Can I work full-time while collecting Social Security survivor benefits without reduction?

Yes, you can work while receiving survivor benefits, but there ARE earnings limits if you're under your Full Retirement Age (FRA). For 2025, if you're under FRA the entire year, SSA will deduct $1 from your benefits for every $2 you earn above $23,400. Since you're earning $72,000, you would have a substantial reduction in benefits. However, the rules change in the year you reach FRA. During that year, SSA deducts $1 for every $3 you earn above $62,600 (for 2025), but only counting earnings before the month you reach FRA. Once you reach your FRA (probably 67 depending on birth year), there are NO earnings limits. You can earn any amount without reduction to your survivor benefits.

sorry for your loss... my sister went thru this last year. she ended up just working part time til she hit the full retirement age thing. the SSA office told her exactly how much she could make b4 it would cut her benefits

The earnings limit is going to significantly impact your benefits. With $72,000 income, you'll be about $48,600 over the 2025 limit of $23,400. That means they'll withhold approximately $24,300 from your annual survivor benefits ($1 for every $2 over). Depending on what your monthly survivor benefit amount is, this could mean you receive very little or potentially nothing until you reach your full retirement age. One important thing to understand: benefits withheld aren't lost forever. Once you reach FRA, your monthly benefit will be recalculated to give you credit for months when benefits were withheld. I'd suggest scheduling an appointment with your local SSA office to calculate exactly how this will affect your specific situation. They can give you precise numbers based on your husband's earnings record and your current income.

SURVIVOR BENEFITS ARE DIFFERENT THAN RETIREMENT!!! So many people get this wrong. Yes, there's still an earnings limit before FRA, BUT you have additional options with survivor benefits that you don't with retirement: 1. You can switch between survivor and your OWN retirement benefits. Many widow(er)s take reduced survivor at 60-FRA, then switch to their own retirement at 70 (if it's higher). 2. Or do the opposite - take your reduced retirement early and then switch to unreduced survivor at your FRA. The BEST strategy depends on benefit amounts and life expectancy. Don't just accept the first option SSA tells you!!

Just wanted to add that if you're going to continue working full-time with that income level, you might want to consider waiting to claim survivor benefits until you reach your FRA. At that point, there's no earnings limit, and you'll receive 100% of your husband's benefit amount. Alternatively, if your own retirement benefit would be higher at age 70 than your survivor benefit, you could follow a strategy of: 1. Wait until your FRA to claim unreduced survivor benefits (no earnings test then) 2. Switch to your own retirement benefit at age 70 when it reaches its maximum amount This approach would give you both the full survivor benefit during your FRA-70 period and the maximum possible retirement benefit after 70.

Thank you all for the incredibly helpful information! Based on your advice, I'm considering two options: 1. Continue working full-time but delay claiming survivor benefits until I reach my FRA (no earnings limit then) 2. Claim survivor benefits now understanding most will be withheld due to my earnings, then switch to my own retirement benefit at 70 I'm going to try to get an appointment with SSA to run calculations for both scenarios. Since it sounds difficult to reach them by phone, I might try that Claimyr service someone mentioned. One last question - if I do claim now and have benefits withheld due to earnings, will I get those withheld benefits back later in some form?

My mom was told one thing by SSA and then they did something completely different!!!! Double check everything they tell you and GET IT IN WRITING!!! They told her she could work part-time and still get survivor benefits but then they took almost everything away and it was a NIGHTMARE to fix!!!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Harper. This is such a difficult time to be navigating these complex decisions. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also consider your health insurance situation when making this decision. If you're getting good health coverage through your full-time job, that has real value that should factor into your calculations. Also, since you're 62 now, you might want to think about whether you could potentially reduce your hours or negotiate some kind of flexible arrangement with your employer that would bring your earnings closer to the $23,400 limit. Even dropping to $35,000-40,000 annually would significantly reduce the benefit withholding compared to your current $72,000 salary. The math gets complicated, but sometimes earning less can actually result in higher total income (wages + benefits) in the short term. Just make sure whatever decision you make aligns with your long-term financial goals and retirement planning. Definitely get those calculations from SSA - having the actual numbers for your specific situation will make this decision much clearer.

