Social Security quoted me survivor benefit amount - did they already reduce it for claiming at 61?

They should have specified whether that was your reduced amount or the full amount at your FRA. Typically, when SSA quotes a survivor benefit amount for someone under FRA, they're quoting the REDUCED amount based on the age you said you wanted to claim. But without seeing exactly what they wrote/said, it's hard to know for sure. If you're claiming at 61, your survivor benefit would be reduced by about 28.5% from what you'd get at your full retirement age. So if $1,768 is the reduced amount, your FRA amount would be around $2,472. If you want to be 100% sure, you should contact them again and specifically ask if the quote includes the reduction for claiming at 61.

the person probly gave u the reduced amount but u need to double check for sure. my sister got quoted wrong and had to fight with them for months to fix it

I WENT THROUGH THIS EXACT THING LAST YEAR!!! The first agent told me one amount, then when I actually applied, it was $340 LESS per month than what I was quoted!!! They said the first person gave me the FRA amount not the reduced amount for 62. I was FURIOUS because I had budgeted based on their quote. NEVER TRUST THE FIRST ANSWER FROM SSA - ALWAYS GET IT IN WRITING AND CONFIRM WITH A SECOND PERSON!!!!

When you speak with SSA about survivor benefits, they should be calculating the reduction based on your current age. The reduction for claiming survivor benefits at 61 is approximately 28.5% from your full retirement age amount. What you should ask specifically next time is: "Is the $1,768 already reduced for claiming at age 61, or is that the amount I would receive at my full retirement age?" Also, remember that survivor benefits have different reduction rates than retirement benefits, and you can claim survivor benefits as early as age 60. The reduction is calculated based on months before your full retirement age. If you're having trouble reaching someone at SSA, I recently used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to a representative within 15 minutes instead of waiting for hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Might be worth looking into if you're struggling to get through.

Quick question - did you get this quote over the phone or in writing? If it was just verbal, definitely get it in writing. Also, are you working? Because that could affect your payments too if you're earning above the earnings limit.

my mom went thru something like this last yr. the amount they told her WAS the reduced amount for taking it early. but yea u should double check. good luck!

I had a similar experience when applying for my survivors benefits after my husband passed. I was initially quoted $1,932, but when I received my first payment, it was actually $1,897. When I called, they explained there had been a miscalculation in the initial quote. I strongly recommend asking for the calculation breakdown in writing. Ask them to explain: 1. What your husband's primary insurance amount (PIA) was 2. What percentage reduction is being applied for your age 3. What the final calculated amount is Also, make sure to get the name of each representative you speak with. I learned this the hard way when I needed to reference a previous conversation and couldn't provide the agent's name.

have u checked ur mysocialsecurity acct online? sometimes u can see benefit estimates there

I work as a customer service representative for SSA (though I can't provide official advice here). From my experience, when agents quote survivor benefit amounts over the phone, they SHOULD be giving you the reduced amount based on the age you mentioned. However, mistakes do happen, and some agents might quote the full retirement age amount by accident. Given that you're 61 and mentioned wanting to claim at that age, the $1,768 is most likely already reduced by about 28.5%. But I'd definitely recommend calling back and asking them to clarify exactly what that figure represents. One tip: when you call, ask to speak with a Claims Specialist rather than just any representative. They tend to be more knowledgeable about benefit calculations and can walk you through the math. Also, if possible, try calling right when they open (8am local time) - you'll usually get through faster. Don't feel bad about calling multiple times to confirm this - it's a huge financial decision and you have every right to understand exactly what you'll be receiving.