Can I switch to my deceased husband's higher Social Security benefit instead of keeping mine?

Yes, you're entitled to survivor benefits, which would give you the higher of either your benefit or your late husband's benefit (not both). You don't automatically get switched - you need to report the death to Social Security and apply for survivor benefits. You should do this as soon as possible because SSA generally only pays benefits from when you apply, not from the date of death. You'll need to provide his death certificate when you apply. I'm sorry for your loss.

This EXACT situation happened to me 2 years ago. The SSA does NOT automatically switch you over - they didn't even tell me I was eligible for my husband's higher amount until I specifically asked!!! I ended up missing out on 2 months of the higher payment because I waited too long to apply. CALL THEM IMMEDIATELY and be prepared to wait FOREVER on hold. And make sure you have his death certificate ready.

have u checked the my social security website? theres a form there for reporting a death i think. my mom did everything online when my dad passed

To clarify what others have said, what you're eligible for are called widow's benefits. As the widow of a worker who was receiving retirement benefits, you can receive up to 100% of what your husband was receiving if you're at full retirement age (which you are at 73). It's important to understand this is a switch - you'll give up your own retirement benefit to receive the higher survivor benefit. You don't get both. You need to contact SSA within 30 days of his passing for the best processing of your claim. Bring or have ready: your ID, your husband's death certificate, your marriage certificate, your husband's and your Social Security numbers, and information about any other benefits you might be receiving.

I tried calling SSA about something similar last year and spent TWO HOURS on hold before giving up!! Try using Claimyr.com instead - it holds your place in line and calls you back when an agent is available. Saved me so much time and frustration. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU

My condolences on your loss. One thing to consider - if you were receiving Medicare and it was being deducted from your husband's Social Security payment, make sure to tell SSA you want to continue those deductions from your new survivor benefit. Sometimes this detail gets missed during the transition and people end up with Medicare premium bills they weren't expecting.

Just went through this process for my mom a few months ago. Here's exactly what happens: you'll report the death to SSA (call or go in person), then formally apply for survivor benefits. They'll stop your current benefit and switch you to the survivor benefit amount. It takes about 2-3 weeks for everything to process, and then you'll get a letter in the mail confirming the new amount. My mom's first increased check came about 6 weeks after we initially reported my dad's death.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Daniel. This is already such a difficult time, and dealing with bureaucracy makes it even harder. From what everyone has shared here, it sounds like you definitely need to contact SSA as soon as possible to avoid missing out on any payments. The advice about having all your documents ready (death certificate, marriage certificate, both Social Security numbers) seems really important. I'd also suggest writing down all the key points people have mentioned here - like asking about the $255 death benefit and making sure Medicare premiums continue being deducted - so you don't forget anything when you're on the call. You've got this, and this community seems really supportive if you need more help along the way.

Daniel, I'm so sorry for your loss. Going through this process while grieving is incredibly difficult. Based on everyone's advice here, I'd strongly recommend calling SSA first thing tomorrow morning - the earlier you call, the better chance you have of getting through without waiting hours on hold. Make sure you have your husband's death certificate, your marriage certificate, and both of your Social Security numbers ready before you call. Don't let them rush you off the phone - ask specifically about survivor benefits, the $255 death benefit, and confirm that your Medicare premiums will continue being deducted. If the first representative seems unsure about anything, don't hesitate to ask to speak with a supervisor or call back to get a second opinion. The most important thing is to get this process started as soon as possible so you don't miss out on any payments.

Daniel, my deepest condolences on the loss of your husband. I went through this exact situation with my mother-in-law about 18 months ago, and I want to emphasize what others have said about timing - you really do need to act quickly. The SSA won't automatically switch you to the higher survivor benefit, and every month you delay could mean losing money you're entitled to. When you call, I'd recommend having a pen and paper ready to write down the representative's name, reference number for your call, and any case numbers they give you. Also ask them to mail you a confirmation letter summarizing what you discussed and what steps come next. This creates a paper trail in case there are any issues later. The whole process took about 5 weeks for my mother-in-law from initial call to receiving her first increased payment, but having that documentation helped when we had to follow up. You're dealing with enough right now - don't let SSA bureaucracy add unnecessary stress to your grief.

Daniel, I'm so deeply sorry for your loss. Losing a spouse is incredibly difficult, and having to navigate government bureaucracy during this time just adds to the burden. Everyone here has given you excellent advice, and I want to emphasize a few key points: First, time is critical - call SSA tomorrow morning if possible. Second, consider using that Claimyr service @Aurora St.Pierre mentioned to avoid the brutal hold times. Third, have a checklist ready with all the documents and questions others have mentioned (death certificate, marriage certificate, ask about the $255 death benefit, Medicare premium continuation, etc.). One additional suggestion - if you have an adult child or trusted friend who could help make this call with you or for you, don't hesitate to ask for that support. SSA allows authorized representatives to handle these matters, and having someone help you navigate this process while you're grieving can be a real blessing. This community clearly cares about helping you through this, so please don't hesitate to update us on how it goes or ask for more help if you need it.

