Can a surviving spouse collect deceased spouse's full retirement amount if they claimed SS at 62?

I'm sorry for your loss. As a surviving spouse, you're eligible to receive your husband's actual benefit amount that he was receiving at the time of his death, not what he would have received had he waited until FRA. Since he claimed at 62, his benefit was permanently reduced, and that's the amount used for survivor benefits. However, you have options. You can: 1. Take your survivor benefit now and switch to your own benefit at your FRA if it's higher 2. Take your own reduced benefit now and switch to the survivor benefit later 3. Wait until your own FRA to maximize either benefit The best strategy depends on the exact amounts and your financial needs. I'd recommend making an appointment at your local SSA office to discuss your specific situation.

when my dad died mom got his check instead of hers cause it was bigger. they told her she could only get one not both. she had to bring the death certificate and marriage license to the office

The SSA is USELESS at explaining this stuff!!! When my wife died they told me THREE different things on THREE different calls!!! I wasted WEEKS trying to get straight answers. The rules are intentionally confusing to prevent people from getting their full benefits!!

There actually is a special provision for widows/widowers called the Widow's Limit or RIB-LIM rule. It's quite complex, but essentially: If your husband claimed early, you might be entitled to a higher survivor benefit than what he was receiving. The maximum is generally limited to what he would have received if he were still alive today (not what he would have gotten at his FRA). At your current age (65), you have several options: 1. You could take a reduced survivor benefit now and switch to your own at your FRA 2. You could take your own reduced benefit now and switch to survivor benefits at your FRA The RIB-LIM calculation is complex and depends on multiple factors including both your ages, when he claimed, your FRA, etc. This is definitely a situation where having a conversation with a knowledgeable SSA representative is essential. I'd recommend documenting your questions before calling, as the nuances matter here.

I had a similar situation when my wife passed. Spent WEEKS trying to get through to SSA on the phone. Always busy signals or disconnections after 2+ hour waits. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an agent in under 10 minutes. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Once I actually spoke with someone knowledgeable, they explained all the survivor benefit options and helped me make the right choice based on my specific situation. Saved me so much frustration.

To add some clarity here - the maximum survivor benefit is generally limited by the larger of: 1. The benefit your husband was receiving at death ($1,750) 2. 82.5% of your husband's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) The PIA is the benefit amount he would have received at his FRA. If his FRA amount would have been $2,450, then 82.5% of that is about $2,021. This means your survivor benefit would be about $2,021 (not the full $2,450 FRA amount, but more than the $1,750 he was receiving). However, if you claim survivor benefits before your own FRA, this amount will be further reduced. The reduction is approximately 4.75% per year before your FRA. Your best strategy might be to take your reduced survivor benefit now, then switch to your own benefit at 70 if your own benefit would be higher with delayed retirement credits.

my neighbor trid to do this and SSA lost her paperwork TWICE and she had to start over!!! don't trust them to do anything right. make copies of EVERYTHING and get names of who you talk to!!

sorry about your husband passing away. it's really hard to deal with all this government stuff when your grieving

One important thing nobody's mentioned yet: you generally need to apply for survivor benefits within 60 days of your spouse's death to potentially get retroactive benefits back to the month of death. Don't delay in at least starting the application process. You can always withdraw and reapply later if needed (within 12 months). Also, bring your marriage certificate, your husband's death certificate, both your Social Security cards, and your birth certificate when you go to the SSA office. Having all documents ready will make the process smoother.

Based on the numbers you shared, I did some rough calculations: 1. Your husband's received $1,750 (claimed at 62) 2. His FRA amount would have been $2,450 3. Your FRA amount would be $1,600 Assuming standard reduction factors and the RIB-LIM rule, your maximum survivor benefit at your FRA would likely be between $2,000-$2,100. If you claimed your own benefit at 70, it would be around $1,600 + 24% = $1,984. So it appears your best strategy might be to take the survivor benefit at your FRA and then possibly stay with it rather than switching to your own. However, these are rough estimates and the actual calculation by SSA may differ. This is definitely a case where getting expert advice from SSA is crucial.

My mom went through this last year and found out she could file a "restricted application" for just the survivor benefit while letting her own benefit grow until 70. The SSA representative she talked to initially didn't mention this option - she only found out after reading about it and specifically asking! The system is designed to make you miss out on money you're entitled to, I swear.

