Can I switch from current widow benefits to ex-spouse survivor benefits then my own SS at 70?
I'm trying to figure out the best way to maximize my Social Security benefits after losing my husband last year. I'm currently 65 and eligible for survivor benefits. Here's my situation - I've been thinking about claiming widow's benefits now, but I have an ex-husband (we were married for 12 years) who has some health issues. If I start collecting widow's benefits from my late husband now, and then my ex-husband passes away in the future, would I be allowed to switch to collecting survivor benefits based on his record instead? And then at age 70, could I switch again to my own retirement benefits since I've been working and contributing to Social Security all these years? I'm so confused about what's allowed with these transitions between different benefit types. Any insights would be greatly appreciated!
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Ian Armstrong
Yes, you can switch between survivor benefits. If you're receiving survivor benefits from your late husband and your ex-spouse passes away, you can apply for survivor benefits on his record if they would be higher. The SSA will always pay the higher amount you're entitled to. And yes, you can switch to your own retirement benefits at 70 if they would be higher than any survivor benefit you're receiving at that time. This strategy can help maximize your lifetime benefits.
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Molly Chambers
•Thank you so much for this information! So if I understand correctly, I could potentially make two switches - first from my current husband's survivor benefit to my ex's survivor benefit (if higher when he passes), then to my own at 70? Do I need to do anything special when applying to make sure these options stay open to me?
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Eli Butler
my mom did something like this but it got really confusing. she was on my dads survivor benefits then tried to switch to her own and they made a huge mess of her payments. took like 3 months to fix! make sure u get everything in writing
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Molly Chambers
•Oh no, that sounds stressful for your mom! Did she eventually get it all sorted out? I'm worried about making a mistake that could cost me benefits.
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Marcus Patterson
I worked for SSA for 30 years before retiring, and I can confirm what the first responder said. You have a good strategy in mind. Here's what you should know: 1. You can claim widow's benefits now at 65 2. If your ex-spouse passes away, you can switch to his survivor benefits IF they are higher than what you're receiving from your current widow's benefits 3. At 70, you can switch to your own retirement benefits if they're higher than either survivor benefit The key is that for survivor benefits, you can switch between them at any time if one becomes higher than the other. For your own retirement benefit, waiting until 70 maximizes those delayed retirement credits. Make sure when you initially apply for widow's benefits, you're clear that you want to restrict your application to ONLY widow's benefits and not your own retirement benefit yet. This distinction is crucial.
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Lydia Bailey
•Does this applies to everyone!? Im 64 and receiving survivors from my husband but I didnt know I could still switch to my own later??? Social Security never told me this!!
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Marcus Patterson
•Yes, this applies to anyone in a similar situation. If you're receiving survivor benefits but haven't claimed your own retirement benefit yet, you can switch to your own retirement benefit at any time. If you're 64, waiting until 70 would maximize your own benefit by 43% compared to taking it at your Full Retirement Age (probably 66+). You should contact SSA to verify your specific situation, however.
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Mateo Warren
I tried this exact strategy and it worked PERFECTLY but the SSA made it SO HARD!!! I had to call them like 15 times and kept getting disconnected or told different things by different people. Some agents didn't even understand their own rules!!! I finally got someone who knew what they were talking about and got it all straightened out, but it was EXHAUSTING. Be prepared for a fight!
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Sofia Price
•I had the same problem trying to call SSA last month. After getting disconnected four times and waiting on hold for hours, I tried using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an agent. They called me back when an agent was on the line. Saved me so much frustration! You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - worth checking out if you need to call again about complex benefit situations like this.
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Alice Coleman
My situation was similar to yours and I talked to SSA a few months ago. The agent told me you can only receive one benefit at a time and they'll give you whichever is highest. But they didn't mention anything about being able to switch between different survivor benefits and then to my own. Now I'm confused...
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Ian Armstrong
•The agent was partially correct but may have oversimplified. You can only receive one benefit at a time (the highest you're entitled to), but you CAN switch between different types. What makes survivor benefits special is that you can switch from one survivor benefit to another if circumstances change, and you can also switch from survivor benefits to your own retirement benefits at any age (though waiting until 70 maximizes your own benefit).
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Lydia Bailey
i got widows benifits when i was 60 now im 68 and never new i could of waited to get mine at 70!!!! nobody tells you this stuff they just want to give you whatever instead of helping you get the best deal in my opinion.
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Alice Coleman
•That's exactly what I'm afraid of! Did you end up staying on the widow's benefits or did you switch to your own?
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Lydia Bailey
•i switched to my own when i turned 66 because they said it was higher but now i realize i should of waited til 70!!!! would of been 30% more!!
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Marcus Patterson
One important clarification about your situation: For each deceased spouse (current and ex), you have a separate survivor benefit entitlement. The rule is that you'll receive the highest benefit you're eligible for at any given time. So your plan is sound and follows SSA rules: 1. Take widow's benefits now from your current late husband 2. If ex-husband passes and his survivor benefit would be higher, switch to that 3. At 70, switch to your own retirement benefit if it's higher than either survivor benefit This approach gives you the maximum benefit amount possible throughout your lifetime. Make sure to keep all your documents organized - marriage certificates, divorce decree showing marriage lasted 10+ years, etc. You'll need these when applying for any benefits related to your ex-spouse.
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Molly Chambers
•Thank you so much for this detailed explanation. I'll make sure to gather all my documentation. Should I mention my future plans when I apply for widow's benefits now, or just focus on the current application and deal with potential switches when/if they become necessary?
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Marcus Patterson
•When you apply, focus on the current widow's benefits application, but clearly state that you want to restrict your application to ONLY widow's benefits and not your retirement benefits. This preserves your right to switch later. You don't need to explain your entire future strategy - just make sure they understand you're not applying for retirement benefits yet. Get this confirmed in writing if possible.
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