financial strategy in this situation. By collecting survivor benefits now and delaying her own retirement benefit until 70, she can get the maximum possible retirement benefit. Each year she delays past her FRA increases her benefit by 8%, up to age 70. That's a guaranteed 32% increase over her FRA amount if she waits until 70. This is one of the few situations where you can actually claim one benefit while letting another one grow.

Yes, survivor benefits are subject to the earnings test if you're under Full Retirement Age. In 2025, you can earn up to $22,320 without any reduction in benefits. For every $2 earned over that limit, $1 in benefits is withheld. Once you reach your Full Retirement Age, there's no earnings limit, and you can work and earn as much as you want with no effect on your survivor benefits.

This is exactly the kind of real-world advice I was hoping to get! Thank you for mentioning the 3-month advance notice - I hadn't thought about that timing aspect. And wow, that extra $700/month really shows how much the delayed retirement credits add up. I'm definitely feeling more confident about my plan to wait until 70 now. Did you have any issues with the paperwork or was it pretty straightforward once you contacted them?

This is exactly the kind of real-world advice I was hoping to get! Thank you for mentioning the 3-month advance notice - I hadn't thought about that timing aspect. And wow, that extra $700/month really shows how much the delayed retirement credits add up. I'm definitely feeling more confident about my plan to wait until 70 now. Did you have any issues with the paperwork or was it pretty straightforward once you contacted them?

Great questions! Regarding health considerations - this is such a personal decision. The break-even point for waiting until 70 versus claiming at FRA is usually around age 82-83. So if you have serious health concerns that might affect your longevity, claiming at 67 could make sense. But if you're generally healthy with good family longevity, the extra 32% from waiting can really add up over time. As for the SSA estimator tools, I found them reasonably accurate for ballpark planning, but they don't account for cost-of-living adjustments or potential changes in the benefit formula. For a decision this important, I'd really recommend trying to get an actual consultation. Even though their phone system is terrible, it might be worth the hassle to get personalized projections based on your exact earnings record. You could also consider a hybrid approach - maybe plan to switch at FRA but reassess your health and financial situation when you're closer to that age.