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.