Confused about survivor benefits now vs. my own Social Security at 70 - can I get both?

First, I'm very sorry for your loss. You're making a smart decision by waiting until 70 to claim your own retirement benefits. To answer your question directly: at 70, you can switch from survivor benefits to your own retirement benefits IF your own benefit will be higher than what you're receiving as a survivor. However, you cannot receive both your own benefit AND half of your husband's - that's a common misconception. You'll receive whichever is higher: either your own benefit OR your survivor benefit (which is up to 100% of what your husband was receiving or would have received at his FRA, not half).

ur neighbor is wrong, social security NEVER lets u collect both ur own AND survivor at same time. they give u whichever is bigger. thats it.

I went through THE EXACT SAME THING last year!!! My husband passed after 38 years married and I started survivor benefits at my FRA (66 and 2 months). I was also told by my sister that I could collect BOTH benefits - my own retirement AND my husband's!! When I finally got through to SSA (took 3 days of calling!!!), they told me that's COMPLETELY WRONG. You get whichever is HIGHER - your survivor benefit OR your retirement benefit. NOT BOTH!!!!

You're absolutely making the right move by claiming survivor benefits at your FRA and then switching to your own retirement benefit at 70. This strategy allows you to receive 100% of your husband's benefit now while your own benefit grows by 8% per year from 66-70 (for a total of 32% increase). When you reach 70, SSA will automatically review both amounts and pay you the higher of the two. You won't need to make a special request. If your own benefit at 70 exceeds your survivor benefit, they'll switch you. If not, you'll continue receiving the survivor benefit. One important note: If you're working while receiving survivor benefits before your FRA, you would have been subject to the earnings test (where benefits are reduced if you earn above certain thresholds). But since you're at your FRA now, you can earn any amount without reduction of your survivor benefits.

They should send you a notice if they're switching your benefit type, but honestly, the SSA isn't always consistent with their communications. I recommend calling them when you approach 70 to confirm they're reviewing your case for the potential switch. You can also check your MySocialSecurity account online, as it will show which benefit type you're receiving.

I had to help my mom with this exact situation last year. We spent WEEKS trying to get through to someone at Social Security to confirm her benefits would switch correctly at 70. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got us through to an agent in about 20 minutes instead of waiting for hours or getting disconnected. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU The agent confirmed that yes, at 70, they'll automatically review and pay the higher benefit amount. In my mom's case, her own retirement benefit at 70 ended up being about $580 more monthly than her survivor benefit, so it was definitely worth the wait.

just remember that whatever benefit ur getting will have medicare Part B premium taken out when u turn 65. that surprised my aunt, her check went down by like $175 when that kicked in

My condolences on losing your husband. It's such a difficult time emotionally, and then having to figure out all this benefit stuff makes it even harder. When my dad passed, my mom was so confused about all of this too.

WHATEVER YOU DO make sure you keep MULTIPLE COPIES of your husband's death certificate!!! SS needed one copy, then the pension people needed one, then insurance needed one, then the BANK needed one...I ended up having to order MORE certificates because everyone wanted an original copy and some places KEPT THEM instead of returning them to me!!! Get AT LEAST 10 copies!!!

I work with retirees, and I find many people confuse spousal benefits and survivor benefits. With spousal benefits (when both spouses are alive), you can get up to 50% of your spouse's FRA benefit. With survivor benefits (after a spouse dies), you can get up to 100% of what they were receiving. The strategy you're using - taking survivor benefits at your FRA and switching to your own at 70 - is optimal if your own benefit at 70 will exceed your survivor benefit. The SSA should automatically pay the higher amount, but definitely verify this is happening correctly when you reach 70.

Thank you all for the helpful information. I think I understand now - I'll receive my survivor benefits until 70, and then either continue with those OR switch to my own retirement benefits, whichever is higher. I won't get both. I've been planning my retirement budget based on getting both, so I'll need to rethink some things. I appreciate all the advice about contacting SSA too - I'll try that Claimyr service since I still have some questions I'd like to ask an agent directly.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Diego. It sounds like you've gotten some great clarification here from the community. Just wanted to add one more piece of advice - when you do reach 70 and want to confirm everything is switching correctly, you might also consider visiting your local Social Security office in person if phone calls aren't working out. Sometimes face-to-face conversations can be more effective, and you can bring documents with you if needed. Also, keep records of all your communications with SSA (dates, times, names of representatives you speak with) in case there are any issues later. The strategy you're using is definitely the right one financially - you're maximizing your benefits by letting your own retirement benefit grow those extra 4 years while receiving the survivor benefits now.

