Social Security survivor benefits and earnings limit confusion after FRA in 2025

The earnings limit only applies until you reach your Full Retirement Age (FRA). So in your case, you'd be subject to the earnings limit from March through August 2025, but starting in September 2025 when you reach your FRA, the earnings limit goes away completely regardless of how much you earn. Since you're working and making $48,000, you should know that for 2025, the earnings limit for people under FRA is about $22,320 for the full year (they adjust it annually). But since you're reaching FRA during 2025, they'll use a higher monthly limit for the months before you reach FRA. You're allowed to earn roughly $59,520 for the months prior to reaching your FRA in September. If you exceed that amount, they'll withhold $1 in benefits for every $3 you earn above the limit. Hope this helps! Make sure to clarify this with the SSA representative during your upcoming appointment.

i had this same thing happen after my husband died!! they took ALOT of my survivors checks because i was still working. its so confusing bc they told me different things each time i called. glad your asking this before you start taking it!!

To answer your follow-up question - yes, when you reach FRA, SSA will recalculate your benefit and give you credit for the months they withheld benefits due to the earnings test. They don't pay you back in a lump sum, but they increase your monthly benefit amount going forward. So you do eventually recover those withheld benefits through a higher monthly payment after FRA. Also, it's worth noting that only your wages from employment or net earnings from self-employment count toward the earnings limit. Investment income, pension payments, government benefits, etc. don't count against you. Make sure you understand how they'll calculate the 2025 earnings test since you're starting benefits partway through the year. They'll use a monthly test amount for the months you're entitled to benefits before reaching FRA.

I spent HOURS trying to get through to someone at Social Security about a similar survivor benefits situation last year. Kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to a representative in about 20 minutes instead of spending days trying. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU I'd recommend using it for your appointment next week - when dealing with these earnings limit questions, you need to make sure you actually get through to someone who can explain everything clearly. The survivor benefits rules are complicated enough without playing phone tag with SSA for days.

sorry about ur wife. when my husband passed i waited till my fra to get survivor benefits so i didnt have to deal with earning limit headache. if u can wait till september it might be easier than dealing with all the math and maybe getting overpayments.

One more thing - since your FRA for survivor benefits is September 2025, taking them in March 2025 means you'll receive a reduced benefit amount (about 6 months of reduction). Have you calculated whether it might be better financially to either: 1) Wait until your FRA in September to get 100% of your wife's benefit, or 2) Take your own retirement benefit early (at 62) and then switch to the survivor benefit at your FRA? The optimal strategy depends on your own earnings record compared to your wife's, and your long-term life expectancy. Sometimes it's better to take the smaller benefit first, then switch to the larger one later.

the social security people told me if you earn too much and they take back ur survivor payment they dont actually take the check back, they just say u owe them money later. got sent a letter saying i owed $4700 cuz i made too much while getting survivor benefits. so frustratig and confusin!!!!

If you're concerned about exceeding the earnings limit, you can proactively contact SSA to adjust your benefits. You can estimate your expected earnings for the year and ask them to withhold benefits accordingly. This prevents you from receiving an overpayment notice later. Also, there's a special rule for the first year you claim benefits: the monthly earnings test. Even if you earn more than the annual limit, you can receive full benefits for any month you earn below the monthly limit ($1,860 in 2025) and are considered retired. This might help if you can structure your consulting work to have some lower-income months.

My sister went thru this last year. Make sure u bring pay stubs to ur appointment! They want proof of income. And double-check everything they tell u because different reps told her different things every time she called. The whole process was a nightmare for her.

