Social Security widow's benefits vs. survivor benefits - are they different or the same thing?

theyr actually the same thing. widows benefits is just a type of survivor benefit. SSA calls it survivors benefits as the main category and widows benefits when its specifically for a spouse.

I went through this when my husband passed last year. Widow's benefits is just the specific term they use when the survivor is the spouse. Survivor benefits is the broader category that includes benefits for widow(er)s, surviving children, and sometimes parents and ex-spouses. At 62, your mom has options. She could take reduced widow's benefits now and switch to her own retirement later (if her own benefit would be higher at FRA or 70). Or she could take her own reduced retirement now and switch to full widow's benefits at her FRA. Make sure she schedules an appointment specifically to compare these options - it can make a significant difference in long-term income. The length of marriage (over 9 months) definitely qualifies her, so that's not an issue with 35 years.

My sister went thru this and the SSA people kept using diffrent terms which was SO CONFUSING!!! She thought she was gonna get 2 differnt benefits too lol. But nope just the one widows thing.

I help people navigate these benefits regularly, and this confusion is very common. Here's a simple breakdown: - Survivor benefits: The umbrella term for ALL benefits paid to eligible family members after someone dies - Widow's/Widower's benefits: The specific TYPE of survivor benefit paid to a surviving spouse Other types of survivor benefits include: - Surviving child benefits - Surviving parent benefits (in limited cases) - Surviving divorced spouse benefits (if marriage lasted 10+ years) Your mom's age (62) gives her options. Since she's under Full Retirement Age (FRA), she can: 1. Take reduced widow's benefits now (about 71-82% of your dad's benefit depending on exact age) 2. Take her own reduced retirement now 3. Strategically switch between benefits later The best strategy depends on her own work record compared to your dad's benefit amount. The most advantageous approach is usually to take the smaller benefit first (reduced) and switch to the higher benefit later (unreduced). The 35-year marriage is well beyond the 9-month minimum requirement for widow's benefits, so that's not a concern.

when my husband died the SSA people were TERRIBLE!! kept giving me wrong info and I lost out on benefits because of it. MAKE SURE your mom talks to multiple people at SSA because sometimes they give totally different answers!!!!

One thing that hasn't been mentioned - if your father was receiving Social Security benefits when he passed away, your mother should not cancel his direct deposit or close his accounts until any final benefits are recovered. SSA will want to reclaim his benefit for the month of death (if he wasn't eligible for the full month). Also, while survivor benefits and widow's benefits are essentially the same thing, there are important distinctions in when you can claim them: - Widow's benefits can start as early as age 60 (50 if disabled) - Regular retirement benefits can't start until 62 Since your mother is 62, she has options for either benefit, but the reduction factors are different. Widow's benefits taken at 62 are reduced by about 28.5%, while retirement benefits at 62 are reduced by about 30%. Some widows find it advantageous to take their reduced retirement at 62, then switch to unreduced widow's benefits at their FRA. Others do the opposite. It depends entirely on the benefit amounts involved.

my condolences on ur loss. when my wife died it was so confusing. i think they said widows benefits but the check just says social security. good luck

I'm a Social Security caseworker and wanted to clarify a few things that might help. The terminology confusion is very real - we use "survivor benefits" as the umbrella term, but "widow's benefits" specifically for surviving spouses. They're the same benefit, just different ways of referring to it. Given your mom's situation at 62, she has two main strategies: 1. File for reduced widow's benefits now (roughly 82.5% of your dad's benefit) and delay her own retirement until 70 for maximum credits 2. File for her own reduced retirement now and switch to full widow's benefits at her Full Retirement Age (66-67 depending on birth year) The key is comparing benefit amounts. If your dad's benefit was significantly higher than what her own would be, option 1 usually works better. If they're closer in amount, option 2 might be better. Also, don't forget about the $255 lump-sum death benefit if you haven't already received it. And yes, being married 35 years definitely qualifies her - you only need 9 months minimum. I'd recommend calling the national number (1-800-772-1213) and specifically asking to schedule an appointment to compare both benefit options with actual dollar amounts. That's the only way to know for sure which strategy maximizes her lifetime benefits.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I went through this exact same confusion when my father passed two years ago. The SSA representatives do tend to use both terms interchangeably, which makes an already overwhelming process even more confusing. Just to echo what others have said - they are the same benefit. "Survivor benefits" is the broad category, and "widow's benefits" is what they call it when it's specifically for a surviving spouse. One thing that really helped us was writing down all our questions before the appointment and asking the representative to walk us through the specific dollar amounts for each option. Don't be afraid to ask them to repeat things or explain it differently if something doesn't make sense. Also, if you haven't already, make sure to ask about any benefits your mom might be entitled to from your dad's work if he had any employer-provided life insurance or pension benefits. Sometimes those get overlooked during this process. Wishing you and your mom strength as you navigate this difficult time.