I'm sorry for your loss, Diego. This is such a difficult time, and dealing with Social Security benefits on top of everything else can be overwhelming. You've gotten excellent advice here from the community. I wanted to add that you might also want to request an updated Social Security Statement (you can get this through your MySocialSecurity account online) to see your projected benefit amount at age 70. This will help you compare it to your current survivor benefit and plan your finances accordingly. The statement will show your estimated monthly benefit if you start collecting at 70, which includes those delayed retirement credits. Having those numbers in front of you can make the decision clearer and help with your retirement planning. Also, if you have any other survivor benefits like from your husband's employer pension or life insurance, make sure to understand how those might be affected by your Social Security choices.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Diego. Losing a spouse after 44 years together must be incredibly difficult, and then having to navigate all these benefit decisions on top of grieving is overwhelming. You've gotten excellent advice here from everyone. Just to reinforce what others have said - you're absolutely making the smart financial move by taking survivor benefits now and waiting until 70 for your own retirement benefit. The key thing to remember is that Social Security will always pay you the HIGHER of the two benefits, never both simultaneously. One additional tip: since you mentioned you're still working until 70, make sure you understand how your earnings might affect your survivor benefits if you're under your full retirement age for any period. But since you just turned 66 (your FRA), you should be able to earn unlimited amounts without any reduction to your survivor benefits. Also, I'd suggest creating a simple spreadsheet or document to track all your interactions with SSA - dates, representative names, reference numbers, what was discussed. This can be invaluable if there are any discrepancies later. The system isn't perfect, and having your own records can save a lot of headaches down the road. Hang in there, and don't hesitate to ask more questions as they come up. This community is really helpful for navigating these complex situations.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Diego. Going through this after 44 years of marriage must be incredibly difficult, and then having to figure out all these Social Security rules on top of everything else is just overwhelming. You've gotten some really solid advice here from the community. I just wanted to add one thing that might help with your planning - when you get closer to age 70, it's worth calling SSA about 2-3 months before your birthday to confirm they have everything set up correctly for the potential switch. Sometimes there can be delays in processing, and you want to make sure there's no gap in your payments. Also, I know several people have mentioned the MySocialSecurity online account, but if you haven't set one up yet, it's definitely worth doing. You can see your payment history, get benefit verification letters, and track any changes to your benefits all in one place. It's been a lifesaver for managing my mom's Social Security issues. You're definitely doing the right thing financially by waiting until 70 for your own benefits while collecting survivor benefits now. Even though it's disappointing that you can't get both, you're still maximizing what you'll receive overall. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Diego. Losing a spouse after so many years together is heartbreaking, and then having to navigate all these complex Social Security rules during such a difficult time just adds to the stress. You've received excellent advice from this community. I went through something similar when my mother was widowed a few years ago. One thing I learned is that it's really important to keep checking your benefit amounts periodically, especially as you approach 70. Sometimes SSA makes calculation errors or doesn't properly account for your earnings history updates. Since you mentioned you're still working, make sure those earnings are being properly credited to your Social Security record. Each year of additional earnings can potentially increase your future benefit calculation, especially if your current earnings are higher than some of your earlier career years. Also, when you do switch to your own retirement benefit at 70, there might be a small adjustment period where the payments seem different for a month or two while they recalculate everything. Don't panic if you see some variation - just follow up with SSA if it doesn't stabilize quickly. You're absolutely making the optimal financial decision by using this strategy. Even though you won't get both benefits, you're maximizing your total lifetime Social Security income. Hang in there, and this community is here to help if you have more questions along the way.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Diego. Losing your husband after 44 years of marriage must be incredibly difficult, and trying to navigate Social Security benefits during this time adds so much stress to an already overwhelming situation. You've received fantastic advice from this community, and I can see you're making the smartest financial decision by taking survivor benefits now and waiting until 70 for your own retirement benefits. The disappointment about not being able to collect both is completely understandable - that's such a common misconception that even well-meaning friends and family often spread. I wanted to add one practical tip that might help: consider setting up automatic reminders on your phone or calendar for key dates and tasks. Things like "Check MySocialSecurity account" every few months, "Call SSA 3 months before 70th birthday," or "Review benefit statements." During grief, it's easy to forget important financial tasks, and having these reminders can help ensure you stay on top of everything without having to keep it all in your head. Also, if you have adult children or other trusted family members, consider keeping them informed about your Social Security strategy. They can help advocate for you if you run into any issues with SSA or serve as a backup to help remember important dates and deadlines. You're handling this difficult situation with such wisdom and care. Take things one step at a time, and know that this community is here to support you through the process.

