Should I take SS survivor benefits at 66 or wait until FRA at 66+6months while still working?

I was in a similar situation last year. If you're financially stable, definitely wait until your EXACT FRA (66+6mo) to claim the survivor benefit. At that point, you'll receive 100% of your wife's benefit amount - not the reduced percentages you mentioned. The reduction percentages only apply if you claim BEFORE your FRA. If your wife took benefits early at 62, you'd receive what she was actually receiving ($3,180) OR what she would have received at her FRA, whichever is higher. You can ask the SSA rep to calculate both numbers during your call. I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to connect with SSA quickly when I was figuring this out. Saved me hours of waiting on hold - you can see how it works in their video: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Worth it when you need answers to make these big decisions.

your mixing up the percentages. the 95.93% and 91.86% only apply if you take benefits BEFORE full retirement age, not after. and those numbers depend on how many MONTHS early you file, not which month your born in. if you wait til your FRA you get 100% of what she was getting or would have gotten at her FRA (the higher amount

Since you're still working and making $98k/year, be aware that if you claim survivor benefits before your FRA (66+6mo), you'll be subject to the earnings test. For 2025, they'll deduct $1 for every $3 you earn above $56,520 (for the year you reach FRA). With your income, that would significantly reduce your survivor benefits until you reach FRA. Once you reach your FRA, the earnings test no longer applies - you can earn unlimited amounts without affecting your benefits. This is another strong reason to wait until your exact FRA before claiming. Also, taking survivor benefits at FRA won't impact your own retirement benefit that you plan to claim at 70. This strategy (survivor now, own later) is often the most advantageous.

I'm a benefits counselor, and there's an important detail you should understand about survivor benefits. If your wife claimed her own retirement benefits early (at 62), there's a limit to what you can receive as a survivor. The maximum would be the larger of: 1. The actual amount she was receiving at death ($3,180) 2. 82.5% of her Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) - which is what she would have received at her FRA Since she claimed at 62, she was receiving about 70-75% of her PIA. So the 82.5% limit might give you a higher amount. This is called the RIB-LIM (Retirement Insurance Benefit Limitation) and it's critical to understand for your situation. Wait until your exact FRA (66+6mo) to avoid both the earnings test and any early filing reduction. There's absolutely no advantage to filing for survivor benefits before your FRA in your situation.

My husband died 3 years ago and I went through this exact thing! The most important thing is DON'T TAKE ANY BENEFITS BEFORE YOUR FRA!!! I made that mistake and I'm stuck with a lower amount forever. The earnings test hit me hard too because I was still working. Just wait those extra 6 months - you'll be so glad you did!

Just checking - have you requested your own Social Security statement recently? You should compare your future age 70 benefit with your potential survivor benefit. In some cases, if your own benefit would be much higher at 70, and you need income now, it might make sense to take the survivor benefit at FRA and then switch to your own at 70. You can check your estimated benefits online at my.ssa.gov or request a statement by mail. Having both numbers will help you make a better decision.

I TRIED FOR WEEKS to get through to SSA on the phone when my husband died last year!!! The wait times were INSANE and they kept disconnecting me. I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to a real person in less than 20 minutes. They charge a fee but OMG it was worth it! I was ready to pull my hair out before I found them.

Based on your situation, here's what I recommend: 1. Wait until exactly 66+6mo (your FRA) to file for survivor benefits 2. Continue working without worrying about the earnings test 3. Switch to your own retirement benefit at 70 This strategy will maximize your lifetime benefits. During your call with SSA, ask specifically: - What your wife's PIA was (the amount she would have received at her FRA) - How the RIB-LIM applies in your case - Confirmation that the earnings test won't apply once you reach your FRA Document everything from the call, including the representative's name and direct quotes about benefit amounts. Social Security rules are complex, and sometimes you'll get different information from different representatives.