Social Security survivor benefits at 61 vs 62 - retroactive payments and reduction amounts

You won't get retroactive payments back to your husband's death in either scenario. Survivor benefits only start from the month you apply (with payment coming the following month). As for the reduction, it depends on your Full Retirement Age (FRA). If you were born in 1961, your FRA is 66 and 10 months. Filing at exactly 62 would give you approximately 81.1% of your husband's benefit. Filing at 61 and 11 months would be slightly less, maybe around 80.7%. Whether your husband filed early doesn't matter for survivor benefits - you'll receive what he was getting at death or what he would have been entitled to if higher (including any delayed retirement credits if he waited past his FRA). At 83, he was definitely past his FRA when he died, so you'll get his full benefit amount (possibly with delayed retirement credits) subject to the early filing reduction based on YOUR age.

Thank you for the explanation. So there's no benefit to waiting those few days until I'm 62? I was thinking I'd get more if I waited until my birthday. Also, if survivor benefits only start from when I apply, does that mean my first payment would come in November or December?

my late husband didnt file for his ss until 70 because he wanted the higher amount. I applied for survivors at 60 (was allowed because im disabled) and im getting 71.5% of what he would have gotten. its all based on YOUR age when you apply not his filing age. they told me waiting til 62 would only get me about $75 more a month than at 60 so i just went ahead and took it.

Are you working??? If you are and you're under FRA, you need to be careful about the earnings limit! In 2025 if you make over $22,560 they start taking back $1 for every $2 you earn above that!!! This tripped me up BIG TIME when I started survivor benefits at 62!!!!!

To clarify a few points: 1. Survivor benefits can sometimes be paid up to 6 months retroactively, but only for months where you were already at least 60. It doesn't go back to the death date unless you were already eligible when he passed. 2. The difference between applying at 61 years 11 months versus 62 years 0 months is approximately 0.4% of the benefit amount. On a $2,000 benefit, that's about $8 per month difference. 3. For your third question, you're partially right, but it's more complicated. Your reduction percentage is based solely on YOUR age when you claim, not whether your husband claimed early. Since he was 83, he likely received delayed retirement credits if he waited past his FRA, which would increase your survivor benefit base amount before the reduction for your early filing is applied. Basically, you get the higher of: - What your husband was receiving at death - What your husband would have been entitled to if he hadn't filed yet Then that amount is reduced based on how early you file before your own FRA.

I spent THREE WEEKS trying to reach someone at SSA to ask almost these exact same questions last year after my husband passed. Kept getting busy signals or disconnected after waiting on hold for hours. Finally I found Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to a rep within 20 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration! I was able to get all my survivor benefit questions answered and schedule my application appointment right away.

My condolences on losing your husband. When my wife passed, I was so confused about all this survivor benefit stuff too. Everyone's situation is a bit different but I found that the SSA reps are actually pretty helpful once you can get through to them. Good luck with your appointment!

make sure you have all your docs ready for your call... birth certificate, marriage certificate, his death certificate, your ssn card, his ssn, your bank info for direct deposit. they always need more paperwork than you think!!

One other important point: If you have your own retirement benefit that would eventually be higher than your survivor benefit, it often makes sense to take the survivor benefit early (reduced) and then switch to your own retirement benefit at age 70 when it's maximized. This is one of the few remaining claiming strategies that can significantly increase lifetime benefits. During your call, make sure to ask about your future options for switching between benefits if that applies to your situation.

I wish I'd known about all this when my husband passed. I just took the survivors right away at 60 and now realize I probably should have waited. No one at SS explained any options to me :

I'm so sorry for your loss, Anastasia. Going through all these decisions while grieving is incredibly difficult. Based on what others have shared here, it sounds like keeping your October 31st appointment makes sense since the difference between filing at 61 years 11 months versus 62 is minimal (around 0.4% or about $8/month on a $2000 benefit). A few things to keep in mind for your appointment: - Ask specifically about any retroactive payments back to when you turned 60 - Confirm your exact reduction percentage based on your birth year and FRA - Ask about your future options to switch to your own retirement benefit if it would be higher - Make sure you understand how your husband's delayed retirement credits (if any) will affect your benefit amount The SSA rep should be able to give you exact numbers for your specific situation. Take notes during the call - there's a lot of information to process. You've got this!

I'm sorry for your loss, Anastasia. I went through a similar situation when my spouse passed two years ago. From my experience and what I learned, I'd definitely recommend keeping your October 31st appointment. The difference between filing at 61 years 11 months versus 62 is really minimal - we're talking maybe $5-10 per month difference for most people. One thing I wish I had asked about during my appointment was whether there were any months of retroactive benefits available. Since you're already past 60, there might be some retroactive payments possible, but they can only go back 6 months maximum and only for months when you were eligible. Also, make sure to ask the representative to calculate your exact benefit amount and reduction percentage. They have access to your husband's complete earnings record and can give you precise numbers rather than estimates. Don't be afraid to ask them to explain anything you don't understand - it's their job to help you through this process. The appointment itself was actually less stressful than I anticipated. The representatives are generally very patient with people in our situation. You're going to do great!

