Social Security survivor benefits after ex-spouse died at 62 - will I get his full $2700 benefit at 63?

You should definitely apply for survivor benefits now! Since you're already past 60, you're eligible, and the fact that you were married over 10 years and haven't remarried means you qualify as a surviving divorced spouse. However, you won't get his full $2700. Since he claimed early, your survivor benefit will be based on his reduced amount. But here's the strategy - you could take the survivor benefit now and then switch to your own retirement benefit at 70 if it would be higher after delayed retirement credits. I'd recommend calling SSA directly, but good luck getting through. I tried for weeks before using Claimyr (claimyr.com) - they got me connected to an agent in under 10 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU

I can provide some clarification on survivor benefits for ex-spouses. There are several factors affecting your benefit amount: 1. Since your ex-husband claimed early (before his FRA), your survivor benefit will be limited to what he was receiving, which was reduced. 2. Your age when you claim survivor benefits matters too. At 63, you'd receive approximately 81.2% of his benefit because you're claiming before your FRA. 3. If you wait until your full retirement age to claim survivor benefits, you'd receive 100% of what he was receiving at death (the $2700). 4. Survivor benefits do NOT increase beyond your full retirement age, unlike retirement benefits. The optimal strategy often involves taking the lower benefit (either survivor or your own retirement) first, then switching to the higher benefit later. In your case, taking survivor benefits now and switching to your own at 70 might maximize your lifetime benefits.

my mom went thru something similar and she said the SS office told her the amount is frozen when the person dies so if he was getting 2700 thats what ur eligible for but u get less if ur not at full retirement age yet

I just went through this last year when my ex passed. They make this SOOO confusing! The way they explained it to me was that since my ex took benefits early, they use something called the RIB-LIM rule (Retirement Insurance Benefit Limitation). This means your survivor benefit is limited to the HIGHER of: 1) what your ex was actually receiving ($2700), or 2) 82.5% of what your ex would have gotten at his full retirement age. BUT THEN they also reduce that amount if you claim before YOUR full retirement age! It's ridiculous how complicated they make this!!! I ended up taking my survivor benefits at 62 and plan to switch to my own benefit at 70.

This is why I tell EVERYONE to wait until their full retirement age to claim anything from Social Security if they can. The early claiming reductions are severe and permanent. In your situation, I'd recommend applying for the survivor benefits immediately, but be aware you'll get a reduced amount since you're not at your FRA yet. One important thing to understand: your decision about survivor benefits is completely separate from your own retirement benefit. You can take the survivor benefit now at a reduced rate, then switch to your own retirement benefit at 70 when it's maximized with delayed credits. Run the numbers, but this approach often gives the highest lifetime payout.

dont forget that if u get survivor benfits u can still work without the earnings test affecting those benefits after you reach your full retirement age!!! thats a BIG deal most people dont know

I want to address a few misconceptions I'm seeing in some of the comments. The RIB-LIM rule is important here. Since your ex-spouse claimed early and was receiving reduced benefits, your survivor benefit will be limited to the higher of: 1. The reduced benefit your ex was receiving at death ($2700), or 2. 82.5% of your ex's Primary Insurance Amount (what he would have received at FRA) Then, because you're claiming survivor benefits before your FRA, there's a separate reduction based on your age. At 63, you'd receive about 81.2% of whatever amount is determined from the calculation above. To apply, you'll need: - Your ex's death certificate - Your marriage certificate - Divorce decree - Both your Social Security numbers - Your birth certificate You cannot apply for survivor benefits online - you must call SSA for an appointment or visit an office.

sorry but i think everyones making this more complicated than it is. just call social security and theyll tell u exactly what you'll get. my aunt got her exhusbands full benefit when he died but she was already at retirement age so maybe thats different

I've seen so many people struggle with getting accurate information about survivor benefits. When I was helping my sister with her claim, we spent DAYS trying to reach someone at SSA. When we finally connected with a representative using Claimyr (claimyr.com), they explained that different SSA agents sometimes give different answers to the same question! My advice is to speak with at least two different agents to verify the information. You need to be your own advocate here.

I forgot to mention!!! Make sure you ask them about any back benefits too. You might be eligible for retroactive survivor benefits for a few months. When I filed, they gave me benefits going back several months from when my ex passed away, even though I didn't apply right away. Not sure if that's always the case but worth asking!