Can I take my SS retirement at 65 then switch to higher survivor benefits at my FRA of 66 10 months?

Yes, you can absolutely do this! It's a smart strategy. You can take your reduced retirement benefit now at 65, then when you reach your FRA of 66 and 10 months, you can switch to your survivor benefit which will be at its maximum. This is NOT considered a restricted application - that term applies to spousal benefits, not survivor benefits. The survivor benefit works under different rules. Unfortunately, you cannot do this online. The SSA website is limited for survivor benefits. You'll need to call or visit an office to make the switch happen when you reach your FRA. Make sure to specifically tell them you want to switch to survivor benefits at that time.

I tried doing something similar when my husband passed and let me tell you the SSA phone lines are IMPOSSIBLE!!! I called for THREE WEEKS straight and either got disconnected or was on hold for hours only to get cut off. The whole system is BROKEN and they don't care at all about us widows trying to get what we deserve!! When I finally did reach someone they gave me WRONG information and I lost out on 4 months of benefits I should have received. Make sure you get EVERYTHING in writing!!!!

i did this exact thing last year. took my benefit at 65 and switched to survivors when i hit my FRA. worked out great got about $750 more per month after the switch. but ya cant do it online gotta talk to a person

I just went through this process myself. You're making a good choice - by waiting until your FRA for the survivor benefit, you'll get the maximum amount possible. A couple of important technical details: 1. This strategy works because survivor benefits and retirement benefits are treated differently under Social Security rules. The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 that restricted claiming strategies didn't impact survivor benefits. 2. When you apply for your retirement benefit now, don't mention the survivor benefit switch at all. Just apply for retirement only. Then when you reach FRA, contact SSA to switch to the survivor benefit. 3. Make sure to contact SSA about 3 months before your FRA to initiate the survivor benefit paperwork. They won't automatically switch you. 4. Keep in mind your retirement benefit will be reduced by about 6.67% for each year before your FRA, but your survivor benefit will be at its maximum when you switch. Hope this helps!

I had to call SSA for a similar situation last month, and I discovered a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to a real person. I was skeptical at first, but it actually worked - got me through to SSA in about 15 minutes instead of waiting for hours or getting disconnected. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU For this kind of complex benefit switch strategy, I definitely recommend speaking with an actual SSA rep rather than trying to figure it out online. The website doesn't handle these more complex situations well.

Yes, it actually works. I was hesitant too, but I was desperate after trying to get through for days. It connected me to an agent in about 20 minutes, which was much better than the hours I'd spent trying on my own.

My neighbor did exactly what ur planning. She said the trick was documenting EVERYTHING. Write down who u talk to, their ID number, date/time, and what they told u. She had to refer back to her notes when they tried to deny her switch later! Good luck!

One more important thing I forgot to mention - when you go to make the switch at your FRA, bring a copy of your late husband's death certificate, your marriage certificate, both your Social Security numbers, and your own ID. Having all these documents ready will make the process much smoother. Also, as others have mentioned, call to schedule this appointment about 3 months before your FRA.

ive heard you can just go to your local office instead of calling??? maybe try that instead might be faster

To clarify a technical point about your situation: What you're planning is completely allowed under current Social Security rules. Since the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, restrictions were placed on spousal benefit strategies, but survivor benefits still allow this approach. The specific rule that helps you is that you can apply for either your retirement or your survivor benefit first and then switch to the other later if it results in a higher benefit. This is explicitly permitted in the Social Security POMS (Program Operations Manual System) under section GN 00204.020. By taking your reduced retirement benefit now and switching to your survivor benefit at FRA, you're maximizing your lifetime benefits. It's a smart approach in your situation.

Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I feel much more confident about my plan now. I'm going to try to reach SSA to start my retirement benefit now, and then make sure to contact them 3 months before my FRA to initiate the switch to survivor benefits. I'll also be sure to document everything carefully along the way. I appreciate all your suggestions and experiences - it's made this whole process much less intimidating!