I'm sorry for your loss, Anastasia. Based on all the helpful information shared here, it sounds like you're getting great advice about keeping your October 31st appointment. The timing really won't make a significant difference in your benefit amount. One additional thing I'd suggest is to ask the SSA representative during your call to send you a written summary of your benefit calculation and any important dates or deadlines. Sometimes it's hard to remember all the details from a phone conversation, especially when you're dealing with grief and stress. Having everything in writing can be really helpful for your records and peace of mind. Also, if you have any other questions after your appointment, don't hesitate to call back. You're entitled to understand your benefits fully, and it's completely normal to need clarification on things. Wishing you all the best with your appointment!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Anastasia. I went through something very similar when my husband passed last year, so I completely understand the confusion and stress you're feeling right now. Based on everything I learned during my own process, I'd strongly recommend keeping your October 31st appointment. The difference between filing at 61 years 11 months versus 62 is truly negligible - we're talking about maybe $5-8 per month difference on most benefit amounts. It's just not worth the stress of rescheduling and potentially having to wait weeks or months for another appointment slot. One thing that really helped me was writing down all my questions beforehand, because there's so much information during these calls that it's easy to forget things. Make sure to ask about any possible retroactive payments back to when you turned 60, and definitely get them to calculate your exact benefit amount and reduction percentage based on your specific situation. Also, don't worry too much about your husband's filing age - since he was 83 when he passed, he was well past his full retirement age and likely had delayed retirement credits that will actually increase your base benefit amount before any early filing reduction is applied. You've got this! The SSA representatives are generally very understanding and patient with people in our situation. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Anastasia. Having gone through this process myself when my father passed, I completely understand how overwhelming all these decisions can feel while you're grieving. Based on everyone's excellent advice here, I'd definitely recommend keeping your October 31st appointment. The 3-day difference really is minimal - you're looking at maybe 0.3-0.4% difference in your benefit amount, which translates to just a few dollars per month. One thing I learned during my own experience that might help you: when you have your appointment, ask the representative to walk through the calculation step by step. They can tell you exactly what your husband's benefit amount was at death (including any delayed retirement credits), what your reduction percentage will be, and what your monthly payment will be. Getting those specific numbers can really help put your mind at ease. Also, since your husband was 83 when he passed, he almost certainly had delayed retirement credits that increased his benefit beyond his full retirement amount, which means your survivor benefit base will be higher before the early filing reduction is applied. You're making the right choice to get this process started. The SSA representatives are generally very patient and understanding with surviving spouses. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Anastasia. Having navigated this process when my spouse passed away three years ago, I can really relate to the confusion and stress you're experiencing right now. From everything shared here, I'd absolutely keep your October 31st appointment. The mathematical difference between filing at 61 years 11 months versus 62 is truly minimal - maybe $6-10 per month on most benefit amounts. Plus, getting the process started sooner means you'll receive your first payment in November rather than December. One thing I wish I had known to ask about during my appointment was the "protective filing date." When you call on October 31st, that establishes your application date even if you need to submit additional paperwork later. This can be important for determining your benefit start date and any potential retroactive payments. Also, since you mentioned your husband was 83 when he passed, he almost certainly earned delayed retirement credits by waiting past his full retirement age. These credits will increase the base amount of your survivor benefit before any early filing reduction is applied to your portion. The SSA representative will be able to give you exact figures for your specific situation. Don't hesitate to ask them to repeat or clarify anything - they're used to helping people through this difficult process. You're going to do great!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Anastasia. Having helped my own mother through this process when my father passed, I can understand how overwhelming all these decisions feel during an already difficult time. From everything that's been shared here, I'd definitely encourage you to keep your October 31st appointment. The consensus seems clear that the 3-day difference until your 62nd birthday is essentially meaningless - you're looking at maybe a $5-8 monthly difference at most. What I found helpful when my mother went through this was having her write down not just questions, but also key information the representative might ask for during the call - like your husband's full name, SSN, date of death, your marriage date, etc. Having it all organized in front of you can help the call go more smoothly. One specific thing to ask about: since you'll be 60+ when you apply, definitely inquire about any retroactive payments. The rules can be complex, but there might be some back payments available depending on when your husband passed and your specific circumstances. You've received such wonderful, detailed advice from this community. The SSA representatives really are trained to be patient and helpful with surviving spouses. Take a deep breath - you're more prepared than you think you are. Wishing you strength for your appointment and the journey ahead.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Anastasia. Reading through all the excellent advice here, I think everyone has really covered the key points well. You've received such thorough guidance from people who have been through similar situations. Just to add one small practical tip: when you have your appointment on October 31st, consider having a pen and paper ready to jot down the specific dollar amounts and percentages they give you. Sometimes the representatives speak quickly through the calculations, and it can be helpful to have those exact numbers written down for your records. Also, don't be surprised if they need to schedule a follow-up call or if the process takes a few weeks to complete. These applications often require verification of various documents, and that's completely normal. You sound much more prepared and confident now after all this community input. The fact that you're asking these thoughtful questions ahead of time shows you're approaching this the right way. Best of luck with your appointment - you've got this!