Can a widow with reduced SS benefits switch to higher survivor benefits despite WEP and early filing?

she should be able to get survivors benefits but it might be reduced because she took her own retirement early. my neighbor went through something like this last year and ended up getting about 82% of her husbands benefit i think. call again and ask for a claims specialist not just whoever answers the phone first

Yes, your sister can receive survivor benefits, but there are several factors that will affect the amount: 1. Since she filed for her own benefits early (before her FRA), her survivor benefits will be reduced. The reduction is based on HER age when she applies for survivor benefits, not when she applied for her own benefits. 2. WEP affects her own benefits but does NOT affect survivor benefits. This is good news for your sister. 3. At age 65, she's still under her Full Retirement Age (which is likely 66 and some months), so her survivor benefit will be reduced from the 100% she would receive at FRA. 4. She should apply for survivor benefits ASAP as they can only be paid 6 months retroactively from application date. Even with the reduction, the survivor benefit will likely be significantly higher than her current $680. She should definitely switch.

WATCH OUT for the GPO too!!! Government Pension Offset is DIFFERENT from WEP and it DOES affect survivor benefits!!! If she gets a pension from a job where she didn't pay Social Security taxes (like many teacher pensions), the GPO could reduce her survivor benefits by 2/3 of her pension amount. SSA representatives sometimes confuse WEP and GPO, so make SURE she mentions both specifically when she talks to them!!!

I went through this EXACT situation when my husband died. I was 63 and already collecting my own small benefit. The SSA made me wait almost 4 months to get the survivor benefits sorted out and I nearly lost my house! When I finally got to see someone, they explained that I could get a percentage of his benefit minus my early filing reduction. I ended up with about 85% of what he was getting. One BIG tip - I couldn't get through on the phone for weeks and the earliest in-person appointment was months out. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual SSA person in about 15 minutes. Best $20 I ever spent because I was able to get everything sorted out much faster. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU

@user7 Yes, it actually worked for me. I was skeptical too after being disconnected multiple times. The service connected me to an agent in about 15 minutes. My daughter helped me set it up - you just enter your phone number and then they call you when they have an agent on the line. Saved me hours of frustration.

Your sister's situation involves the interplay of several complex Social Security rules. Here's what she needs to know: 1. At age 65, she's entitled to an age-reduced widow's benefit (assuming she's not yet at her FRA). 2. Since she filed for her own retirement benefits early, she falls under the "deemed filing" rules that were in place before the 2015 law changes. 3. The good news: The WEP reduction that affects her own benefit does NOT carry over to her survivor benefit. 4. The complication: If she receives a government pension from work not covered by Social Security (like her teaching job), the Government Pension Offset (GPO) will reduce her survivor benefit by 2/3 of her pension amount. Example calculation: - Late husband's benefit: $2,300 - Her FRA survivor benefit would be 100% of his benefit - Age 65 reduction: Approximately 87.5% (varies by exact birth year) - Potential survivor benefit before GPO: ~$2,012 - If teacher pension is $950, GPO reduction = $633 (2/3 of $950) - Final survivor benefit: ~$1,379 This is still significantly higher than her current $680, so she should definitely apply.

dont trust what anyone here says!!!1! my mom lost over $45,000 because ssa gave her wrong info about survivor benefits after my dad died!!! go to a REAL financial advisor who specializes in ss benefits before doing ANYTHING!!!

@OP While getting professional advice is never a bad idea, your sister's case actually has a clear path forward. She should: 1. Apply for survivor benefits immediately (can be done online at ssa.gov/survivors or by phone) 2. Explicitly mention both WEP and GPO in her application 3. Have documentation ready: her pension amount, her deceased husband's Social Security number, death certificate, and marriage certificate 4. Request a detailed explanation of any calculations, especially regarding the GPO reduction Even if the process seems confusing, she shouldn't delay applying, as survivor benefits can only be paid retroactively for six months from the application date. If she wants professional help, look for a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) who specializes in retirement income planning.

my aunt switched from her own benefit to my uncles when he died and she got his FULL benefit no reductions. but she was already at full retirement age when she applied. age matters alot with this stuff

WEP and GPO are the two WORST rules in social security!!! teachers and other public servants get totally screwed by these rules. call your congressperson and tell them to support the Social Security Fairness Act to repeal both these unfair penalties!!!