I'm sorry for your loss and understand how confusing this process can be during such a difficult time. As others have mentioned, "widow's benefits" and "survivor benefits" are indeed the same thing - widow's benefits is just the specific type of survivor benefit for spouses. Given your mom's age of 62 and the fact that your dad was already collecting at 67, she has some important decisions to make. The key is getting the actual benefit calculations from SSA to compare her options. Since your dad was already receiving benefits, they should be able to tell you exactly what her widow's benefit would be at different ages. One important detail I didn't see mentioned - if your mom decides to work while receiving benefits before her Full Retirement Age, there are earnings limits that could reduce her benefits temporarily. This might factor into her decision timing. Also, make sure to ask about Medicare eligibility during your appointment. Since your mom will be approaching 65, it's good to understand how her benefit choices might affect her Medicare enrollment timeline. The 35-year marriage definitely qualifies her, and the strategic approach others mentioned about potentially switching benefits later could really maximize her lifetime income. Don't hesitate to ask for a written summary of the options during your SSA appointment - it helps to have something to review later when emotions aren't running as high.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I went through this same confusion when my dad passed last year, and the terminology really does make everything more overwhelming than it needs to be. Just to add one more perspective - when you do call SSA for that appointment, try to get it scheduled sooner rather than later. There can be some timing advantages to filing earlier even if you're not going to collect right away, and they can explain those retroactive payment rules that might apply. Also, if your mom has any military service or if your dad was a veteran, make sure to ask about any additional survivor benefits she might qualify for through the VA - those are completely separate from Social Security but often get overlooked. The most important thing is that appointment to compare the actual dollar amounts. Every situation is different, and what worked for someone else might not be the best strategy for your mom. Having those real numbers will make the decision much clearer.

I'm so sorry for your family's loss. This confusion about terminology is unfortunately very common and adds unnecessary stress during an already difficult time. To clarify what everyone has been explaining - "widow's benefits" and "survivor benefits" are indeed the same benefit, just different ways SSA refers to it. Think of "survivor benefits" as the umbrella category that includes benefits for widows/widowers, children, and sometimes other family members. "Widow's benefits" is the specific type within that category for surviving spouses. Since your mom is 62 and your dad was already collecting, she has some strategic options that could significantly impact her long-term financial security. The key is getting SSA to run the actual calculations for both scenarios: 1. Take reduced widow's benefits now (around 82-84% of your dad's benefit at age 62) 2. Take her own reduced retirement now and switch to full widow's benefits at her Full Retirement Age Given that they were married 35 years (well over the 9-month requirement), she definitely qualifies. The best choice depends entirely on comparing the dollar amounts of her own work record versus your dad's benefit. When you call SSA at 1-800-772-1213, specifically ask for an appointment to compare both options with actual benefit amounts. Don't let them rush you - this decision will affect her income for the rest of her life. And definitely ask about that $255 death benefit if you haven't received it yet. You're doing the right thing by helping her navigate this process. Take care of yourselves during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss, and I want to echo what everyone has shared - this terminology confusion is incredibly common and frustrating during an already overwhelming time. You're absolutely not alone in feeling confused by SSA's use of both "widow's benefits" and "survivor benefits." As a newcomer who's been reading through all these helpful responses, I wanted to add that it might be worth asking specifically about the "restricted application" strategy during your SSA appointment. Since your mom is over 62, she may be able to file for one benefit while delaying the other, then switch later - but the rules around this can be complex and depend on when she was born. Also, something I learned from helping a family member - when you call for that appointment, ask if they can mail you a written benefits estimate beforehand. Sometimes having the numbers in front of you makes the phone conversation much clearer, especially when you're dealing with grief and stress. The community here has given you such valuable advice about comparing the actual dollar amounts. That really seems to be the key to making the best decision for your mom's long-term financial security. Wishing you both strength as you work through this process.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Having just gone through a similar situation with my own family, I completely understand the confusion around this terminology. What helped us tremendously was creating a simple checklist before our SSA appointment: - Ask for actual dollar amounts for both widow's benefits and her own retirement benefits - Get calculations for taking benefits now vs. waiting - Ask about the $255 death benefit specifically - Inquire about any retroactive payments - Request everything in writing if possible One thing I wish someone had told us earlier - if your mom is still working, make sure to discuss the earnings test limits. This could affect which benefit strategy makes the most sense timing-wise. Also, don't hesitate to call back if you get conflicting information from different representatives. Unfortunately, that does happen sometimes, and it's worth getting a second opinion on such an important financial decision. The fact that you're helping your mom navigate this shows what a caring family you are. Take it one step at a time, and don't feel pressured to make immediate decisions. You've got this.