Social Security survivor benefits calculation with delayed retirement - 91.86% of current or FRA benefit?

The survivor benefit would be based on what your husband is CURRENTLY receiving, including all the delayed retirement credits he earned by waiting until age 68. This is actually one of the major advantages of delaying Social Security - it not only increases your own benefit but potentially provides a larger survivor benefit for your spouse. The 91.86% reduction would apply to that higher amount if your wife claims survivor benefits before her FRA. However, if she waits until her own FRA to claim survivor benefits (should that unfortunate event occur), she would receive 100% of your higher benefit amount. This is why financial advisors often recommend that the higher-earning spouse delay benefits as long as possible, especially if there's a significant age gap or health concern.

I went through this exact situation when my husband passed last year and let me tell you the SSA people gave me THREE different answers!!!!! First they told me I'd get what he was getting, then another person said it would be reduced because of my age, then a third person gave me some complicated formula about "primary insurance amounts" that made NO SENSE. It took 4 visits to the local office to finally get it straightened out. Make sure you document EVERYTHING and get names of who you talk to. The system is HORRIBLE and nobody there seems to know the actual rules!!!

Just to add some technical clarity to the previous responses: The survivor benefit calculation is based on the higher of: 1. The deceased spouse's actual benefit amount at death (including any delayed retirement credits) 2. 82.5% of the deceased's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) In your case, since your husband waited past FRA, option #1 would definitely be higher. Your wife would be eligible for up to 100% of that amount if she claims at her FRA or later. If she claims earlier, it would be reduced - approximately 91.86% if claimed at age 63, exactly as you mentioned. One important note: Even though your wife is already claiming benefits, when you pass away, she would have the option to switch to survivor benefits if they're higher than her current combined benefit. The reduction would be based on her age at the time she claims the survivor benefit, not her current age.

my wife got survivors when i was declared disabled last yr its like 80% of wat i get but shes 59 so mayb thats y

I've been dealing with this exact issue for months and couldn't get through to anyone at Social Security who could give me a straight answer. After getting disconnected 7 times and waiting on hold for over 4 hours total, I tried using Claimyr.com to reach an agent and finally got through in 20 minutes! The agent confirmed that survivor benefits are based on the FULL amount including delayed retirement credits. They also explained that if your spouse is already drawing benefits when you pass, they automatically compare their current benefit to what they'd get as a survivor and give them the higher amount. I'd recommend watching their demo video here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - it saved me so much frustration when dealing with this complicated survivor benefit question.

This stuff is confusing because it depends on so many factors! In addition to what others have said, remember that if your wife is working while collecting SS, she might be subject to the earnings test until she reaches her FRA. This could reduce her current benefits if she earns above the annual limit ($21,240 in 2023, I think it's going up to around $22,000 in 2024). But the good news is that once she reaches FRA, any benefits that were withheld due to working will be recalculated and she'll get a higher monthly amount going forward. So many moving parts!

Has anyone here actually RECEIVED survivor benefits? All this theoretical knowledge is great but I want to hear from someone who's been through the process. My husband is 12 years older than me and I'm worried about navigating this system when I'm grieving someday.

One important strategy note: If your wife is still relatively young, you might want to consider whether she should switch her benefit strategy. If she's currently receiving a reduced retirement benefit plus spousal supplement, when you pass away, she would receive the higher of: 1. Her own reduced retirement benefit 2. The reduced survivor benefit (reduced because she's taking it before FRA) Depending on your specific benefit amounts and her life expectancy, it might actually be more advantageous for her to restrict her application to just spousal benefits now (if she was born before January 2, 1954 and is at least at FRA) or consider other strategies to maximize her long-term benefits. This is complex enough that you might want to consult with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security claiming strategies.