SS Survivor Benefits at 63 - No waiting until FRA due to RIB/LIM rule saving me thousands

I'm so glad you were able to benefit from the RIB/LIM rule! It's one of those provisions that can save people thousands but isn't widely understood. For others who might be reading: RIB/LIM (Retirement Insurance Benefit/Limitation) essentially means that if you've already taken your own retirement benefit, then later claim survivors benefits, the reduction for claiming survivors before FRA is calculated differently - often resulting in no penalty at all in these specific circumstances.\n\nKey points for anyone in a similar situation:\n1. This only works if you claimed your own retirement benefit FIRST\n2. Then become eligible for survivor benefits AFTER that\n3. Must have been married at least 10 years for ex-spouse benefits\n4. The exact calculation depends on your specific PIA and benefit amounts\n\nAnd remember, the SSA doesn't always volunteer this information. Many agents aren't familiar with these more complex provisions because they don't come up every day.

Thank you for explaining it so clearly! The SSA agent actually had to look it up when I mentioned it. I'm so glad I knew to ask specifically about RIB/LIM. Do you know if there are other similar provisions people commonly miss out on? I feel like I should make a list for when other life changes happen.

congrats on ur win! my mom could have used this info when my dad passed. she waited till 66 to claim survivors and missed out on like 3 yrs of higher payments bc nobody told her bout this rule. the SSA really should explain these things better!

Unfortunately this happens ALL THE TIME. The SSA agents aren't incentivized to help people maximize their benefits. In fact, most are so overwhelmed with applications that they're just trying to process claims as quickly as possible. They won't volunteer information about special rules that could help you unless you specifically ask.\n\nI always recommend reading everything you can about your specific situation, AND bringing written notes to your appointment with specific questions about provisions like RIB/LIM, restricted application, file and suspend (though that's mostly gone now), deemed filing exceptions, etc. The difference can be tens of thousands of dollars over your lifetime!

I've been trying to reach SSA for WEEKS about my survivor benefits!!! My husband passed in January and every time I call I get disconnected after waiting 2+ hours. Tried going to the local office but they're appointment only and the next available is 6 weeks out!!! How did you manage to get someone to actually help you? I'm 64 and don't know if this RIB/LIM thing applies to me but I NEED to talk to someone to figure out my options!!!! So frustrating!!!

I had the same problem trying to reach SSA about my retirement application status. After dozens of failed attempts, I found a service called Claimyr that got me through to an agent in under 20 minutes. It basically calls SSA for you and holds your place in line, then calls you back when an agent is available. Saved me hours of frustration. Check out their video demo: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU or their website claimyr.com\n\nFor your situation specifically, it sounds like RIB/LIM might apply if you've already filed for your own retirement benefits. But you definitely need to speak with SSA directly to confirm your specific case. Survivor benefits have different rules than regular retirement benefits, and the RIB/LIM calculation depends on your individual benefit amounts and when you filed.

THANK YOU!!!! I'll try this service right away. I'm desperate at this point. My husband handled all our finances and I'm lost without his income. Need to get this sorted ASAP!

Congratz on figuring out the system! My wife just got approved for SSDI last month after 2 denials and we found out there's a 5 month waiting period before payments start? Why does the govt make everything so complicated lol

That's completely different from what OP is talking about. SSDI is disability, she's talking about retirement and survivor benefits which have totally different rules. And yes, SSDI has a 5-month waiting period from onset date, but that's to prevent short-term disability claims. Survivor benefits don't have the same waiting period, but they do have different rules about when you can claim them.

Oh sorry my bad! I'm new to all this SS stuff and it's confusing. Just saw something about benefits and wanted to share our experience.

Great job advocating for yourself! I always tell my clients they need to be their own best advocate with SSA. The RIB/LIM rule is actually in the POMS (Program Operations Manual System) that SSA uses, but many agents aren't familiar with it.\n\nFor others reading: The exact citation is POMS RS 00615.482 if you need to reference it. Print this out and take it with you if you're in a similar situation.\n\nOne important caveat though - this works well in your case because your ex-spouse's benefit was significantly higher than your own. If the difference had been smaller, the math might not have worked out as favorably. The RIB/LIM calculation has to do with the relationship between your PIA, your reduced retirement benefit, and the survivor's PIA. It's one of the most complex calculations in the Social Security system.

