Confused about Social Security survivor benefits reduction before FRA and how much I'll actually receive

I'm so sorry for your loss. To answer your questions: 1. Yes, survivor benefits are reduced if taken before your FRA. The reduction is approximately 0.396% per month before your FRA. At 63, that's roughly a 19% permanent reduction. 2. Your survivor benefit will be based on what your husband was receiving at the time of his death ($2,475), not what he initially received when he first claimed. Also, don't forget you have options. You could take your own reduced retirement benefit now (if you qualify) and switch to the full survivor benefit at your FRA. Or take the reduced survivor benefit now and switch to your own retirement benefit later if it would be higher.

when my wife died I had same questions!! the SS people told me something different every time I called them. so frustrating!!!! One lady said the survivor benefit would be reduced based on when I was born, another said it depends on when my wife was born. total confusion!!!

If you're working while collecting survivor benefits before your FRA, you'll be subject to the earnings test. For 2025, you can earn up to $22,320 without penalty. After that, they deduct $1 for every $2 you earn above the limit. Regarding your second question, the survivor benefit calculation is based on several factors: - If your husband was receiving benefits when he died: you get his full benefit amount ($2,475) - If he was getting a reduced benefit (which he wasn't since he claimed at FRA): you'd get that reduced amount - If your husband claimed early and you claim survivors before your FRA: you get the larger of (a) what he was receiving or (b) 82.5% of his PIA Since he claimed at his FRA and was receiving his full benefit, your survivor benefit would be that $2,475 minus any reduction for your early claiming.

The earnings test reduction is NOT permanent. It only applies until you reach your FRA. Once you hit your FRA, your benefit will be recalculated to credit you back for the months when benefits were withheld due to your earnings. Also important: the earnings test is based on gross wages or net self-employment income, not investment income, pension, or other unearned income.

I tried calling SSA for months about my survivor benefits and kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. So frustrating!! Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to a rep in 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Helped me confirm exactly what my survivor benefit would be based on my husband's record. Worth checking out before your appointment in case you need to call them with follow-up questions.

My experience with survivor benfits was that what they TELL you and what you ACTUALLY get can be different!!! Double check EVERYTHING. When my husband died 2 years ago they promised me one amount based on his benefit but then sent me less. Took 3 months to fix it and they never explained why the mistake happened.

my mom just went thru this last year. one thing nobody mentioned yet - if you have a minor or disabled child of the deceased they can also get benefits. doesnt apply to you probably but just saying for others reading this.

Thanks everyone for your helpful responses! This clears up so much for me before my appointment. I'll definitely keep detailed notes of my meeting with SSA and may try that Claimyr service if I need to call them afterward with questions. It's comforting to know what to expect now.

I'm sorry for your loss, StarStrider. Based on what others have shared here, I wanted to add one more consideration that might help with your decision timing. Since you're 63, you might want to calculate whether delaying survivor benefits until your FRA (which would eliminate that ~19% reduction) makes financial sense compared to claiming now. The break-even point is usually around 12-14 years, so if you expect to live past age 76-77, waiting could provide more lifetime benefits. Of course, this assumes you can manage financially without the benefits for the next few years. Also, if your own work record would provide a higher benefit than the survivor benefit, you might consider the "claim and switch" strategy others mentioned - take reduced survivor benefits now, then switch to your own (unreduced) retirement benefit at your FRA if it's higher. The SSA office should be able to run projections for you showing different scenarios. Don't hesitate to ask them to explain the numbers until you fully understand your options.