Social Security survivor benefits - how early before turning 62 can I apply in March?

You should apply about 3 months before you want benefits to start. So if you want them to start in March when you turn 62, you should apply in December (which means NOW!). I applied for survivor benefits last year and here's what I learned: you CAN apply online for survivor benefits (they changed this during COVID), but I personally recommend going to your local office with an appointment. Bring original death certificate, marriage certificate, your birth certificate, and your late husband's Social Security number. Also bring your bank account info for direct deposit. Good luck!

congrats on turning 62. i started my ss benefits last yr but regular retirement not survivors. i think they told me 4 months ahead is ok but not more than that. the office near me doesnt take walkins anymore you HAVE to have appointment.

I work with SS applicants regularly, and here's what you need to know: 1) For survivor benefits, you can apply up to 3 months before you want benefits to begin 2) Since you turn 62 on March 24th, your first month of eligibility would be March, and benefits would be paid in April 3) You should apply in December/January for benefits to begin on time 4) Applications can be done online or in person 5) In-person requires an appointment - no walk-ins accepted at most offices now 6) Your benefit amount will be reduced because you're claiming before your Full Retirement Age (approximately 71-72% of the full benefit) Remember that survivor benefits are different from retirement benefits on your own record. You can switch to your own retirement benefits later if they would be higher after delayed credits.

Don't wait! Apply right away!!! SS takes FOREVER to process applications these days. My sister applied for survivors after her husband died and it took almost 4 months to get approved and then another month before she got the first payment. Bring every document you can think of - they'll tell you what they don't need.

I've been helping people connect with SSA for appointments, and honestly, the phone system is a nightmare right now. I recently discovered a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that gets you through to a live SSA agent quickly instead of waiting on hold for hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU I used it when helping my aunt with her widow's benefits, and we got through to schedule an appointment in minutes instead of spending an entire day trying. Just sharing because I know how frustrating the phone system can be when you're trying to handle survivor benefits.

MY CONDOLENCES ON YOUR LOSS. I am A WIDOW TOO and got survivors at 60 not 62. Did you know you could have started at 60?? Just checking because many people don't realize widow(er)s can start at 60 not 62 like regular SS!!! You'll get LESS money starting at 62 than your full retirement age but sometimes we need the money now not later.

anyone know if theres a earnings limit for survivor benefits? i heard somewhere you can only make like $19,000 a year or they take back some of your ss?? is that true or just for regular retirement

Thank you everyone for all the helpful responses! I've scheduled an appointment for next week using that Claimyr service (which worked amazingly well - took less than 10 minutes to get through to a real person). The agent I spoke with confirmed I should apply now for March benefits and gave me a list of documents to bring. She also explained the earnings limit since I still work part-time. I really appreciate all your advice and support!

Great to see you got everything sorted out! Just wanted to add that when you do go to your appointment, make sure to ask about retroactive benefits. Since survivor benefits can sometimes be paid retroactively up to 6 months before your application date (depending on your situation), it's worth asking if you're eligible for any back payments. Also, if you haven't already, consider setting up a my Social Security account online - it'll make it much easier to track your benefit statements and manage your account once everything is processed. The whole process can feel overwhelming at first, but it sounds like you're handling it perfectly!