Social Security survivor benefits at 64 while working full time - what's available before FRA?

First, I'm so sorry for your loss. Yes, you are eligible for survivor benefits at 64, but there are two important factors to consider: 1) Since you're taking survivor benefits before your FRA of 67, they will be reduced (approximately 81.7% of what you'd get at FRA), and 2) Since you're working full-time, the earnings test will apply. For 2025, if you earn more than $22,500 (approximate estimate), SSA will withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above that threshold. With your $82,000 salary, a significant portion of your survivor benefit would be withheld due to the earnings test.

Thank you for the condolences and clear explanation. So with my salary, would it even be worth applying now? Or should I just wait until I reach FRA when the earnings test no longer applies?

you should stil apply NOW even if youll get nothing because of your salary!!!!! i was in smiliar situation and didn't apply til later and they only gave me 6 months backpay not from when my wife died. dont make my mistake!!!

This is excellent advice. You can apply now to establish your entitlement date, even if the earnings test means you won't receive monthly payments. This can be important for maximizing your options later.

I went through something similar last year when my husband died at 63. I was 65 and working part-time. The really confusing part is understanding whether to take the survivor benefit now and then switch to your own retirement later, or take reduced retirement now and survivor later. It depends on which benefit will be higher ultimately. Did your husband work a full career with good earnings? What would your own retirement benefit be if you waited until 70?

He had a solid 40-year work history as an engineer, so his benefit would have been substantial. I honestly haven't calculated what my benefit would be at 70, but I've worked consistently except for a few years when our kids were young. This is a good point - I need to figure out which benefit would be higher long-term.

The strategy that's often overlooked is filing a restricted application for JUST survivor benefits while letting your own retirement benefit grow until age 70 (if your own benefit would be higher by then). Even if the earnings test withholds some or all of your survivor benefit now, you're still locking in the ability to switch to your own higher benefit later. Run the numbers both ways! When I was helping my sister with this, the difference between optimal and sub-optimal filing strategies was over $40,000 over her lifetime.

Im confused, I thought restricted applications went away with that law change a few years back??????

I tried calling SSA for THREE DAYS last month when my sister needed help with survivor benefits. Constant busy signals, disconnects after waiting 2+ hours, or being told to

Thanks for this tip. I've been dreading making the call because everyone tells me how impossible it is to get through. I'll check it out because I definitely need to speak with an actual agent about my specific situation.

Restricted applications for SPOUSE benefits ended with the law change, but survivor benefits still allow restricted applications. my neighbr just did this last month and it worked fine for her

Correct! The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 eliminated restricted applications for spousal benefits for people born after January 1, 1954, but the rules for survivor benefits remained unchanged. Survivors can still file restricted applications at any age from 60 to FRA.

Something else to consider is that if you wait until FRA to claim survivor benefits, you'll get 100% of what your husband would have received at his FRA (even though he died before reaching it). This is different from taking your own retirement early. Also, if you did claim survivor benefits now and they're completely withheld due to earnings, you wouldn't be wasting these reduced survivor benefits - you'd essentially be preserving them for later potential use while still establishing your filing date.

This is getting complicated! So even if I apply now and get nothing due to earnings, I'm still in a better position than not applying at all? And I'd still have the option to switch to my own retirement benefit later if it's higher? My head is spinning with all these options.

When my dad passed, mom was in a similar spot. She applied right away even though she was working. They did withhold most of her survivor benefits, BUT what most people don't realize is that after she reached FRA, Social Security actually REPAID her some of those withheld benefits in the form of an adjusted higher monthly amount. The SSA automatically recalculates and gives credit for months where benefits were withheld due to work. The system isn't completely unfair, just incredibly confusing. Also, whatever you do, GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING when you deal with them!

This is an excellent point about recalculation of withheld benefits! The SSA does adjust your benefit amount when you reach FRA to account for months when benefits were completely or partially withheld due to the earnings test. It's one of the least understood aspects of the system.

does anyone know if the OP has to quit her job to get survivor benfits? my uncle said you have to be retired to get any ss benefits at all

That's incorrect. You don't have to quit your job to receive survivor benefits. However, if you're under Full Retirement Age and earn above the annual limit ($22,500 in 2025), some or all of your benefits may be withheld due to the earnings test. After FRA, you can earn any amount without reduction in benefits.

Thank you all for the helpful information! I've made an appointment with SSA for next week to discuss my options. I'm going to apply now even if I don't receive payments right away due to my earnings. And I'll definitely get information about what my own benefit would be at 70 so I can compare it to the survivor benefit at my FRA. It's complicated, but I feel much better equipped to make decisions now. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to share your knowledge and experiences.

Good luck with your appointment! One last tip - bring a notepad and write down the name of who you speak with and take detailed notes. If you get conflicting information later (which happens more than it should), having documentation of your earlier conversations can be invaluable.