Social Security widow benefits at 56 vs 60 with SSDI - do I really have to wait?

You may qualify for disabled widow(er) benefits NOW if you meet certain conditions. If your disability started before or within 7 years of your husband's death, you might be eligible for benefits as early as age 50. You don't have to wait until 60 in that scenario. Call SSA directly and specifically ask about "disabled widow benefits" (DWB). This is different from regular survivor benefits, and some representatives might not think to check your eligibility unless you specifically ask. Also, be sure to ask if you'd receive more on your own record or as a disabled widow - you'll get whichever is higher, not both.

sorr for your loss. my sisters husband died last yr. she got benefits right away but she was 62 already. i think you do have to wait, they dont make exceptions evne for disabilities.

Same thing happened to me!!! My husband passed when I was 52 and I was already on disability. The first person I talked to at SSA said I had to wait until 60. But then I talked to someone at my local office who knew about disabled widow benefits and helped me file! Got approved after a 6-month wait. Don't just take their word for it - they make mistakes ALL THE TIME.

The other commenters are correct - there's a special provision for disabled widow(er)s that allows benefits as early as age 50. However, there are important details to understand: 1. Your disability must have started before or within 7 years of your husband's death 2. You must meet the same medical criteria as regular SSDI recipients 3. The benefit amount will be reduced for taking it before your Full Retirement Age (about 71.5% of what you'd get at FRA) 4. They will pay you whichever is higher - your own SSDI or the widow's benefit (not both) Based on the numbers you shared ($1,125 vs $1,850), the widow's benefit would likely be higher even with the reduction. I'd recommend applying right away, as there can be limited retroactivity on these claims.

I went through this exact situation! Let me tell you, trying to reach someone at Social Security who actually knows about disabled widow benefits is IMPOSSIBLE. I spent 3 weeks calling that 800 number, waiting for hours, getting disconnected, calling back, repeat. Finally I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an agent in under 5 minutes. There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU The first agent still didn't know about disabled widow benefits, but at least I could keep calling back without the insane wait times. Third agent knew exactly what I was talking about and helped me file. Worth every penny to not waste weeks of my life on hold.

Yes! I was approved after about 4 months. It wasn't automatic - they still reviewed my disability even though I was already on SSDI. The benefit ended up being about $500 more per month than my own disability payment. It was reduced from what my husband received because I took it before FRA, but still way better than what I was getting before.

THE SSA ALWAYS DOES THIS!!! They don't tell people about benefits they're entitled to because they don't want to pay out!!! It makes me so angry. My sister was in a similar situation and they told her the same thing - wait until 60. She struggled for YEARS before someone finally told her about disabled widow benefits. By then she'd already turned 59 and lost out on almost a decade of higher payments!!! YOU HAVE TO FIGHT FOR EVERY PENNY WITH THESE PEOPLE. Don't trust what the first person tells you. Ask to speak to a supervisor. Go to your local office. Call repeatedly until you get someone who actually knows the rules. It's disgusting how they treat widows!!

Just to clarify something important - if you apply for disabled widow benefits, they'll look at what percentage of your husband's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) you're eligible for based on your age. Since you're 56 rather than the full retirement age, you'd get a reduced amount - around 71.5% of his full benefit. However, if that reduced amount is still higher than your current SSDI payment, it's worth applying. One more thing to note: when you reach your Full Retirement Age (probably 67 in your case), the reduction goes away and you'd get 100% of your husband's benefit amount. So even if the reduced widow benefit isn't much higher than your current SSDI right now, it might be worth switching later.

My aunt went thru this whole thing last year. Be prepared for them to tell you no at first! She had to ask for a supervisor and even then they acted confused. Print out the info about disabled widow benefits from ssa.gov before you call so you can refer to it specifically!

has anyone mentioned that if you remarry before 60 you lose widow benefits? just make sure you dont plan on getting married anytime soon. found that out the hard way lol

ANOTHER THING they don't tell you - if you switch to widow benefits, make ABSOLUTELY SURE they don't mess up your Medicare. When I switched from my disability to my husband's record, they somehow dropped my Medicare Part B for three months and I had to pay out of pocket for doctor visits!!! Had to spend hours on the phone fixing that mess too. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING and follow up obsessively.

I just wanted to update everyone - I called SSA this morning (used that Claimyr service someone mentioned and it worked great - got through in 3 minutes!) and spoke with a representative who confirmed I AM eligible for disabled widow benefits! I have an appointment next week to complete the application. Thank you all so much for your help - I never would have known to ask specifically about this. You've potentially saved me from 4 more years of financial struggle!

This is such wonderful news! I'm so glad you were persistent and found people here who knew about this benefit. It really shows how important it is to advocate for yourself with SSA. Please keep us updated on how your appointment goes - your experience could help other widows in similar situations who might be reading this thread. Wishing you the best with your application!

This is exactly why communities like this are so valuable! Andre, I'm thrilled you were able to get through and confirm your eligibility - what a relief that must be. For anyone else reading this who might be in a similar situation, here are the key takeaways from this thread: 1. Disabled widow(er) benefits ARE available as early as age 50 if your disability began before or within 7 years of your spouse's death 2. You must specifically ask about "disabled widow benefits" - many SSA reps won't think to check otherwise 3. Use services like Claimyr if you're having trouble getting through on the phone 4. Don't accept the first "no" - ask for supervisors and keep trying 5. Bring all documentation to your appointment (death cert, marriage cert, disability approval letter, SSNs) 6. The benefit amount is reduced if taken before Full Retirement Age but may still be higher than your own SSDI It's truly shameful how often people have to fight for benefits they're legally entitled to. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this information could save other families years of unnecessary financial hardship.

Welcome to the community, Andre! I'm so sorry for the loss of your husband. What an incredible update - I'm thrilled you were able to get through to SSA and confirm your eligibility for disabled widow benefits! This thread has been such a learning experience for all of us. Your persistence really paid off, and I hope your appointment goes smoothly next week. It's unfortunate that you had to go through years of unnecessary financial hardship because the initial representative wasn't knowledgeable about these benefits, but at least now you're on the right track. Please do keep us posted on how the application process goes. Your experience will undoubtedly help other widows and widowers who find themselves in similar situations. The fact that you were able to navigate this complex system and advocate for yourself is truly inspiring. Wishing you all the best with your appointment and hoping for a quick approval!

Andre, I'm so glad you found the information you needed here! This thread has been incredibly educational - I had no idea about the disabled widow benefits available at age 50. It's really troubling how many SSA representatives seem unaware of these provisions, leaving people like you struggling unnecessarily for years. Your story is a perfect example of why it's so important to get multiple opinions and specifically ask about different benefit types. The fact that you were initially told to wait until 60 when you've been eligible since age 50 is just heartbreaking. Thank you for sharing your experience and please do update us after your appointment. Stories like yours help spread awareness about benefits that too many people don't know exist. I'm sure there are other community members who could benefit from this information. Wishing you a smooth application process and quick approval!

Andre, this is such wonderful news! I'm so happy you were able to get through to SSA and confirm your eligibility. This entire thread has been incredibly valuable - I had no idea about disabled widow benefits being available as early as age 50. It's really frustrating that you had to struggle for three years when you were eligible all along, but I'm glad you found the support and information you needed here. The community knowledge shared by everyone, especially about the specific terminology to use and services like Claimyr, seems to have made all the difference. Best of luck with your appointment next week! Make sure to bring copies of everything and don't hesitate to ask questions if anything seems unclear. Your persistence and willingness to advocate for yourself is inspiring, and I'm sure your experience will help other widows and widowers who might be in similar situations. Please keep us updated on how the application process goes!