When i tried calling the SSA they kept transferring me around to different people and nobody seemed to know the actual rules. its like they don't train their own staff!!! so frustrating

Thank you all for the helpful responses. I'm going to try to get through to SSA this week and specifically ask about the RIB-LIM calculation and restricted application strategy. If I can't get through, I'll try that Claimyr service someone mentioned. I'll update once I know more in case it helps someone else in the future.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Zoe. This is such a difficult time to have to navigate these complex benefit rules. From what I understand, you may actually be entitled to more than the $1,750 your husband was receiving due to the RIB-LIM (Retirement Insurance Benefit - Limited) provision that others mentioned. The key thing to remember is that as a widow, you have unique flexibility in timing your claims. You can claim survivor benefits now and switch to your own later, or vice versa. Given your ages and benefit amounts, it sounds like the restricted application strategy could work well for you - taking survivor benefits while letting your own benefit grow until 70. I'd strongly recommend getting this sorted out soon though, not just because of the 60-day retroactive window, but because having a clear plan will give you peace of mind during this difficult time. Make sure to ask specifically about the RIB-LIM calculation and how it applies to your situation when you speak with SSA. Keep us updated on what you find out - your experience could really help other widows navigating this same confusing system.

I'm really sorry for your loss, Zoe. Losing a spouse is devastating, and having to navigate all these benefit decisions during such a difficult time makes it even harder. From what I've learned through my own experience with survivor benefits, you definitely have options beyond just receiving the reduced amount your husband was getting. The RIB-LIM rule that Victoria mentioned is real - I went through something similar when my spouse passed away two years ago. One thing that really helped me was keeping detailed notes during every phone call with SSA, including the representative's name and the date. The information can vary so much between different agents that having a paper trail became essential. Also, don't be afraid to ask to speak with a supervisor if you feel like you're not getting accurate information. The restricted application strategy Hassan's mom used is definitely worth exploring in your case. Since you haven't claimed your own benefits yet and you're under 70, you have flexibility that many people don't realize exists. I hope you're able to get clear answers soon. This community has been such a lifeline for navigating these complex rules when the official resources fall short.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Zoe. Having gone through a similar situation with my late husband's benefits, I want to add one more important point that hasn't been fully covered yet. When you do speak with SSA, make sure to ask them to run the actual calculations for BOTH scenarios - taking survivor benefits now versus waiting until your FRA. Sometimes the reduced survivor benefit taken earlier can actually result in higher lifetime benefits, especially if you have health concerns or family longevity patterns to consider. Also, if you do decide to use the restricted application strategy (taking survivor benefits while letting your own grow until 70), make absolutely sure the SSA representative understands this is what you want. I've heard of cases where people thought they were doing a restricted application but the system automatically filed for both benefits. One last tip: if you have a local SSA office, try going in person rather than calling. I found the in-person representatives were generally more knowledgeable about these complex widow benefit rules than the phone agents. Bring all your documents and a written list of your specific questions about RIB-LIM and restricted applications. You're asking all the right questions, and I'm confident you'll get this sorted out. Please do update us when you get clarity from SSA!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Zoe. This is exactly the kind of situation where SSA's complexity really shows - you're dealing with grief while trying to navigate rules that even their own representatives sometimes get wrong. From reading through all the excellent advice here, it sounds like you have a solid plan forming. The RIB-LIM rule could potentially get you that higher survivor benefit amount (around $2,021 as Steven calculated), and the restricted application strategy could be perfect for your situation since you haven't claimed your own benefits yet. One thing I'd add to the great suggestions already given: when you go to the SSA office, consider asking them to provide you with a written breakdown of your options and the calculations they're using. Sometimes having it in writing helps catch errors and gives you something to reference later if you need to follow up. Also, don't feel pressured to make a decision immediately if the information feels overwhelming during your appointment. You can always ask for time to review your options, especially for something this important to your long-term financial security. The fact that you're asking these detailed questions and doing your research shows you're going to navigate this successfully. This community will be here to help interpret whatever information SSA gives you!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Zoe. Dealing with Social Security survivor benefits while grieving is incredibly overwhelming, and you're asking exactly the right questions. From my own experience helping family members navigate this, the RIB-LIM rule that others mentioned is crucial for your situation. Since your husband claimed at 62, you're not stuck with just his reduced $1,750 amount. The calculation typically uses the higher of what he was receiving OR 82.5% of his Primary Insurance Amount (what he would have gotten at full retirement age). Based on your numbers ($2,450 PIA), that 82.5% would be around $2,021 - significantly more than the $1,750 he was actually receiving. Given that you're 65 and haven't claimed your own benefits yet, you have valuable flexibility. The restricted application strategy could work well - take survivor benefits while letting your own retirement benefit grow with delayed credits until age 70. My advice: Go to your local SSA office in person with all your documents and a written list of questions specifically mentioning RIB-LIM calculations and restricted applications. Phone representatives often don't know these specialized rules well. Don't let them rush you into a decision - this choice affects your financial security for life. Document everything, and please update us with what you learn. Your experience could help other widows facing this same confusing system.