Confused about Social Security survivor benefits FRA - is it 66 and 10 months or 4 months before age 67?

The SSA representative was correct. For survivor benefits, FRA is different than it is for retirement benefits. If you were born in 1959, your FRA for survivor benefits is indeed 66 and 10 months. The person whose comment you read was probably referring to someone born in a different year. Here's a quick breakdown: - For retirement benefits: If born in 1959, FRA is 66 and 10 months - For survivor benefits: If born in 1959, FRA is ALSO 66 and 10 months You should apply about 3-4 months before you reach your FRA to make sure the benefits start on time. The SSA can accept applications up to 4 months in advance.

It used to be that survivor FRA was earlier than retirement FRA but now theyre the same for some birth years and different for others. Its all confusing on purpose if u ask me lol. When I got widows benefits they made me wait till I was 66 exactly but my sister inlaw only had to wait till 65 and 8 months for the same thing!

For anyone born in 1959, your Full Retirement Age for survivor benefits is indeed 66 and 10 months. The confusion you're experiencing is because the FRA schedules for retirement and survivors benefits diverged for many years, but are now converging again. For people born 1957-1959, the FRA for retirement and survivors is actually the same. For people born in 1960 or later, survivors FRA is 66 and 8 months while retirement FRA is 67 (creating that 4-month difference the commenter mentioned). I'd recommend applying 3 months before reaching your FRA. Mark your calendar for exactly 3 months before you turn 66 and 10 months. This gives SSA enough time to process your application while ensuring you don't leave any money on the table.

I went through the EXACT same confusion last year about my survivor benefits!!! The online information is SO contradictory and the SSA phone reps told me 3 different things when I called on 3 different days. FINALLY got it sorted but what a nightmare! Just to add to what others have said - make sure you have ALL your documents ready when you apply. They wanted my marriage certificate, my late husband's death certificate, birth certificate, most recent tax return, and even our divorce papers from my first marriage even though that was 30 years ago!!! The whole process took MONTHS longer than it should have because they kept asking for more paperwork. And don't even get me started on trying to reach someone on the phone... I spent 4+ hours on hold multiple times just to get disconnected when they transferred me to a "specialist." 😡

One more important point: If you're still working, be aware of the earnings test. Even if you wait until your FRA for survivor benefits, if you earn above certain thresholds before the year you reach FRA, your benefits could be reduced. For 2025, if you're reaching FRA during the year but haven't reached it yet, you can earn up to $59,520 in the months before reaching FRA without reduction (this is an estimate based on current trends; the exact 2025 limit hasn't been announced yet). After you reach FRA, there's no earnings limit, so you can earn any amount without reduction of benefits.

my wife got survivors last year after my brother died and SSA made a HUGE MESS of the whole thing!!! they calculated it wrong first time then fixed it then said they overpaid her by $4,200 then said nevermind that was their mistake too!!! it was a nightmare for 5 months!!! dont trust anything they tell you first time, always double check the math yourself!!!

have u checked your my social security account? might show ur exact fra date on there

To summarize what's been discussed and provide clear direction: 1. Since you were born in 1959, your FRA for survivor benefits is indeed 66 and 10 months 2. Apply 3-4 months before reaching that age to ensure timely processing 3. Gather all your documentation now: marriage certificate, spouse's death certificate, birth certificates, possibly prior marriage/divorce papers, and recent tax returns 4. With your current part-time income of $35,000, you should be under the earnings limit and won't face benefit reductions 5. After you reach your FRA of 66 and 10 months, you can earn unlimited income without affecting your survivor benefits You're doing the right thing by researching this in advance. Planning ahead will make the process much smoother!

One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - consider whether you might benefit from a "restricted application" strategy if you're eligible for benefits on your own work record too. Sometimes it makes sense to claim survivor benefits first and let your own retirement benefits grow with delayed retirement credits until age 70, or vice versa. Since you're planning to claim at FRA next year, you might want to ask SSA to run the numbers on both scenarios during your application appointment. The difference could be significant over your lifetime, especially if your own benefit would be higher than the survivor benefit. Also, don't forget that survivor benefits can be backdated up to 6 months if you're past your FRA when you apply, but there's no advantage to waiting beyond FRA for survivor benefits (unlike retirement benefits which grow until age 70). So definitely apply right at FRA as you're planning!

I'm so glad you asked this question because I was in almost the exact same situation two years ago! Born in 1958, lost my husband, and got completely different information from different SSA representatives. What finally helped me was requesting a written estimate of my survivor benefits directly from SSA about 6 months before my FRA. They can provide this in writing, which eliminates the confusion from different phone reps giving different answers. The written estimate will show your exact FRA date and benefit amount. One tip that saved me stress: when you do apply, ask for a receipt or confirmation number for your application. I applied online but the system glitched and I had no proof I'd submitted it. Had to start over and lost a month in processing time. Also, if you have any old W-2s or earnings statements from your husband's work, gather those too. Sometimes SSA's records are incomplete and having backup documentation can prevent delays if they need to verify his earnings history. You're smart to plan ahead - it really does make all the difference in getting this process right the first time!

