Confused about widow survivor benefit calculations from age 60 to 70 - need SS printout clarification

The printout you received is useful but incomplete. Yes, you should have received projections through age 70, especially since delaying your own retirement benefit (not the survivor benefit) until 70 could significantly increase your monthly amount. To answer your questions: 1. You CAN figure out benefits at specific ages from your printout, but only up to age 67 (your FRA assuming you were born in 1960s). 2. If you stop working at 60 or 62, your own retirement benefit could indeed be lower than what's shown on the printout, because the calculation uses your highest 35 years of earnings. Fewer years of contributions might mean lower benefits. 3. However, your survivor benefit is based on your deceased husband's earnings record, so stopping work doesn't affect that particular benefit. A smart strategy many widows consider is taking the survivor benefit at 60 (or any age between 60-FRA with a reduction) while letting their own retirement benefit grow, then switching to their own benefit at 70 if it would be higher. The printout should show you the survivor amounts at different ages so you can see the reduction for claiming early.

I went thru this EXACT situation after my husband died!!! The SSA gives you the MINIMUM info they think you need but it's never enough!! You absolutely need the numbers thru age 70 because that's when your OWN benefit maxes out. If you stop working at 60 or 62, YES your benefit will likely go down from what they printed!!! Those calculations assume you keep earning at your current level till retirement. When I stopped working at 61 my projected benefit dropped by about $400/month from what they originally showed me!!! The survivor benefit is different - it's based on what your husband earned, so stopping work doesn't affect THAT benefit. But it DOES affect your own benefit. DO NOT TRUST that they gave you everything you need - they RARELY do. Go back and demand the full printout through 70!!!

When I needed to reach someone knowledgeable at Social Security about my widow benefits last year, I was getting nowhere with the regular channels. After three disconnected calls and a 2-hour wait at the office only to be told to come back another day, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They got me connected to an actual SSA agent in under 10 minutes. The agent was able to give me the complete benefit projection I needed including all ages from 60 to 70. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU It saved me from taking another day off work just to get the information I needed for retirement planning. Honestly, when it comes to widow benefits, you really need to speak with someone who specializes in survivor claims, not just the first available agent.

I'm a retired financial planner who worked with many widows on SS planning. Here's what you should know: 1. The printout you got (probably a PEBES statement) is incomplete. You need projections through 70. 2. If you stop working before FRA, your own retirement benefit will likely be lower than projected. The SSA calculations assume you continue earning at your current level until the benefit age. 3. For each year you don't work, SSA might add a $0 or low-earning year to your calculation, potentially lowering your PIA (Primary Insurance Amount). 4. The survivor benefit reduction works differently: 100% at your FRA, reduced by about 0.396% per month if taken before FRA (down to 71.5% if taken at exactly age 60). Many widows use a strategy of taking reduced survivor benefits early, then switching to their own retirement benefit at 70 (assuming it's higher). But you need the full 60-70 projections to determine if this makes sense in your situation. Ask specifically for the "detailed benefit calculation showing both widow/survivor benefits AND retirement benefits from age 60 through 70.

my mom took her widow benefit at 60 and it was way less than if she waited but she needed the money. but now shes 68 and still gets way less than if she would have waited til her FRA. make sure u really need the money if u take it early cause u get stuck with that lower amount forever

The SSA should give you all possible scenarios! Someone there just didn't want to do the extra work. I had a similar experience but I kept asking questions until they gave me the full printout. One thing nobody mentioned yet - if your husband already started taking his benefits before he died, that affects your survivor amount too. Did he file early or was he not receiving benefits yet when he passed?

Here's what I recommend you do specifically: 1. Call or visit SSA again and request a "detailed benefit estimate showing both your own retirement benefit AND widow's benefit from age 60 through 70" 2. Ask them to provide calculations showing your retirement benefit under two scenarios: (a) if you continue working until each claiming age, and (b) if you stop working at 60 3. For accurate planning, take both printouts to a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security strategies for widows The benefit amount printed for your own retirement benefit assumes you continue earning similar wages until you claim. The survivor benefit (based on your husband's record) won't change regardless of your future earnings. One optimal strategy is often to take the reduced survivor benefit at 60 (accepting the 28.5% reduction) and then switch to your own benefit at 70 when it's maximized with delayed retirement credits. But you need the full age 60-70 projections to confirm if this makes financial sense in your specific case.

ANOTHER THING - make sure the SSA office is showing your husband's CORRECT earnings!!! When my husband died, they somehow had years missing from his record which would have DRASTICALLY reduced my survivor benefit! I had to bring in his W-2s to prove his actual earnings. The difference was over $600/month!! DO NOT assume their records are correct!!! And YES get projections to age 70!! The strategy of taking survivor benefits early and then switching to your own benefit at 70 can give you THOUSANDS more over your lifetime!!

im going thru this now at 63 and its so confusing. i take care of my grandkids 2 days a week so im working part time only. nobody told me this would affect my benefit amount. now i find out my benefit is way less than what they first told me i would get. make sure u understand how working part time affects things

Looking at your situation more specifically: 1. If you were born in the mid-60s, your FRA is 67, so taking survivor benefits at 60 means a reduction to about 71.5% of the full amount 2. Since your husband died before claiming benefits, your survivor benefit would be based on what he would have received at his FRA (100% of his PIA) 3. If you stop working at 60 or 62, the printout you received is no longer accurate for your OWN benefit, as it assumes continued earnings 4. SSA's benefit estimates are just that - estimates. They can change based on future earnings or corrections to earnings records The most common mistake widows make is not understanding they can claim survivor benefits and their own retirement benefit separately at different times. This dual entitlement creates planning opportunities that don't exist for most other beneficiaries. In your position, I'd recommend getting the complete projections through 70, verifying your deceased husband's earnings record accuracy, and potentially consulting with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security planning for widows.

