Social Security widow benefits denied because I earn too much - is this accurate?

The SSA rep was giving you correct information. Since you're under your FRA and earning well above the annual earnings limit ($22,320 for 2025), your widow's benefits would be completely offset by the earnings test. For every $2 you earn above the limit, $1 in benefits is withheld. With your $85,000 income, the reduction would exceed any potential widow's benefit payment. However, you should know that once you reach your FRA, the earnings test no longer applies and you can earn any amount without reduction in benefits. You might want to inquire about filing a restricted application for just widow's benefits at your FRA, which would allow your own retirement benefit to continue growing until age 70.

that happened to me too!!!! The ssa lady told me i couldnt get ANY of my late husbands ss because i was making too much at my job. but then my sister said i should apply anyway because rules change sometimes. im so confused by all of this tbh

I went through something very similar last year - my husband passed and I was still working making about $70k. I couldn't collect widow's benefits either because of the earnings test. After dealing with endless busy signals and disconnections trying to get more information from SSA, I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to a representative without the wait. They connected me to SSA in about 20 minutes instead of spending days trying to get through. The agent I spoke with confirmed I couldn't get benefits while earning that much, but gave me the exact calculations and helped me understand my options for when I do retire. There's a quick video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU

Not to contradict anyone here but wantd to say that I think you should double check this with another SSA rep. My cousin was in almost the same situation (widow at 63, still working) and she does get a small payment even though she makes about $65k. Something about how her husband's benefit was much higher than what her own will be. So maybe it depends on your specific numbers?

My wife had same experience after I... wait sorry, I meant my friend's wife had this same issue after he passed. She was 63 making about $90k and couldn't get any of his benefits until she retired. She was pretty upset about it too. When she finally retired at 66 (her FRA), she started getting the widow benefit which was higher than her own retirement would have been. The SSA actually did explain it well to her but she had to visit the office in person to get all the details.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses. I'll definitely try to get a more detailed calculation from SSA about my specific case. From what I'm understanding, I probably won't be eligible for any widow's benefits until I reach my FRA due to my current earnings, but I need to confirm the exact numbers. I'll look into getting an appointment with my local office or using that Claimyr service to avoid the endless phone waits. I'll update here if I find out anything useful that might help others in the same situation!

I'm in a very similar situation - lost my husband last year at age 69 and I'm 61 still working full time making about $78k. The SSA rep told me the same thing about not being eligible due to earnings, which was really disappointing since I was hoping to get some help with expenses while I continue working. What I found helpful was requesting a written estimate of what my widow benefits would be at different income levels - it helped me understand exactly how the earnings test calculation works. You might also want to ask about whether reducing your hours temporarily could make you eligible for partial benefits, depending on how much your husband was receiving. The math might work out better than you think if his benefit was significantly higher than what you'll get on your own record.

I'm sorry for your loss, Serene. This is such a frustrating situation that many widows face. The SSA representative was correct about the earnings test, but I'd encourage you to get a second opinion or ask for more detailed calculations. Sometimes there can be nuances in how the benefits are calculated that might result in a small payment even with higher earnings, especially if your husband's benefit was substantially higher than yours will be. Also, don't forget that any benefits withheld due to the earnings test aren't permanently lost - they get recalculated and added back when you reach your full retirement age. It might be worth running the numbers to see if reducing your work hours temporarily could result in net positive income when you factor in the widow benefits you'd receive. The local SSA office might be able to give you more personalized guidance than the phone representatives.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Serene. This is unfortunately a very common situation for working widows. The SSA rep was correct - with your $85,000 income, you're well above the 2025 earnings limit of $22,320, so any widow's benefits would be completely offset by the earnings test reduction. However, I'd strongly recommend getting a written benefit estimate that shows the exact calculations. Sometimes if the deceased spouse's benefit was very high, there might be edge cases where a small amount could still be payable. Also, definitely consider whether reducing your hours might make financial sense - you'd need to run the numbers on lost wages vs. potential widow benefits. And remember, once you hit your FRA at 66 and 10 months, you can earn unlimited income without any reduction in benefits. The waiting is frustrating, but those benefits will be there when you're ready to claim them!

I'm really sorry for your loss, Serene. This is such a difficult situation to navigate while you're still grieving. The SSA representative was technically correct about the earnings test, but I'd definitely encourage you to dig deeper into the specifics of your case. With your husband receiving $2,800/month, that's a substantial benefit amount - and your potential widow's benefit could be close to that figure. Here's what I'd suggest: Request a detailed written analysis showing exactly how much your widow's benefit would be before any reductions, then ask them to calculate the earnings test at different income levels. For example, what if you reduced your hours to earn $60k? $50k? $40k? You might find there's a sweet spot where the combination of reduced wages plus partial widow's benefits actually puts you ahead financially. Also, definitely ask about filing strategies for when you reach your FRA. You might be able to claim widow's benefits then while letting your own retirement benefit grow until age 70 - but only if your own projected benefit would eventually be higher than the widow's benefit. The timing and strategy can make a huge difference in your lifetime benefits. Good luck navigating this complex system!