Random question nobody's addressed yet - did they tell you WHY you can't start survivor benefits until March if your wife passed in August? There's usually only a short waiting period for survivor benefits, like one month after death. Just wondering if they're making you wait unnecessarily! The SSA is notorious for giving incorrect information about when you can apply.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Losing a spouse is incredibly difficult, and dealing with SSA bureaucracy on top of grief makes it even harder. Just to add to what others have said - since you're consulting, make sure you understand how SSA treats self-employment income for the earnings test. They look at your net earnings from self-employment, not gross income. So if you have business expenses, those can be deducted. Also, the income counts when you earn it, not when you receive payment, which can be tricky with consulting work. One thing that helped me when I was dealing with SSA (different situation but similar confusion) was asking them to send me written confirmation of what they tell you over the phone. You can request they mail you a summary of your conversation and the decisions made. This way you have documentation if there are discrepancies later, especially given how many people here have mentioned getting different answers from different reps. Good luck with your appointment next week - I hope they give you clear, consistent information this time!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Nia. Losing a spouse is devastating, and navigating the SSA system during grief just adds to the stress. I went through something similar when my husband passed away 3 years ago. One thing that really helped me was keeping a detailed log of every conversation with SSA - date, time, representative's name (if they give it), and exactly what they told me. I also asked for their employee ID number. This saved me later when I got conflicting information. Regarding your earnings situation, make sure you're tracking your monthly income carefully since you're consulting. SSA looks at when you actually perform the work, not when you get paid. So if you do work in February but don't get paid until April, that February work counts toward your March-August earnings limit period. Also, if you haven't already, consider reaching out to a local SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) counselor. They're free and can help you understand your options without the frustration of calling SSA repeatedly. They often have more time to explain things thoroughly than the phone representatives do. Wishing you clarity and peace during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Nia. Dealing with SSA bureaucracy while grieving is incredibly overwhelming. Just wanted to add one important detail that might help with your planning - when you reach FRA in September 2025, not only does the earnings limit disappear, but SSA also does what's called a "recalculation" of your benefits. If they withheld any money due to the earnings test before your FRA, they'll adjust your monthly benefit amount upward to account for those lost months. So you're not losing that money forever - you'll get it back through higher monthly payments for the rest of your life. Also, since you're consulting, make sure you understand that SSA counts income in the month you perform the work, not when you receive payment. This can be tricky with consulting contracts where there might be delays between completing work and getting paid. One more suggestion - ask the SSA rep to mail you a written summary of your conversation and their recommendations. Given how many people here have gotten conflicting information from different reps, having everything in writing can save you headaches later if there are discrepancies. Hang in there, and I hope your appointment next week gives you the clarity you need to move forward with confidence.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Nia. Navigating Social Security during such a difficult time is incredibly challenging. Just to clarify one important point that might help with your planning - you mentioned you're turning 62 next month, but your Full Retirement Age for survivor benefits is actually different from your regular retirement FRA. For survivor benefits, if you were born in 1963, your survivor FRA would be around 66 years and 2 months, not when you turn 62. The September 2025 date you mentioned sounds like it might be your regular retirement FRA. This is important because the earnings limit applies until you reach your SURVIVOR benefit FRA, not your regular retirement FRA. You might want to double-check this distinction with the SSA rep during your appointment, as it could significantly impact your timeline for when the earnings limit disappears. Also, since you're consulting, keep detailed records of when you actually perform work versus when you get paid, as SSA counts the income when the work is performed. And definitely ask for written confirmation of everything they tell you - too many people here have gotten conflicting information from different representatives. Wishing you clarity and strength as you work through this process.