Harper, I'm so sorry for your loss. This is already such a difficult time, and navigating Social Security rules adds another layer of stress. I wanted to mention something that might help with your decision-making process. Since you're dealing with such a significant income ($72,000) relative to the earnings limit ($23,400), you might want to consider requesting a "trial work period" calculation from SSA. They can show you exactly what your net monthly income would be under different scenarios - continuing full-time work with reduced benefits vs. reducing hours vs. waiting until FRA. Also, don't forget that your survivor benefits are based on your husband's earnings record, so the actual benefit amount matters a lot in this calculation. If his benefit was relatively high, it might make more sense to wait until FRA to claim the full amount. If it was lower, the partial payments now (after earnings test reductions) might still be worthwhile. One more practical tip: if you do decide to claim now while working, make sure to report your estimated annual earnings accurately to SSA upfront. This helps them adjust your monthly payments throughout the year rather than creating an overpayment that you'd have to pay back later. Whatever you decide, make sure you're comfortable with the choice and that it fits your overall financial picture. These decisions can always be adjusted as your circumstances change.

Harper, I'm deeply sorry for your loss. Losing a spouse is devastating, and having to navigate these complex financial decisions during such a difficult time must feel overwhelming. I wanted to add one important consideration that might help with your planning. Since you're 62 and your FRA is likely around 66-67, you have several years where the earnings test will significantly impact your survivor benefits. However, there's a lesser-known provision that might be relevant to your situation. If you decide to claim survivor benefits now while working, you can actually suspend your benefits later if your earnings situation changes, and then restart them at your FRA without the earnings test applying. This gives you some flexibility if your work situation changes over the next few years. Also, since you mentioned budgeting for next year, remember that the earnings test is applied on an annual basis. So if you start receiving benefits mid-year, only your earnings from that point forward count toward the limit for that year. Given your $72,000 salary, I'd strongly recommend getting those exact calculations from SSA before making any decisions. The difference between receiving a small amount now versus waiting for the full benefit at FRA could be substantial in your case. Take care of yourself during this difficult time, and don't hesitate to ask for help navigating these decisions.

Harper, I'm so sorry for your loss. What a difficult situation to navigate during an already challenging time. I wanted to share something that might be helpful based on my experience working with Social Security benefits. Given your $72,000 annual income, you're facing a significant reduction in survivor benefits due to the earnings test. But there's one strategy that some people overlook: Consider whether your employer offers any flexibility in how your compensation is structured. Some employers can shift part of your salary into pre-tax benefits like increased 401(k) contributions, health savings account contributions, or other benefits that don't count toward the Social Security earnings limit. Even reducing your countable earnings by $10,000-15,000 could make a meaningful difference in how much of your survivor benefits you'd retain. Also, since you mentioned planning your budget for next year, remember that if you do claim benefits now, Social Security will ask you to estimate your annual earnings. Be as accurate as possible with this estimate - if you underestimate and receive too much in benefits, you'll owe money back. If you overestimate, they'll adjust your payments upward later in the year. Whatever you decide, make sure to keep detailed records of all your communications with SSA and check your online account regularly. Wishing you strength as you work through these decisions.

Harper, I'm so sorry for your loss. Navigating Social Security survivor benefits while grieving is incredibly overwhelming, and you're asking all the right questions. I wanted to add one more consideration that might help with your decision-making process. Since you're dealing with a substantial income relative to the earnings limit, it might be worth exploring whether you have any flexibility in your work arrangement that could bridge the gap until you reach FRA. Some options to consider: - Negotiating a sabbatical or leave of absence for part of the year to reduce annual earnings - Exploring whether you could transition to contract/consulting work with the same employer, giving you more control over annual income timing - Looking into whether your employer offers phased retirement programs Also, don't forget to factor in taxes when comparing scenarios. Survivor benefits may be partially taxable depending on your total income, while wages are fully subject to payroll taxes. The after-tax comparison between different strategies might look different than the gross income comparison. Given the complexity of your situation with high earnings, valuable employer benefits, and multiple claiming strategies available, this might be one of those cases where a consultation with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security could pay for itself in optimized benefits over time. Whatever path you choose, make sure you're comfortable with both the financial outcome and the practical aspects of managing your career during this difficult transition period.

