Can I take reduced SS at 62 then switch to my deceased disabled husband's benefits at FRA?

I was in a somewhat similar situation last year. Yes, you absolutely CAN take your own reduced benefit at 62 and then switch to the survivor benefit at your FRA - this is one of the few remaining "switching strategies" that still works after the 2015 law changes. I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to finally get through to SSA after weeks of trying. They got me connected to a live agent in under 20 minutes! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. The agent confirmed this strategy was valid for my situation.

To directly answer your questions: 1) Yes, you can take your own reduced retirement benefit at 62 and then switch to survivor benefits at your full retirement age. This is a completely legitimate strategy. 2) Your survivor benefit will NOT be reduced because your husband was receiving disability. SSDI payments are essentially the same as what your husband would have received at his full retirement age. The survivor benefit is based on what he was receiving or would have received, so it doesn't matter that he was on disability. One thing to consider: if your survivor benefit would be higher than your own retirement benefit (likely given what you've shared about earnings), you might want to consider taking the survivor benefit at 60 (reduced for early claiming) and then switching to your own retirement benefit at 70 (maximized with delayed retirement credits). Run the numbers both ways to see which gives you more lifetime benefits based on your life expectancy.

@user8 - You're absolutely right about the maximization strategy, thank you for the correction. Since survivor benefits don't grow after FRA, while your own retirement benefit can grow until 70, the optimal strategy is often: * If your own benefit at 70 will be higher than survivor benefit: Take reduced survivor benefits as early as 60, then switch to your own maximized benefit at 70. * If your survivor benefit will always be higher: Take your own reduced retirement benefit at 62, then switch to survivor benefit at FRA. This is why personalized calculations are so important - the best strategy depends on the specific benefit amounts in each case. I apologize for my earlier confusion.

they SHOULD be able to tell u the amounts but DONT just take whatever 1st person tells u!!! my mom got told 3 DIFFERENT amounts by 3 DIFFERENT ppl at SSA!!! the first lady was WRONG and would have cost mom $430/month FOREVER!! make them SHOW u the actual calculation on their screen!

Just wanted to mention that your daughter's benefits should continue even after you start claiming, since she was disabled before age 22. These are called Childhood Disability Benefits (CDB) or sometimes "Disabled Adult Child" benefits. Has SSA confirmed she'll keep receiving these?

I'm a retired financial planner who specialized in Social Security strategies. Here's some additional information that might help you: 1. Since your husband was receiving SSDI, his benefit amount was already calculated as if he had reached his full retirement age, even though he became disabled at 61. This means there's no reduction to worry about. 2. For survivor benefits, the calculation is based on: - 100% of what your husband was receiving if you claim at your FRA - Reduced amount if claimed before your FRA (approximately 71.5% if claimed at age 60) - No increase for delaying past your FRA 3. For your own retirement benefit: - Reduced to about 70% of your PIA if claimed at 62 - 100% at your FRA (67) - Increases by 8% per year until age 70 (to 124% of your PIA) The key is knowing your specific benefit amounts. Ask SSA for your PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) and what your survivor benefit would be at different claiming ages. Only then can you determine which claiming strategy maximizes your lifetime benefits. One additional consideration: If you're still working at 62, the earnings test might reduce your benefits until you reach FRA. This doesn't apply once you reach FRA.

You're welcome! For 2025, the earnings limit for someone under FRA is $22,750 (it adjusts annually). For every $2 you earn above that limit, your benefit is reduced by $1. In the year you reach FRA, the limit is higher ($60,720 for the months before reaching FRA), and only $1 is deducted for every $3 earned above the limit. Importantly, these aren't permanent reductions. Once you reach FRA, your benefit is recalculated to give credit for months when benefits were reduced or withheld due to the earnings test. With part-time work, you might stay under the threshold, but it's definitely something to calculate when making your decision. The SSA can provide estimates based on your expected earnings.

my aunt tried 2 do this exact thing but got DENIED for some stupid reason I cant remember!!!! something about how long they were married maybe??? how long were u married to him? I think it matters

We were married for 32 years, so thankfully that won't be an issue in my case. I appreciate everyone pointing out these important details though!

Something I havent seen mentioned - taxes! If ur still working remember SS can be taxable depending on your other income. My friend takes her survivors benefit but has to pay tax on 85% of it because she still works full time. Just another thing to think about with ur planning.

I recommend getting a detailed benefit estimate from SSA before making any decisions. When I was getting disconnected repeatedly trying to call them, I found Claimyr (claimyr.com) was worth it to get connected. Their service got me through to an actual person who pulled up all my numbers and walked me through different scenarios. The video on their site shows exactly how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Made a huge difference to have accurate numbers to work with.

I'm a retired SSA claims specialist, and I want to clarify something important: Your husband being on SSDI prior to death actually works in your favor. Since SSDI payments are calculated as if the person had reached full retirement age (regardless of actual age), his benefit amount wasn't reduced. This means your survivor benefit will be based on his full SSDI amount. Regarding your strategy - yes, it's perfectly allowable to take your own reduced retirement at 62 and switch to survivor benefits at your FRA. However, based on what you've shared, you should calculate whether taking survivor benefits early (as young as 60) and then switching to your own benefit at 70 might give you more money over your lifetime. This depends on your own earnings record and life expectancy. Also, don't overlook the potential for the Lump Sum Death Payment of $255 if you haven't already claimed it. And be aware that remarriage before age 60 would affect eligibility for survivor benefits. I'd recommend scheduling an appointment with your local office specifically for a WEP/GPO determination to ensure there are no surprises related to pensions that might affect your benefits.