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Nia. Dealing with SSA bureaucracy while grieving is incredibly difficult. I want to echo what Amara mentioned about clarifying the difference between your regular retirement FRA and your survivor benefit FRA. This is crucial because they might be different dates, and the earnings limit applies based on your SURVIVOR benefit FRA, not your regular retirement FRA. Also, since you're doing consulting work, here's a practical tip: consider whether you can structure some of your work to fall into months where you earn less than the monthly limit ($1,860 for 2025). There's a special first-year rule where you can receive full benefits for any month you're under the monthly threshold, even if your annual earnings exceed the yearly limit. One more suggestion - when you have your appointment next week, ask them to walk you through a specific example using your actual income numbers. Don't just accept general explanations. Say something like "If I earn exactly $X in March through August, how much will my benefits be reduced?" This forces them to be concrete rather than giving vague answers. And definitely get everything in writing! Too many people here have experienced the frustration of getting different answers from different reps. Good luck with your appointment!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Nia. Losing a spouse is heartbreaking, and trying to navigate SSA's complex rules during such a difficult time just adds to the stress. I wanted to share something that might help - when I was dealing with a similar SSA situation (different circumstances but same confusion), I found it really helpful to prepare a written list of specific questions before my phone appointment. SSA reps often seem rushed, and having everything written down helped me stay focused and make sure I got answers to everything. For your situation, I'd suggest asking them to clarify exactly when your SURVIVOR benefit FRA occurs (not your regular retirement FRA), since that's when the earnings limit disappears. Also ask them to walk through a specific calculation: "If I earn exactly $48,000 from March through December 2025, how much will be withheld from my survivor benefits and in which months?" One thing that really saved me was asking the rep to repeat back the key information at the end of the call, and then requesting they mail me a written summary. I said something like "This is really important to get right - could you please mail me a summary of what we discussed today so I have it for my records?" Most reps will do this if you ask. Good luck with your appointment next week. You're asking all the right questions, and I hope you get clear, consistent answers this time!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Nia. Dealing with SSA while grieving is incredibly difficult, and the conflicting information people get from different representatives just makes it worse. I want to emphasize what others have mentioned about the distinction between your regular retirement FRA and your survivor benefit FRA - this is absolutely critical and could completely change your timeline. If you were born in 1963 (turning 62 next month would put you at March 1963 birth), your survivor benefit FRA would actually be around age 66 and 2 months, which would be sometime in 2029, not September 2025. The earnings limit applies until your SURVIVOR FRA, not your regular retirement FRA. The September 2025 date they mentioned might be when you reach your regular retirement FRA (for your own benefits), but that's different from when the earnings limit disappears for survivor benefits. This is a huge distinction that could mean the earnings limit continues for several more years than you're expecting. Please get absolute clarity on this during your appointment. Ask specifically: "What is my Full Retirement Age for SURVIVOR benefits, and when exactly will the earnings limit no longer apply to my survivor benefits?" Don't let them give you a vague answer - you need the exact month and year. This might completely change your strategy for taking benefits now versus waiting, so it's crucial to get this right. Good luck with your appointment!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Nia. Losing a spouse is devastating, and trying to navigate Social Security's complex rules while grieving just adds unnecessary stress to an already difficult time. The discussion here has highlighted something really important that you need to clarify immediately - there seems to be confusion about whether the September 2025 date is your regular retirement FRA or your SURVIVOR benefit FRA. These are two completely different dates, and it makes a massive difference for your earnings limit timeline. If you were born in March 1963 (turning 62 next month), your survivor benefit FRA would actually be around age 66 and 2 months, which would be approximately May 2029 - not September 2025. The earnings limit applies until your SURVIVOR benefit FRA, not your regular retirement FRA. This could mean the earnings limit continues for about 4 more years than you're currently planning for. Here's what I'd suggest for your appointment next week: 1. Ask explicitly: "What is my exact Full Retirement Age for SURVIVOR benefits?" Get the specific month and year. 2. Clarify: "When exactly will the earnings limit stop applying to my survivor benefits?" 3. Request a comparison: "Should I consider taking my own retirement benefit early and switching to survivor benefits later instead?" 4. Get specific numbers: "If I earn $48,000 from consulting work while receiving survivor benefits, exactly how much will be withheld and for how long?" 5. Ask them to mail you a written summary of everything discussed. Given the potential 4-year difference in timelines, you might want to reconsider your strategy entirely. The earnings limit lasting until 2029 instead of 2025 could significantly impact whether it makes sense to start survivor benefits now or explore other options. Don't let them rush you off the phone until you have absolute clarity on these dates!