Harper, I'm so sorry for your loss. Losing a spouse is incredibly difficult, and having to navigate these complex benefit decisions during such a painful time adds another layer of stress. I wanted to share a perspective that might help as you work through this decision. Given your high income relative to the earnings limit, you're essentially facing a choice between immediate partial benefits (heavily reduced by the earnings test) versus waiting for full benefits at your FRA with no earnings restrictions. One thing that often gets overlooked is the psychological aspect of this decision. Some people find comfort in receiving survivor benefits immediately, even if reduced, as it provides a tangible connection to their spouse's work history and contributions. Others prefer the clarity of waiting until they can receive the full benefit without complications. From a purely financial standpoint, with your $72,000 salary, you'd be losing roughly $24,300 annually in withheld benefits. But there's also the certainty factor - you know you have your job and income now, but none of us can predict what might happen over the next 5 years before you reach FRA. Consider creating a simple spreadsheet comparing the total dollars you'd receive under each scenario over different time horizons. This can help make the abstract calculations more concrete and easier to evaluate. Whatever you decide, you're asking the right questions and gathering good information. Trust yourself to make the best decision for your unique situation.

Harper, I'm so deeply sorry for your loss. Having to navigate these complex Social Security decisions while grieving is incredibly challenging, and I admire your strength in working through all these details. Reading through this entire discussion, it's clear you've received excellent advice from this community. The key points that stand out to me are: 1. With your $72,000 income, you'd lose about $24,300 annually in withheld survivor benefits due to the earnings test 2. Withheld survivor benefits (unlike retirement benefits) are NOT recalculated later - they're simply gone 3. You have flexibility to suspend and restart benefits if circumstances change 4. Exploring compensation restructuring with your employer could potentially reduce your countable earnings Given everything discussed here, I'd suggest prioritizing these next steps: - Get those specific calculations from SSA for your exact situation (the Claimyr service mentioned might help you actually reach them) - Explore with HR whether any compensation restructuring is possible to reduce countable earnings - Create that comparison spreadsheet Kiara suggested to visualize long-term outcomes The fact that you're keeping your excellent health insurance and have job security right now are significant factors in favor of continuing to work full-time. Combined with the fact that withheld survivor benefits don't get recalculated later, waiting until FRA to claim might indeed be your best financial strategy. Whatever you decide, you're approaching this thoughtfully and have built a strong foundation for making an informed choice. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

Harper, I'm so sorry for your loss. This is such a difficult time to be dealing with these complex financial decisions on top of everything else you're going through. Based on everything that's been discussed here, it sounds like you have a really solid plan forming. The systematic approach everyone has outlined - getting specific SSA calculations, exploring compensation restructuring with your employer, and creating detailed comparison projections - will give you the concrete information you need to make the best decision for your situation. One small additional thought: since you mentioned your financial advisor initially brought this up, it might be worth circling back with them once you have all the SSA calculations and employer compensation options figured out. They know your complete financial picture and can help you see how this decision fits into your broader retirement and estate planning goals. The fact that this community was able to provide such detailed, accurate information about the differences between survivor benefits and retirement benefits, the earnings test implications, and various claiming strategies really shows how valuable it is to get input from people who have navigated similar situations. You're clearly approaching this with great care and thoroughness. Whatever you ultimately decide, you'll know it was based on complete information and careful consideration of all your options. Wishing you strength as you work through this process.

