Collecting Social Security survivor benefits before FRA while working full-time - will it affect my retirement?

First, I'm very sorry for your loss. Yes, you are eligible for survivor benefits as early as age 60, but there are a few important things to know: 1) Since you're taking benefits before your FRA, they'll be permanently reduced - roughly 71.5% of your wife's full benefit amount. 2) The earnings test will definitely impact you while working. In 2025, for every $2 you earn above $23,160, SSA will withhold $1 in benefits. With your salary, most or all of your survivor benefits would be withheld until you reach FRA. 3) The GOOD NEWS: Even if you take reduced survivor benefits now, you can still switch to your own retirement benefit at FRA or later if yours would be higher. This is different from regular retirement benefits! 4) Any benefits withheld due to the earnings test will result in a recalculation and slight increase when you reach FRA. My recommendation? Apply for the survivor benefits anyway, even though they'll be mostly withheld due to your earnings. You'll get some money during months you might earn less, and then at FRA, you can switch strategies.

Im so sorry about your wife. the SSA makes this stuff SO COMPLICATED! I went through this last year after my husband died. The earnings limit is a JOKE!! I was working and making decent money and they took away almost ALL of my survivors benefit!!! I had to keep working of course but it felt like I was being punished for it. Finally got through to someone after calling for WEEKS and they just said thats how the system works. So frustrating!!!

Just wanted to add that the funeral home actually helped me with some of this paperwork when my spouse passed. They might have resources to help you navigate this, too. I found going in person to the SSA office was actually faster than trying to call, even though I had to take a day off work.

I want to clarify something important: If you apply for survivor benefits before your FRA while working, you'll be subject to both the early claiming reduction AND the earnings test reduction. However, there's a strategy worth considering. Since survivor benefits are different from retirement benefits, you have flexibility. You could: 1. Apply for reduced survivor benefits now (even if mostly withheld due to earnings) 2. At your FRA, switch to either your own retirement benefit OR keep the survivor benefit, whichever is higher This strategy preserves your options. Even with the earnings test withholding most benefits now, any month your earnings are lower, you might receive some payment. And once you reach FRA, the earnings test disappears completely. Also, if you decide to take your own retirement benefit later (after FRA), you can earn delayed retirement credits of 8% per year until age 70, while collecting survivor benefits from FRA until then. The SSA publication that explains this in detail is "Survivors Benefits" (No. 05-10084).

After trying for WEEKS to get through to SSA about my husband's survivor benefits (similar situation), I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to a real person in 20 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours or getting disconnected. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU The agent I spoke with confirmed exactly what others are saying here - I could apply for survivors benefits early, even though working would mean most would be withheld. Then at FRA I could choose between continuing survivors benefits or switching to my own retirement. It was such a relief to finally talk to someone who could answer my specific questions! Might be worth checking out if you're still trying to get official answers.

My condolences for your loss. When my wife passed I was so confused about all this stuff too!! I ended up taking the survivors benefit early even though I was still working. SSA withheld almost everything because of the earnings test, but what nobody told me was that I'd get some small payments during months when I earned less (like when I took some unpaid time off). So even though I didn't get much until FRA, it wasn't zero either. Just something to consider.

Based on your situation, here's what I would recommend: 1. Apply for survivor benefits now even though they'll be reduced and mostly withheld 2. Continue working until your FRA (this won't affect your future options) 3. At FRA, evaluate whether to keep the survivor benefit or switch to your own retirement benefit 4. If your own benefit would be higher with delayed credits, consider switching to your own benefit at age 70 This strategy preserves maximum flexibility. And remember - after FRA, there's no earnings test, so you can work and collect full benefits. One thing to note: you mentioned being 2.5 years from FRA, which means your FRA is likely 67. The survivor FRA might be slightly different (66 or 66.5), so double-check that specific detail when you apply.