Survivor benefits at 62 vs 63 - Will waiting two months increase my Social Security percentage?

The percentage increase for survivor benefits happens month by month, not just at your birthday. Every month you wait after 60 until your Full Retirement Age (FRA) increases your percentage. So if you're turning 63 in May, you'll get a slightly higher amount than in March, but it won't jump from 70% to 80% overnight. You can apply in March but request a later start date. Just be very clear with the SSA representative that you want your benefits to begin in May. They can set this up during your appointment. This way you don't lose your appointment slot but still get the higher amount.

WHATEVER YOU DO, don't let them talk you into taking retirement benefits instead of survivor!!! They tried to do this to me because sometimes the retirement benefit is easier for THEM to process!! But survivor benefits are usually MUCH BETTER at 62-63!! Make sure you specifically say you want SURVIVOR benefits not regular retirement!!

I just went through this exact situation. Had my appointment back in November but was turning 63 in January. The increase is approximately 0.5% per month after 60. So waiting two months would give you about 1% more of your husband's benefit amount. If your husband's benefit was $2,000, that's about $20 more per month for the rest of your life. Not huge, but it adds up over time. I kept my appointment but told them I wanted benefits to start in the month of my birthday. Worked perfectly!

my aunt waited 3 extra months and got like $30 more a month so probably not worth rescheduling imo

When I applied for survivor benefits, I learned some important details that might help you: 1. The reduction for taking survivor benefits early is approximately 0.396% per month before your FRA (Full Retirement Age). 2. You can apply during your appointment in March but request a May start date. The SSA representative can set this up for you. 3. Important: Benefits are paid in the month following the month they're for. So May benefits would actually be paid in June. 4. You'll need your marriage certificate, death certificate, and your husband's Social Security number ready for the appointment. One strategy to consider: If you have your own work record, you could take survivor benefits now and switch to your own retirement benefits later if they would be higher at age 70. Or vice versa depending on which benefit will ultimately be larger.

good luck getting through on your appointment day!! i had 3 appointments cancel on me because nobody called at the scheduled time. kept having to reschedule and wait weeks each time. so frustrating!!! i finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a real person at Social Security after being stuck in their phone system for weeks. they have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU saved me so much stress with my survivor benefits application!

ALSO!!! Make sure you understand that survivor benefits and spousal benefits are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THINGS!!! You mentioned "spousal survivor benefits" in your question which isn't actually a thing - it's either survivor benefits (when spouse has died) or spousal benefits (when spouse is still living). HUGE difference in amounts!!! Since your husband passed away, you want SURVIVOR benefits!!!

I waited till 64 to take mine after my Harold passed. Every bit helps with these prices these days!

One other thing to consider is that if you're still working, taking benefits before your Full Retirement Age means you'll be subject to the earnings limit (about $21,240 for 2025). If you earn over that amount, they'll withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above the limit. This applies to both retirement and survivor benefits taken early.

To answer your specific question about percentages: At 62 and 0 months, survivor benefits are reduced by approximately 28.5%, so you get 71.5% of the full benefit. By 63 and 0 months, they're reduced by about 23.5%, so you get 76.5%. So the difference between 62 years 10 months (March) and 63 years 0 months (May) would be roughly 1% of the full benefit amount. Not a huge jump, but still worth considering if you can set the later start date during your March appointment.

I went through this exact same decision process about a year ago when my wife passed. The key thing I learned is that you absolutely CAN apply in March but request benefits to start in May - this is called a "protective filing date" and it's a standard option they offer. Here's what I'd recommend: Keep your March appointment (trust me, getting another one is a nightmare) but tell them you want benefits to start in May when you turn 63. This gives you the best of both worlds - you secure your application date AND get the higher percentage. The monthly increase is about 0.396% per month, so waiting from March to May would give you roughly 0.8% more of your husband's full benefit amount. On a $2,000 benefit, that's about $16 more per month, which adds up to nearly $200 extra per year. Also make sure you have ALL your documents ready - marriage certificate, death certificate, your husband's Social Security number, and your own work history if you have one. They'll walk you through whether survivor benefits or your own retirement benefits (taken later) would be better long-term. Good luck with your appointment - you're making a smart choice by thinking this through carefully.