Can I switch from Social Security survivor benefits to my own retirement at 70 online, or need appointment?
I've been collecting survivor benefits since my husband passed away 6 years ago, and I'll be turning 70 in about 3 months. I know that's when I should switch to my own Social Security retirement benefits since I waited until the maximum age for delayed retirement credits. My own benefit should be around $3,700/month compared to the $2,450 survivor benefit I'm currently getting. My question is: can I do this switch online through my mySocialSecurity account, or do I have to make an appointment (phone or in-person) with SSA? The website isn't clear about this specific situation. Has anyone gone through this process of switching from survivor to their own retirement benefit at 70? I'd prefer to do it online since getting through on the phone is practically impossible these days, and my closest field office is an hour away with limited appointments. Thanks for any advice!
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Ashley Adams
Yes, you can absolutely do this online! I switched from survivor to my own retirement benefit last year when I turned 70. Just log into your mySocialSecurity account, go to the "Benefits" section, and look for "Apply for Retirement Benefits." The online system will recognize you're already receiving survivor benefits and prompt you about the change. Make sure to start the application about 3 months before you want the switch to happen. The process was pretty straightforward - took me about 30 minutes. Have your bank information handy, though they'll likely already have it from your survivor benefits. They'll ask you to verify which benefit you want to receive (make sure you select your own retirement since it's higher). Congratulations on maximizing your benefit by waiting until 70!
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Zoe Gonzalez
•Thank you so much! That's a relief to hear I can do it online. Did they automatically stop your survivor benefits, or was there something specific you needed to do about that? I'm just worried about accidentally getting both payments or having a gap between benefits.
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Alexis Robinson
DON'T try to do this online!! It's a TRAP! I tried doing exactly this last year and the online system COMPLETELY messed up my benefits. I ended up with BOTH stopped for almost 2 months while they "sorted it out" and had to live on savings!!! The SSA computer system doesn't handle these benefit switches properly because their technology is from the STONE AGE!!! You NEED to talk to a real person who understands the survivor-to-retirement switch. Trust me, the 3 hours you'll waste on hold is better than the 3 MONTHS I spent trying to fix the mess their online system made of my benefits!!!
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Aaron Lee
•Wow that sounds awful! How did you finally get it resolved? Did you have to go in person?
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Chloe Mitchell
I'm having the same issue right now! Turning 70 in january and currently on survivors. My neighbor said u have to call and make appt at office but I can never get thru on phone...always says "all representatives busy" then hangs up on me! Been trying for 2 weeks straight. Any trick to actually reach a person??
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Michael Adams
•I was stuck in the same situation trying to reach SS for weeks! I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through in about 10 minutes. They basically call SSA for you and when they reach a rep, they connect you. Saved me hours of frustration. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. My sister-in-law recommended it when I couldn't get through about my disability review. Worth it to avoid the stress of constant busy signals.
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Natalie Wang
I'm a retired claims specialist from SSA, and I can clarify this process. You CAN apply online to switch from survivor to retirement benefits at 70, but there are some important details to understand: 1. The online application works best for straightforward cases. If you've only worked under Social Security (no foreign work, no federal pension/WEP issues), the online process should work fine. 2. Start 3 months before you turn 70, which is the earliest you can apply. 3. The system will automatically terminate your survivor benefits when your retirement begins - you do not receive both. 4. IMPORTANT: Make sure you specifically indicate you are ALREADY receiving survivor benefits in the application. There's a specific question about this. 5. Print or save the confirmation page with your confirmation number. If your case has complications (foreign work, government pension, etc.), then calling or visiting is better. But for standard situations, online works well.
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Zoe Gonzalez
•Thank you for this detailed explanation! This is exactly what I needed to know. I have a straightforward case - only worked in the US with no government pension. I'll make sure to note I'm already on survivor benefits. One quick follow-up: should I expect any gap between my last survivor payment and first retirement payment?
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Noah Torres
my mom just did this last month!! she said the social security website was confusing but she got it done. make sure u have your marriage certificate uploaded and death certificate for your husband. she said they asked for that even tho she was already gettin survivor benefits for years which makes NO SENSE but thats government for ya lol
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Alexis Robinson
•That's EXACTLY what I'm talking about! They already HAVE all this documentation, but their left hand doesn't know what the right is doing. Pure bureaucratic incompetence!
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Aaron Lee
I actually did my switch at 69 and a half instead of waiting till 70. The retirement specialist said that since I was already so close, I'd only lose a tiny bit of my DRCs (delayed retirement credits) but would gain by getting the higher payment sooner. Just something to consider if your own benefit is already significantly higher than the survivor benefit. Every month you wait is money you'll never get back...
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Natalie Wang
•I need to respectfully correct this. While switching early might make sense in very specific situations, each month you wait until 70 increases your retirement benefit by 2/3 of 1% (8% per year total). These increases are permanent for your lifetime. In most scenarios, if your retirement benefit will be higher than your survivor benefit at 70, it's mathematically advantageous to wait the full period. Each person's situation is different though, so calculating the exact breakeven point is important.
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Zoe Gonzalez
Thank you all for the helpful responses! I think I'll try the online application first since my case is straightforward, but I'll leave plenty of time before my 70th birthday in case something goes wrong and I need to reach a real person. Having that Claimyr service as a backup option is reassuring too if I can't get through. I really appreciate all the different perspectives - it's given me a much clearer picture of what to expect!
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Ashley Adams
•Smart approach! And don't forget to take screenshots of every page as you complete the online application. I forgot to do that and regretted it later when I had questions about something I'd entered. Good luck with your switch, and congrats on maximizing your benefit!
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