Confused about survivor benefits - should I get higher amount based on husband's age at death (69) vs. his FRA?

You're absolutely correct to question this. As a survivor, you're entitled to the HIGHER of: 1) What your husband was receiving when he died (or would have received if he hadn't claimed yet), or 2) 82.5% of your husband's PIA if you claim at age 60. Since your husband delayed claiming until 69, his benefit would have included delayed retirement credits (DRCs) - approximately 8% per year beyond his FRA. Those representatives were likely giving you the amount based on your husband's PIA at his FRA, not including his DRCs up to age 69. I'd definitely go back and specifically ask about the delayed retirement credits he earned between 66-69. Those credits should be included in your survivor benefit calculation.

the same thing happened to me!! the first SSA person i talked to gave me a lower amount and didnt include my husbands delayed credits. it was only when i went back the third time and got someone who really knew the survivor rules that i got the right amount. bring your husbands death certificate and his social security statement if you have it.

This is really important!!! My mom had almost the exact same situation and the SS office made a HUGE mistake that cost her almost $400 a month until she got it fixed! The delayed retirement credits your husband earned from 66 to 69 absolutely should be factored into your survivor benefits. Don't let them tell you otherwise!

I went through this last yr... u need to talk to a Technical Expert at SSA not just regular rep. Ask specifically for one when u call or visit office. They know the complicated stuff like DRCs for survivors. good luck!!

You're running into a common confusion point with survivor benefits. Here's what's happening: You absolutely should receive the higher amount including your husband's delayed retirement credits from age 66 to 69. That's approximately 24-32% more than his FRA amount (depending on his birth year). However, there are two important factors to consider: 1. If you claim survivor benefits before your own FRA (66+10mo), you'll face a reduction based on your age. 2. If you're receiving your own benefits already, the survivor benefit will be reduced by that amount. Based on what you've described, it sounds like the SSA representatives are either not accounting for your husband's delayed retirement credits or they're applying some reduction incorrectly. I would recommend asking to speak with a Technical Expert who specializes in survivor benefits. Be very specific about your husband's age at death (69) and that he had earned delayed retirement credits by waiting past his FRA.

I actually had this exact issue when my husband passed. The regular SSA representatives kept giving me the wrong information about my survivor benefits. I tried calling for weeks and either couldn't get through or got different answers every time. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an SSA agent in just 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU When I finally got through, I specifically asked for a Technical Expert who could handle survivor benefits with delayed retirement credits. That made all the difference - they recalculated my benefit correctly and I ended up getting about $650 more per month than what I was initially told! Plus they gave me back pay for the months they had been underpaying me.

Just wanted to add that my neighbor had EXACT same problem!!! The SSA people kept telling her the wrong amount until she brought in PROOF that her husband died after FRA and hadn't claimed SS yet. then they finally fixed it. So frustrating!!!!

One more important point I want to clarify: The survivor benefit is based on what your husband would have received at the time of his death, including any delayed retirement credits. Since he passed at 69 (3 years after his FRA), his benefit would include approximately 24% in delayed retirement credits (8% per year for 3 years). To calculate: If the SSA is telling you the amount at his FRA would be $2,975, then with delayed retirement credits, your survivor benefit should be approximately $3,689 (2,975 × 1.24). The difference is over $700 per month - or more than $8,400 per year - for the rest of your life. This is absolutely worth pursuing. When you go back, ask specifically for a Technical Expert and use these precise terms: "I need a calculation of my survivor benefit that includes my deceased husband's delayed retirement credits from age 66 to 69."

Based on everyone's advice, here's what I recommend you do: 1. Make an appointment with your local SSA office (don't just walk in) 2. Ask specifically for a Technical Expert who specializes in survivor benefits 3. Bring your husband's death certificate, his Social Security statement if you have it, and your marriage certificate 4. Use this specific language: "I need a recalculation of my survivor benefits that includes the delayed retirement credits my husband earned between his FRA at 66 and his death at 69" 5. Request a written explanation of the calculation they provide If you continue to face resistance, you have the right to file for a reconsideration or even appeal the decision. But hopefully, speaking with the right specialist will resolve this without further steps.