Need that blue SS flowchart showing spousal/survivor benefit options - friend has questions

I think I know the one you're talking about! Was it the "Social Security claiming strategy flowchart" from that financial planning website? I remember it had those blue boxes with yes/no decision points for things like "Are you full retirement age?" and "Were you born before 1954?" My brother-in-law died 2 years ago and that chart really helped my sister figure out whether to take survivor benefits immediately or wait. I'll look through my files tonight to see if I saved it.

I have a few different Social Security charts saved. Can you recall any specific details about what was included? Was it specifically for survivors or did it cover spousal benefits for those still married too? The reason I ask is that there are different rules depending on whether someone is applying for spousal benefits (marriage still intact) versus survivor benefits (after death of spouse). Also, was this a chart from the SSA website or from a third-party financial planning site? That might help me narrow down which one you're looking for.

I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS SAME CHART!!! The SSA website is SO confusing and the phone lines are ALWAYS busy. I waited 2.5 HOURS last week and then got disconnected!!! My husband is 3 years older than me and we're trying to figure out the best way to maximize our benefits. Do I take spousal at 62? Wait til my FRA? Take mine first then switch?? The SSA people won't even tell you the best strategy, they just tell you what you're eligible for. SO FRUSTRATING!!!!

I believe I know exactly which chart you're referring to. Is it the one created by Dr. William Reichenstein? He's a well-known Social Security claiming strategy expert, and he developed a comprehensive blue-colored flowchart that covers both spousal and survivor benefit decision paths. For your friend specifically dealing with survivor benefits, here are the key points she should know: 1. Survivor benefits can begin as early as age 60 (or 50 if disabled) 2. Taking survivor benefits early reduces them permanently (at 60, it's about 71.5% of what she'd get at her FRA) 3. If she has her own work record, she can potentially take survivor benefits first and switch to her own retirement benefits later (or vice versa) 4. The FRA for survivor benefits might be different than her FRA for her own retirement benefits I'll look for the chart and post it if I find it. In the meantime, has your friend created her my Social Security account online? That would show her projected benefit amounts.

I dont have the chart but my cousin was in the same boat last year when her husband died. She tried calling Social Security for weeks and couldn't get thru. Busy signals and disconnects. She found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got her connected to a actual SSA person in under 10 minutes! They have a video showing how it works https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. She said it saved her sanity during a really rough time.

I found it! I'm almost certain this is the chart you're looking for: it's the "Social Security Benefits Decision Guide" created by Reichenstein and Meyer. It has multiple blue flowcharts for different scenarios including one specifically for survivor benefits. I can't post images directly here, but if you search for "Reichenstein Meyer Social Security flowchart blue" you should find it. Several financial planning sites have it available for download. For your friend specifically, make sure she knows that: 1. She needs to report the death to Social Security if she hasn't already (can't be done online) 2. Survivor benefits don't start automatically - she must apply 3. The one-time death benefit of $255 is separate from monthly survivor benefits 4. If she was already receiving spousal benefits, they don't automatically convert to survivor benefits The best claiming strategy will depend on her age, whether she has her own work record, and if she's working now. The flowchart should help visualize her options.

I found my copy! Looks like someone already pointed you to it, but just to confirm - it's definitely the Reichenstein & Meyer one. My sister's situation was complicated because she was only 58 when my brother-in-law died, but she was caring for their disabled adult son. The chart helped her see that she qualified for survivor benefits early because of the child-in-care provision, even though she was under 60. Is your friend raising any children? That changes the options quite a bit.

Since your friend's husband hadn't started benefits yet, she should definitely understand the "deemed filing" rules don't apply to survivor benefits. This means she could potentially take reduced survivor benefits now at 62 and then switch to her own retirement benefit at 70 if it would be higher (or vice versa - take her reduced retirement now and switch to full survivor benefits at her full retirement age). This is one of the few remaining ways to use a "claim now, claim more later" strategy since the 2015 rule changes. The chart should help explain this, but it might be worth her consulting with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security to run the numbers for her specific situation.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm a widow myself (lost my husband 18 months ago) and I wish I had found that flowchart back then. I made some mistakes early on because I didn't understand all my options. Just wanted to add a few things that might help your friend: 1. She should definitely apply for the $255 death benefit if she hasn't already - it's a one-time payment but every bit helps during this difficult time. 2. If she's working, there are earnings limits that could affect her survivor benefits before her full retirement age (but NOT after FRA). 3. The Social Security office will want to see the death certificate, so make sure she has certified copies. 4. Don't let anyone pressure her into making quick decisions about when to claim - she has time to figure out the best strategy for her situation. The grief makes everything so much harder to process, so having visual aids like that flowchart really does help. Sending good thoughts to your friend during this tough time.