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Nia. Losing a spouse is incredibly difficult, and trying to navigate SSA's complex system while grieving just adds to an already overwhelming situation. The discussion here has raised some really important points that I think could save you from potential confusion or costly mistakes. The key issue seems to be clarifying the difference between your regular retirement FRA and your survivor benefit FRA - these are two completely different dates with very different implications for your earnings limit timeline. Given that you mentioned turning 62 next month (which would suggest a March 1963 birth date), your survivor benefit FRA would likely be around age 66 and 2 months (approximately May 2029), not September 2025. This is crucial because the earnings limit applies until your SURVIVOR benefit FRA, not your regular retirement FRA. For your appointment next week, I'd strongly recommend asking these specific questions: 1. "What is my exact Full Retirement Age for survivor benefits?" (Get the specific month and year) 2. "When exactly will the earnings limit stop applying to my survivor benefits?" 3. "Given my consulting income of $48,000, would it be better to take my own retirement benefit early and switch to survivor benefits at my survivor FRA instead?" 4. "Can you walk me through the exact benefit reduction calculation if I earn $48,000 while receiving survivor benefits?" The potential difference between a 2025 vs 2029 timeline for when earnings limits disappear could completely change your strategy. If the earnings limit continues until 2029, you might want to consider alternative approaches to optimize your benefits while maintaining your consulting work. Please don't let them rush you off the call until you have crystal clear answers with exact dates. And definitely request a written summary - too many people here have experienced getting different information from different representatives. You deserve accurate, consistent guidance during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Nia. Dealing with Social Security bureaucracy while grieving is incredibly overwhelming, and this thread has really highlighted some crucial issues you need to address. The most important thing that's emerged from this discussion is the potential confusion about your survivor benefit FRA versus your regular retirement FRA. This isn't just a minor detail - it could mean the difference between the earnings limit ending in 2025 versus 2029, which would completely change your financial planning. Here's what I'd recommend preparing for your appointment: **Critical Questions to Ask:** 1. "I was born in March 1963. What is my EXACT Full Retirement Age for survivor benefits?" (Demand the specific month/year) 2. "Is the September 2025 date you mentioned my regular retirement FRA or my survivor benefit FRA?" 3. "When exactly will the earnings limit stop applying to my survivor benefits?" 4. "Given that I earn $48,000 annually from consulting, walk me through the exact benefit calculation and withholding amounts" **Strategy Questions:** - Should you take your own reduced retirement benefit now and switch to survivor benefits at your survivor FRA? - Can you structure your consulting work to take advantage of the monthly earnings test ($1,860/month limit)? **Documentation:** - Ask them to repeat back all key information - Request a written summary mailed to you - Get their employee ID number - Take detailed notes with timestamps Don't let them rush you off the call until you have absolute clarity on these timelines. The difference between 2025 and 2029 for earnings limit expiration is huge for someone who wants to continue consulting work. You deserve accurate, consistent information during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Nia. Navigating SSA while grieving is incredibly difficult, and this thread has highlighted some really important issues about the timeline confusion that could significantly impact your planning. After reading through all the discussion here, it seems like there's a critical question that needs immediate clarification: the difference between your regular retirement FRA and your SURVIVOR benefit FRA. If you were born in March 1963, your survivor benefit FRA would indeed be around age 66 and 2 months (approximately May 2029), not September 2025. This means the earnings limit could continue for about 4 more years than you're currently planning for. This is huge because it changes everything about whether starting survivor benefits in March makes sense with your $48,000 consulting income. If the earnings limit lasts until 2029 instead of 2025, you might want to seriously consider the alternative strategy others mentioned: taking your own reduced retirement benefit early and then switching to survivor benefits when you reach your actual survivor FRA. For your appointment next week, please don't let them off the phone until you get the EXACT month and year of your survivor benefit FRA, not just vague timeframes. The difference between 2025 and 2029 could mean tens of thousands of dollars in withheld benefits over those extra years. Wishing you clarity and strength as you work through this incredibly complex system during such a difficult time.