Daniel, my heart goes out to you during this incredibly difficult time. I'm new to this community, but I've been following this thread and am amazed by the wealth of practical advice everyone has shared. From what I've learned here, it's clear that contacting SSA immediately is crucial - you're absolutely entitled to your husband's higher benefit amount, but they won't make the switch automatically. I'd suggest calling first thing tomorrow morning with all your documents ready (death certificate, marriage certificate, both SS numbers). The Claimyr service mentioned by @Aurora St.Pierre sounds like a lifesaver for avoiding those brutal hold times. Also, consider having someone you trust help you with the call - dealing with bureaucracy while grieving is overwhelming. Make sure to ask about the $255 death benefit, confirm Medicare premium deductions will continue, and get everything in writing with reference numbers. This community has essentially created a step-by-step guide for you. Please don't hesitate to update us or ask for more help - we're all pulling for you to get this resolved quickly so you can focus on healing.

Daniel, I'm so sorry for your loss. Losing a spouse is heartbreaking, and having to navigate government paperwork during grief makes everything so much harder. I'm new to this community but have been reading through all the excellent advice here, and everyone has really provided you with a comprehensive roadmap. The key takeaways seem to be: call SSA immediately (tomorrow morning if possible), have all your documents ready (death certificate, marriage certificate, both Social Security numbers), consider using that Claimyr service to avoid the terrible hold times, ask about the $255 death benefit, confirm Medicare premiums will continue, and get everything documented with reference numbers. What strikes me most is how generous everyone has been in sharing their personal experiences - from Sophia's warning about missing payments to Grace walking through her mom's timeline. You're not alone in this process, and this community clearly has your back. Please take care of yourself and don't hesitate to update us or ask for more help as you work through this.

Daniel, I'm so deeply sorry for your loss. As someone new to this community, I've been reading through all the incredible advice everyone has shared, and I'm truly impressed by how supportive and knowledgeable this group is. You now have a complete action plan: call SSA first thing tomorrow morning, use the Claimyr service to avoid hold times, have all your documents ready (death certificate, marriage certificate, both SS numbers), ask about the $255 death benefit, confirm Medicare premium continuation, and document everything with reference numbers. The personal experiences shared here - especially Sophia's warning about missed payments and Grace's timeline - are invaluable. What you're going through is incredibly difficult, but you have a clear path forward and an entire community rooting for you. Take it one step at a time, and please don't hesitate to update us or ask for more help. You've got this, and we're here to support you through the process.

Daniel, my heart truly goes out to you during this incredibly difficult time. Losing a spouse is one of life's most challenging experiences, and having to navigate government bureaucracy while grieving just adds another layer of stress. I'm new to this community, but I've been reading through all the amazing advice everyone has shared, and I'm genuinely impressed by how supportive and knowledgeable this group is. Everyone has created such a comprehensive roadmap for you - from the urgency of calling SSA immediately, to using the Claimyr service to avoid brutal hold times, to having all your documents prepared and getting everything documented with reference numbers. The personal stories shared here, especially Sophia's warning about missed payments and Grace's detailed timeline, are incredibly valuable. You now have everything you need to successfully navigate this process. Remember to be patient with yourself during this time - you're dealing with grief while handling complex paperwork, and that's never easy. This community clearly has your back, so please don't hesitate to update us on how things go or ask for additional support if you need it. You've got this, and we're all rooting for you.

Daniel, I'm so sorry for your loss. Losing a spouse is heartbreaking, and having to deal with government processes during such a difficult time makes everything so much harder. I'm relatively new to this community, but I've been following this thread and am truly amazed by the wealth of practical advice and genuine support everyone has provided. You now have a clear action plan thanks to everyone's experiences: call SSA first thing tomorrow morning, use that Claimyr service to avoid the terrible hold times, have all your documents ready (death certificate, marriage certificate, both Social Security numbers), ask specifically about survivor benefits and the $255 death benefit, confirm your Medicare premiums will continue being deducted, and make sure to document everything with reference numbers and representative names. The personal stories shared here - especially Sophia's warning about missed payments and Grace's detailed timeline - are invaluable insights that could save you both time and money. What strikes me most is how this community has rallied around you with such detailed, experience-based guidance. You're not navigating this alone, and you now have everything you need to advocate for yourself effectively when you contact SSA. Please take care of yourself through this process and don't hesitate to update us on how it goes or ask for more help if you need it. We're all pulling for you to get this resolved quickly so you can focus on healing.

Daniel, I'm so deeply sorry for your loss. Losing a spouse is one of life's most profound challenges, and having to navigate complex government processes while grieving makes everything exponentially harder. As someone new to this community, I've been reading through this entire thread and am genuinely amazed by the incredible depth of support and practical guidance everyone has shared with you. You now have what amounts to a masterclass in handling SSA survivor benefits - from the urgency of calling immediately (to avoid missing payments like Sophia experienced), to using the Claimyr service to bypass those brutal hold times, to having all your documentation ready and creating a paper trail with reference numbers. The personal experiences shared here are invaluable - Grace's timeline gives you realistic expectations, and the warnings about Medicare premium deductions and the $255 death benefit ensure you won't miss important details. What strikes me most is how this community has transformed your question into a comprehensive action plan born from real experience and genuine care. Please know that even as a newcomer, I can see how much this group values helping each other through life's most difficult moments. You're not alone in this process, and you're now better prepared than most people would be in your situation. Take it one step at a time, be patient with yourself as you grieve, and please don't hesitate to update us on how the call goes tomorrow. We're all rooting for you to get this resolved quickly so you can focus on healing.