I'm so deeply sorry for your loss, Diego. Losing your spouse after 44 years is an unimaginable heartbreak, and having to navigate these complex Social Security decisions while grieving just makes everything so much harder. You've received absolutely wonderful guidance from this community, and I can see you're making all the right moves financially. I wanted to add just one more perspective that might help with the emotional side of this transition: many widows and widowers find it helpful to think of maximizing their Social Security benefits as a way of honoring their spouse's memory and ensuring their own long-term financial security - something their spouse would have wanted for them. The strategy you're using really is optimal. While it's disappointing that you can't receive both benefits simultaneously, you're still making the most of the system as it exists. Your survivor benefit provides crucial income now, and waiting until 70 for your own retirement benefit means you'll get the maximum possible amount (132% of your full retirement age benefit due to delayed retirement credits). One small additional tip: when you do eventually speak with SSA representatives, don't hesitate to ask them to repeat or clarify anything you don't understand completely. These are complex rules, and during times of grief and stress, it's even harder to process complicated information. A good representative will be patient and help ensure you fully understand your options. You're handling an incredibly difficult situation with such grace and wisdom. This community will be here to support you as you continue navigating this journey.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Diego. Losing your husband after 44 years must be incredibly difficult, and dealing with Social Security complexity during this time makes it even more overwhelming. You've received excellent advice here from the community. I wanted to add one thing that helped when my aunt went through this same situation - she created a simple folder (both physical and digital) to keep all her Social Security related documents in one place. This included copies of correspondence with SSA, notes from phone calls, her husband's death certificate copies, and printouts from her MySocialSecurity account. When she eventually needed to call SSA again closer to age 70, having everything organized in one place made those conversations much smoother. Also, I noticed you mentioned getting different answers from friends - unfortunately, Social Security rules are so complex that even well-meaning people often share incorrect information. The community here has given you the correct guidance: you'll receive the higher of your survivor benefit OR your own retirement benefit at 70, never both simultaneously. Your strategy of taking survivor benefits now and waiting until 70 for your own retirement benefit is absolutely the right financial decision. You're maximizing your lifetime Social Security income even though you won't get both benefits at once. Take care of yourself during this difficult transition.

My deepest condolences on the loss of your husband, Diego. After 44 years together, this must be an incredibly difficult time, and I can only imagine how overwhelming it feels to navigate these complex benefit decisions while grieving. I'm really glad you found this community - you've received some outstanding advice here that's completely accurate. The key points everyone has made are spot on: you'll receive whichever benefit is higher (survivor OR your own retirement at 70), never both simultaneously, and your current strategy is financially optimal. I wanted to add one small but important detail that might help with your planning: when SSA switches you from survivor benefits to your own retirement benefit at 70 (if yours is higher), there's typically no interruption in your monthly payments. The system is designed to make this transition seamless, so you shouldn't experience any gaps in income during the switch. Also, since you mentioned working until 70, this continued employment might actually boost your eventual retirement benefit calculation if your current earnings are higher than some of your earlier career years. Social Security uses your highest 35 years of earnings, so strong earnings in your final working years can replace lower-earning years from earlier in your career. You're handling this incredibly difficult situation with such thoughtfulness and wisdom. This community will continue to be here to support you as you navigate this journey.