Confused about Social Security survivor benefits - mom only getting $535 after dad's death with $3400 benefit

When I went through this with my mom last year, we discovered she was eligible for close to my father's full benefit amount. It sounds like your mom might be caught in what's called the "Government Pension Offset" (GPO) or "Windmill Exclusion Provision" (WEP) if she ever worked for a government job where she didn't pay into Social Security. Or there might be confusion because she was already receiving spousal benefits while your dad was alive. I highly recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to a real SSA agent who can explain exactly what's happening. I wasted weeks trying to get through on my own, but Claimyr got me connected to an agent in under 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU You need to speak with a tier 2 specialist who can review her exact situation - the frontline reps often don't fully understand these calculations.

I think I know what's happening here. Your mother was likely already receiving a spousal benefit while your father was alive, not her own retirement benefit. When a spouse has a small benefit on their own record, SSA automatically gives them a "top up" to bring them to 50% of their spouse's benefit (reduced if they claimed early). This is called the spousal benefit. When your father passed away, your mother would switch from getting a spousal benefit (up to 50% of his amount) to a survivor benefit (up to 100% of his amount). BUT - and this is crucial - the survivor benefit is ALSO reduced if she claimed ANY benefits before her Full Retirement Age (FRA). Since she claimed at 62, which is well before her FRA of probably around 66, her survivor benefits are permanently reduced by a significant percentage (potentially 28-30%). So the calculation is likely: 1. Dad's benefit: $4200 2. Reduction for early claiming: ~30% 3. Resulting survivor benefit: ~$2940 But wait - you said she's only getting $670? That still seems way off unless there's another reduction factor. Was your father already receiving reduced benefits because HE claimed early?

I went through EXACT same thing with my husband!!!!!! The SS office told me I was CRAZY when I said I should get more after he passed!!! Turns out they had ME WRONG in their system!!!! They had me down as taking benefits at 62 but I WAITED till 65!!!! Made a HUGE difference when they fixed it. DEMAND to talk to a supervisor and have them review EVERY DETAIL!!!! They make MISTAKES all the time!!!!

Your mother's situation is actually fairly common, though confusing. Here's what's likely happening: 1. Your mother was already receiving what's called a "deemed spousal benefit" while your father was alive. This means SSA was already giving her both her earned benefit (~$440) plus a supplement to reach the maximum she was entitled to as a spouse. 2. Because she claimed at 62, her maximum potential spousal benefit while your father was alive would have been around 32.5% of his PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) instead of the full 50% she'd get if she claimed at her FRA. 3. Now that your father has passed, she's eligible for survivor benefits, but again, claiming any benefits before her FRA results in a permanent reduction. The exact reduction depends on how many months before FRA she claimed. 4. There's also a limit called the RIB-LIM (Retirement Insurance Benefit Limitation) that can come into play with survivor benefits when someone claimed early retirement. I recommend requesting an appointment with an SSA Claims Specialist specifically. Regular representatives often don't understand these complex situations. Ask them to explain the RIB-LIM calculation if it applies to your mother's case.

My aunt just went thru this mess. If ur mom was getting spousal benefits while ur dad was alive, then she already WAS getting a portion of his benefits. When someone dies, the smaller benefit between the couple goes away completely. Sounds like ur dad's big check died with him and ur mom just continues with her smaller amount plus maybe a bit more. Super unfair but thats how they do it. Social Security is VERY confusing!!!

i had similar issue. took 5 calls to finally get someone who knew what they were talking about. turns out my wifes benefit was reduced by my pension from old job where i didnt pay into SS. its called GPO or WEP or something. maybe check if that applies?

Thank you all for the helpful replies! I'm learning so much. I've scheduled another call with SSA for later this week and I'm going to ask specifically about: 1. The early claiming reduction (mom did claim at 62) 2. Whether the RIB-LIM is affecting her case 3. Verification of all her claiming dates and work history I'll update when I learn more. It's frustrating that something so important to seniors is this complicated!

Just wanted to circle back - did you try Claimyr to get through to SSA? I found their service so helpful when dealing with my mom's benefits. The regular SSA phone line had me on hold for hours, but Claimyr got me through in minutes. Definitely worth checking out at claimyr.com if you're still having trouble getting answers.

One more important thing to mention: Make sure you're talking to a Claims Specialist who understands the "maximization of survivor benefits" calculations. The $670/month figure still seems unusually low unless there are other factors at play. Be sure to ask them to explain exactly how they calculated her new benefit amount, including any applicable reductions for early claiming. Request a detailed breakdown in writing - this is your right as a beneficiary. Also, if they determine there has been an error, be aware that SSA can typically only pay retroactive benefits for up to 6 months, so it's important to get this resolved quickly if there is indeed a mistake.

I'm so sorry for your loss and the stress this is adding during an already difficult time. As someone who recently helped my elderly neighbor navigate a similar situation, I wanted to share a few things that might help. First, the $670 amount does seem surprisingly low given your father's $4200 benefit. Even with early claiming reductions, your mom should typically receive a higher survivor benefit than what she's getting now. One thing to double-check: Was your father receiving his full benefit amount, or was his $4200 already reduced because he claimed early too? This would affect the base amount used for calculating your mom's survivor benefits. Also, I'd recommend asking SSA to provide you with a copy of your mom's complete earnings record and benefit calculation worksheet. Sometimes there are errors in their system regarding work history or claiming dates that can significantly impact benefit amounts. The fact that multiple representatives have given you the runaround without a clear explanation is unfortunately common, but don't give up. You have the right to understand exactly how they calculated her benefits. If needed, consider filing an appeal or requesting a formal review of her case. Keep detailed notes of every conversation, including names and reference numbers. This documentation can be crucial if you need to escalate the issue. Your persistence could make a real difference in your mom's financial security.

I'm really sorry for your loss and the confusion you're dealing with during such a difficult time. As someone who works in benefits administration, I wanted to add a few technical points that might help explain what's happening. The key issue here is likely the interaction between early claiming penalties and the specific type of benefits your mom was receiving before your dad passed. If she was already getting a "deemed spousal benefit" (which combines her own small earned benefit with a spousal supplement), the transition to survivor benefits isn't as straightforward as many people expect. Here's what I'd specifically ask SSA to clarify: 1. What was your mom's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) before any reductions? 2. What percentage reduction is being applied due to her claiming at 62? 3. Was she receiving spousal benefits or just her own earned benefit while your dad was alive? One often-overlooked factor is that if your mom was already receiving the maximum possible spousal benefit while your dad was alive, and that amount was close to what she's getting now as a survivor, it might actually be correct - just not what you'd intuitively expect. Also, definitely request form SSA-1099 for both your parents for the past few years. This will show exactly what benefits were being paid to whom, which can help clarify the situation. Don't give up - you're doing the right thing by advocating for your mom!