Can I switch from my Social Security to higher survivor benefits after reaching FRA?

You've got it backwards actually. For survivor benefits, you'd want to take the SURVIVOR benefits first (as early as 60), then switch to your OWN retirement at YOUR FRA or later. Survivor benefits and retirement benefits have different rules. With survivor benefits, you can take them reduced as early as age 60. Then later switch to your own retirement benefit at FRA or later (to get delayed retirement credits up to age 70). If you did it your way (own benefits first), you'd be stuck with reduced benefits permanently.

This happened to my sister last yr. She was told by SSA that she could take survivor at 60 (reduced) and then switch to her own at 70 (maximum). But they messed up her application TWICE and it took 4 months to get the first check. The whole system is a nightmare to navigate.

The person above is absolutely correct. With survivor benefits, the optimal strategy is usually: 1. Take REDUCED survivor benefits early (as early as 60) 2. Switch to YOUR OWN retirement benefit at age 70 (for maximum delayed retirement credits) This only works if your own benefit at 70 would be higher than the survivor benefit. If your own benefit would never exceed the survivor benefit, then waiting until your FRA to claim survivor benefits would be better. At age 60, survivor benefits would be reduced to about 71.5% of your husband's FRA amount. So $2,850 × 71.5% = approximately $2,038 monthly if you claim at 60.

I've been trying to figure out the same thing and it's SO CONFUSING!!! The SSA website explains things terribly and every time I call I get different answers. I spent 4 HOURS on hold last week just to get disconnected. This whole system is designed to make us mess up our benefits I swear.

my condolences on your husband. i did something similar when my wife passed. took survivor at 61 and now switched to my own at 68. the survivor benefits helped when i really needed it and now my own benefit is higher. best decision i made

Everyone here is giving you partly correct info, but missing something important. If your husband died before claiming, his benefit amount for survivor calculations is based on what he would have received at his FRA (full retirement age). BUT if he had already claimed, it would be based on what he was actually receiving (with potential adjustments). Also, dont forget that while youre receiving survivor benefits you can still WORK without the same harsh earnings limits that apply to regular retirement benefits before FRA!!!! This is a HUGE advantage many people miss. And yes the strategy of taking survivor benefits early and switching to your own later CAN make sense in your case.

Based on the numbers you shared, here's a rough calculation of your options: Option 1: Take reduced survivor benefits at 60 (~$2,038/month), then switch to your own benefit at 70 (~$2,100/month) Option 2: Wait until your FRA to claim unreduced survivor benefits ($2,850/month) Between ages 60-FRA, Option 1 gives you about $2,038 × 12 months × 6.83 years = ~$167,000 in total benefits you wouldn't receive under Option 2. Option 2 pays $812/month more from your FRA onwards. It would take about 17 years after your FRA to break even financially. This suggests Option 1 is better if maximizing lifetime benefits is your goal, unless you expect to live well into your 90s.

Does anyone know if you can collect these survivor benefits if you're working??? I thought there was some kind of limit to how much you can earn without them taking back your benefits????

I just want to warn everyone that SS doesn't always explain all ur options!! My mom found out YEARS after my dad died that she could have gotten more by switching between benefits. No one told her! Make them run ALL the calculations and get everything in writing!!!!