After getting the projections, make sure you understand the earnings test if you plan to work while collecting survivor benefits before FRA. In 2023, if you earn over $21,240 while receiving benefits before your FRA, SSA withholds $1 for every $2 you earn above that limit. Many people don't realize this and get surprised by benefit reductions or overpayment notices later. When I was trying to understand all these complex rules, I spent weeks trying to get clear answers from SSA. Eventually I used that Claimyr service I mentioned and finally got a knowledgeable agent who explained everything clearly. If you're still having trouble getting through to someone helpful at SSA, it might be worth trying.

I'm so sorry for your loss and can completely relate to the confusion you're experiencing. I went through something very similar when my husband passed away three years ago. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to track all the different scenarios once I finally got the complete information from SSA. I compared taking survivor benefits at 60, 62, and at my FRA, then looked at what my own retirement benefit would be at 67 and 70. A few practical tips from my experience: - When you go back to SSA, ask to speak with a claims specialist who handles survivor benefits specifically, not just any available agent - Bring a notepad and don't be afraid to ask them to repeat information or explain things differently - If possible, try to go mid-week and earlier in the day when they're less rushed The decision you're making will affect your finances for the rest of your life, so don't let anyone rush you through it. You have every right to understand all your options completely. The fact that you're asking these questions now shows you're being smart about this difficult situation. Hang in there - once you get the full picture with all the numbers, the decision becomes much clearer.

I'm dealing with a similar situation and wanted to share something that might help. When I was getting nowhere with the regular SSA phone line and office visits, I discovered that you can actually request a "Social Security Statement" online at ssa.gov/myaccount that shows your earnings history and benefit estimates. While it won't give you the complete 60-70 projections you need, it can help you verify that your husband's earnings record is accurate before your next visit. Also, I learned that there's a difference between the basic benefit estimate they give you and what's called a "detailed benefit calculation." The detailed version shows exactly how they arrived at each number and includes more scenarios. When you go back, specifically ask for the "detailed benefit calculation for both survivor benefits and retirement benefits from age 60 through 70." One more thing - if you're planning to stop working early, ask them to run the calculation showing what your benefit would be with zero earnings from whatever age you plan to stop. This will give you a more realistic picture of your actual retirement benefit rather than the projected one that assumes continued earnings. The whole process is frustrating but you're asking all the right questions. Don't let them rush you - this is too important to get wrong.

I'm a widow who went through this exact process last year, and I want to emphasize something that several people have mentioned but bears repeating - make absolutely sure you understand the "file and suspend" strategy that's available to widows. Here's what I wish someone had explained to me clearly from the start: as a widow, you have a unique opportunity that most people don't have. You can take your survivor benefit as early as age 60 (with a reduction) while letting your OWN retirement benefit continue to grow until age 70. Then you can switch to whichever benefit is higher. This is different from regular married couples who lost this option in 2016. Widows still have this flexibility. In my case, I took the reduced survivor benefit at 62 (about 82% of the full amount) and I'm letting my own benefit grow with delayed retirement credits until I'm 70. My financial planner calculated that over my lifetime, this strategy will give me about $80,000 more than if I had waited and taken the full survivor benefit at my FRA. But here's the key - you absolutely need those projections through age 70 to run these calculations properly. Don't let them tell you the basic printout is sufficient. And definitely verify your husband's earnings record is complete and accurate before making any decisions. The math can be complex, but the planning opportunity is real and significant. Take your time to understand all your options.

I'm so sorry for your loss, and I completely understand your frustration with getting incomplete information from SSA. This is unfortunately very common, and you're absolutely right to push for more complete projections. Based on what everyone has shared here, I'd suggest going back with a very specific request. Ask for a "detailed benefit calculation showing both survivor benefits AND retirement benefits from age 60 through 70, including scenarios where I stop working at age 60 and at age 62." One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also ask them to show you the break-even analysis. This tells you at what age the total lifetime benefits become equal between different claiming strategies. For example, if you take reduced survivor benefits early versus waiting for full benefits, there's usually a break-even point around age 78-82 where the total amount received becomes equal. The widow's planning strategy is one of the most complex areas in Social Security, but also one where the right decision can mean tens of thousands of dollars over your lifetime. Don't let anyone rush you through this - you have every right to understand all your options completely before making such an important financial decision. You're being very smart by asking these questions now. Take your time, get all the information, and consider consulting with a fee-only financial planner who specializes in Social Security strategies if the numbers are still confusing after you get the complete projections.

I'm so sorry for your loss and can completely understand your frustration with the incomplete information from SSA. You're absolutely right to be asking these questions - this decision will impact your financial security for the rest of your life. From my experience helping clients navigate Social Security decisions, the printout you received is likely a basic benefit estimate that stops at your Full Retirement Age (67). You definitely need projections through age 70 because that's when your own retirement benefit reaches its maximum value with delayed retirement credits. Here's what you should specifically request on your next visit: 1. "Detailed benefit calculation for both survivor benefits AND retirement benefits from age 60 through 70" 2. Ask them to run scenarios showing your retirement benefit if you stop working at 60 vs. continuing to work 3. Request a break-even analysis comparing different claiming strategies The key strategy many widows use is taking reduced survivor benefits early (as early as 60) while letting their own retirement benefit grow until age 70, then switching to whichever is higher. But you need those complete projections to determine if this makes sense in your situation. Also, verify your husband's earnings record is accurate - errors are more common than you'd think and can significantly impact your survivor benefit amount. Don't let them rush you through this. You have every right to understand all your options completely before making such an important decision.