Harper, I'm so deeply sorry for your loss. Navigating Social Security survivor benefits during such a difficult time is incredibly overwhelming, and you're showing remarkable strength in working through these complex decisions. Reading through all the excellent advice you've received, I wanted to add one practical consideration that might help as you move forward with your planning. Since you're dealing with such a high income relative to the earnings limit, you might want to ask SSA specifically about the "monthly earnings test" in addition to the annual test. In your first year of receiving benefits, SSA can apply a monthly test where any month you earn less than 1/12 of the annual limit ($1,950 for 2025), you can receive your full benefit for that month regardless of your annual earnings. This could be relevant if you have any flexibility in when you receive bonuses, overtime, or other variable compensation. Also, given all the strategy discussions here about timing and benefit switching, make sure when you speak with SSA that you specifically ask about "restricted application" rules for survivor benefits. The rules are different than they used to be, and you want to make sure you understand exactly what options are available for your birth year. You're asking all the right questions and building a solid foundation for making this decision. Take care of yourself during this challenging time.

Harper, I'm so sorry for your loss. What you're going through is incredibly difficult, and having to make these complex financial decisions while grieving adds so much stress. Reading through all the excellent advice here, it's clear you now have a comprehensive understanding of your options. The key insight that really stands out is that survivor benefits withheld due to the earnings test don't get recalculated later like retirement benefits do - they're simply gone forever. With your $72,000 salary, that's roughly $24,300 in lost benefits annually. Given everything discussed, here's what I'd prioritize: 1. Get those exact SSA calculations using the Claimyr service if needed to actually reach them 2. Explore compensation restructuring with your HR department (401k, HSA, other pre-tax benefits) 3. Ask SSA about the monthly earnings test for months with lower variable pay 4. Create that comparison spreadsheet for different scenarios over 5-10 year horizons Your situation seems to favor waiting until FRA to claim survivor benefits while continuing your full-time work, especially considering your excellent health insurance and job security. But having those concrete numbers will make the decision clear. You're handling this with such thoughtfulness and strength. Whatever you decide will be well-informed thanks to all the research you're doing. Take care of yourself during this challenging time.

Harper, I'm so deeply sorry for your loss. Losing your spouse is one of life's most difficult experiences, and having to navigate these complex Social Security decisions during such a painful time must feel overwhelming. Reading through all the excellent advice you've received here, I'm struck by how supportive and knowledgeable this community has been. The key points everyone has raised are spot-on: - With your $72,000 income, you'd face significant benefit reductions due to the earnings test ($24,300+ in withheld benefits annually) - Unlike retirement benefits, survivor benefits that are withheld due to earnings don't get recalculated later - they're permanently lost - You have multiple timing strategies available, including waiting until FRA or exploring benefit-switching approaches The action plan that's emerged from this discussion is excellent: get specific SSA calculations, explore compensation restructuring with your employer, ask about the monthly earnings test, and create detailed comparison projections. Given your job security, excellent health insurance, and the permanent loss of withheld survivor benefits, waiting until your FRA to claim (when there's no earnings limit) might indeed be your best financial strategy. But having those concrete numbers from SSA will make the decision much clearer. You're approaching this with remarkable thoughtfulness during an incredibly difficult time. Whatever decision you make will be well-informed thanks to all the careful research you're doing. Take care of yourself, and don't hesitate to reach out to this community again if you need more support as you work through this process.

Harper, I'm so deeply sorry for your loss. Losing a spouse is devastating, and having to navigate these complex Social Security decisions while grieving is incredibly overwhelming. This community has provided you with truly exceptional guidance. The key insight that survivor benefits withheld due to earnings are permanently lost (unlike retirement benefits that get recalculated) is absolutely crucial for your decision-making, especially with your $72,000 income putting you so far over the $23,400 limit. Given everything discussed, I'd also suggest asking SSA about the "grace year" provision when you speak with them. In your first year of retirement (which includes claiming survivor benefits), they sometimes apply more favorable monthly earnings tests that could help if you have any flexibility in timing income. The systematic approach everyone has outlined is perfect: get those SSA calculations, explore compensation restructuring with HR, ask about monthly earnings tests, and create detailed comparison projections. With your job security and excellent health benefits, waiting until FRA to claim unreduced survivor benefits (with no earnings limit) appears to be your strongest financial strategy. You're showing incredible strength in researching all these options during such a difficult time. Whatever decision you make will be well-informed thanks to your thoughtful approach. This community is here to support you through this process.