Thank you for the POMS reference! I wish I'd known to bring that to my appointment. The supervisor had to look it up and it took an extra 45 minutes. My ex's benefit was about 60% higher than mine, so it made a huge difference in my case. I'm still in shock that I can receive the higher amount now instead of waiting years.

wait im confused about something. does this work for regular spousal benefits too or only survivors? my husband makes way more than me and i already filed for my own benefits at 62 last year. can i get some of his now or do i still have to wait??

No, the RIB/LIM rule only applies to survivor benefits (when the worker has passed away). For spousal benefits while your husband is still living, different rules apply. \n\nSince you've already filed for your own benefits and you're under FRA, you're subject to deemed filing rules, which means you're automatically filing for all benefits you're eligible for. If your husband has already filed for his retirement, you could get a spousal top-up if 50% of his PIA is higher than your own benefit. But this would be reduced because you filed early.\n\nIf your husband hasn't filed for his benefits yet, you can't receive spousal benefits until he does file. And when you do receive them, they'll be permanently reduced because you filed before your FRA.

oh ok i think i get it. my husband hasnt filed yet hes still working. so i guess i just get my own smaller benefit until he decides to file? this stuff is SO confusing!

THIS IS WHY I HATE THE SSA!!! They DELIBERATELY make these rules complicated so people miss out on benefits they're entitled to. It's like they're HIDING money from us that we paid into the system! I waited until FRA for survivor benefits because FOUR DIFFERENT SSA AGENTS told me I had to or I'd get a reduced amount. Nobody mentioned this RIB/LIM thing. I've lost over $40K because of their

While I understand your frustration, I don't think it's a deliberate attempt to hide benefits. The Social Security system has evolved over decades with amendments, court decisions, and policy changes layered on top of each other. The result is undeniably complex, but it's more a product of incremental changes than malicious design.\n\nThat said, the knowledge gap among SSA representatives is a real problem. The agency is understaffed and undertrained on some of these complex provisions. Many representatives simply don't encounter these special cases often enough to be familiar with them.\n\nUnfortunately, there's generally no recourse for benefits you could have received if you had filed differently in the past. Once benefits decisions are made and more than 60 days have passed, they're typically considered final even if you received incorrect information from SSA.

Easy for you to say when it wasn't YOUR money!!! $40K would have made a HUGE difference in my life. And why aren't the agents properly trained? It's LITERALLY their job to know these rules. If I made mistakes like that at my job I'd be FIRED. But government workers? No accountability whatsoever!

Update: I received my first increased payment today! The process was actually pretty smooth once I got the right person to help me. For those asking: I brought my marriage certificate, divorce decree, and ex's death certificate to the appointment. I also brought my most recent SS statement showing my current benefit amount.\n\nThe difference between my own retirement benefit and the survivor benefit is about $1,250 monthly, which will make a huge difference in my financial security. I was already planning my budget super carefully to make it through the next few years until FRA, but now I can breathe a little easier.\n\nBTW, the agent mentioned that if I hadn't already filed for my own benefits, the math would have been completely different. Apparently, the specific order of filing matters tremendously with these rules. So glad I happened to do it in the optimal order even though I didn't know about this rule when I first filed for my own benefits!

This is great to hear! And yes, filing order can sometimes make a difference of tens of thousands of dollars over a lifetime. For anyone else reading who hasn't filed yet and has multiple potential benefit sources (own work record, current spouse, ex-spouse, deceased spouse), it's worth consulting with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security claiming strategies before making any filing decisions.\n\nThe optimal strategy depends on age differences between spouses, benefit amounts, life expectancy, and other factors. What works for one person might be completely wrong for someone else.

Is there any way to UNDO a filing decision? I filed for retirement at 62 last year but now wondering if that was a mistake. Can I withdraw my application or something???

@profile4 - Yes, but with strict limitations. You can withdraw your Social Security application (Form SSA-521) within 12 months of first receiving benefits. However, you must repay ALL benefits you've received so far, including Medicare premiums and any benefits family members received on your record. After 12 months, or if you can't repay benefits, withdrawal isn't an option.\n\nAlternatively, if you've reached FRA, you can suspend benefits, which doesn't require repayment but just stops current and future payments until you restart them (or reach 70 when they automatically restart). This allows your benefit to grow with delayed retirement credits.\n\nBut neither of these affects the RIB/LIM rule being discussed here, which specifically applies to people who took their own retirement first, then became eligible for survivor benefits later.

I don't think I can pay back everything! Ugh, I should have researched more before filing. I just assumed taking it at 62 was best because I needed the money then. Nobody told me about all these exceptions and special rules!