Just want to add one more piece of advice that helped me when I went through this process - keep a detailed log of every interaction you have with SSA! Write down the date, time, who you spoke with (get their name if possible), and exactly what they told you. I had to reference this log multiple times when I got conflicting information, and it really helped when I needed to escalate an issue. When one representative told me something completely different from what I'd been told the week before, I was able to say "On [date], [name] told me X, but you're telling me Y - can you help me understand which is correct?" Also, if you do end up calling SSA, try calling right when they open (8am local time) or around 3-4pm. Those seemed to be the times when wait times were shortest in my experience. Avoid Mondays and the days right after holidays if possible - those are always the worst for wait times. You're going to do great with all this preparation! Having a clear plan and timeline like you do puts you way ahead of where most people are when they start this process.

I went through a very similar situation last year and want to emphasize something that really helped me - don't just rely on one source of information! I made the mistake of trusting the first SSA rep I spoke with, and it turned out they gave me incorrect information about my application timeline. What I ended up doing was creating a checklist based on all the advice here: 1. Get written benefit estimates from SSA (both survivor and retirement benefits) 2. Apply exactly 3 months before FRA (mark this date on your calendar NOW) 3. Gather ALL documents ahead of time and make copies 4. Keep a detailed log of every SSA interaction 5. Take screenshots/print confirmations of online applications The written estimate was a game-changer for me - it eliminated all the confusion from different phone reps giving different answers. When you request it, specifically ask them to confirm your FRA date for survivor benefits in writing. Also, since you're born in 1959, you're in that sweet spot where your retirement FRA and survivor FRA are the same (66 and 10 months). For people born after 1960, there's a difference, which is probably where some of the conflicting information you found online was coming from. You're being so smart by planning this far ahead. Most people wait until the last minute and then panic when things don't go smoothly!

I just want to say thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences and advice in this thread! As someone who will be going through this process myself in a few years, I'm taking notes on all of these practical tips. The consensus seems really clear: for someone born in 1959, the FRA for survivor benefits is 66 and 10 months, and you should apply 3-4 months early to ensure timely processing. The advice about getting a written estimate from SSA to eliminate confusion from different phone reps is particularly valuable. One question I have for those who have been through this - when you requested the written benefit estimate from SSA, did you have to visit an office in person or were you able to get it by phone? I'm wondering about the best way to request this documentation. Also, for @Eve Freeman - it sounds like you have a solid plan now! Your situation helped clarify so much for all of us who might face similar circumstances. Best of luck with your application process next year!

As someone who just completed the survivor benefits application process earlier this year, I wanted to add a few practical tips that really helped me navigate the system smoothly. First, when you call SSA to request that written benefit estimate, ask them to mail it to you AND email it if possible. Having both copies saved me when I misplaced the mailed version right before my application appointment. Second, consider setting up automatic reminders on your phone for key dates - not just when to apply, but also when to start gathering documents, when to call for estimates, etc. I set reminders 6 months out, 4 months out, and 3 months out, which kept me on track without last-minute stress. One thing that surprised me was that SSA actually has a "survivorship checklist" they can send you along with the benefit estimate. It lists exactly what documents you'll need for your specific situation. This was incredibly helpful because it was personalized to my circumstances rather than generic advice. Also, if you have any questions about your late husband's work history or earnings record, now is a good time to request his Social Security Statement. Sometimes there are gaps or errors in their records that are easier to correct before you apply rather than during the application process. Your birth year of 1959 puts you in a straightforward situation with the FRA being 66 and 10 months for both retirement and survivor benefits. You're going to do great with all this advance planning!

I'm really grateful that this thread has become such a comprehensive resource! As someone who will need to navigate this process in the future, I'm bookmarking all of these practical tips. One thing I wanted to add that might be helpful - I recently attended a free Social Security workshop at my local senior center, and they mentioned that some areas have volunteer SHINE counselors (Serving Health Information Needs of Everyone) who can help with Social Security questions at no cost. They're trained volunteers who can review your specific situation and help you understand your options. It might be worth checking if your area has SHINE counselors or similar volunteer programs. Having someone knowledgeable review your plans before you apply could provide additional peace of mind, especially with all the different strategies mentioned here about comparing survivor benefits vs. your own retirement benefits. The workshop leader also emphasized keeping copies of EVERYTHING you submit to SSA, which echoes what several people here have mentioned. She said to treat it like a business transaction and maintain your own complete file of all interactions and documents. @Eve Freeman, you're so well-prepared now with everyone's advice! This thread should be required reading for anyone approaching survivor benefits decisions.