Survivor benefits calculator for deceased husband's Social Security without visiting SSA office?
My husband passed away in 2005, and I'm trying to get a rough estimate of what survivor benefits I might qualify for without having to call or visit a Social Security office right now. I'm 60 years old and probably won't collect for another couple of years, but I'd like to have some idea for planning purposes. I've never remarried. I know there are different percentages based on age (like 72% at age 62?), but I'm confused about how to actually calculate what I'd receive based on his earnings. Is there an online calculator specifically for widow's benefits that would let me see estimates at different claiming ages? Any help would be so appreciated!
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Genevieve Cavalier
Yes, there's a way to estimate this! You can create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov and view your potential survivor benefits there. Once you login, you'll see options to view different benefit estimates. Since you were married more than 10 years and haven't remarried, you're eligible for 100% of his benefit if you claim at your Full Retirement Age (FRA) which would be 67 for someone your age. At 62, you'd get about 71.5% of his full benefit amount, and the percentage increases the longer you wait, up to your FRA. After that, waiting longer doesn't increase survivor benefits (unlike your own retirement benefits). The system should show you both your own retirement benefit estimates AND your survivor benefit estimates.
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Zane Hernandez
•Thank you so much! I'll try creating an account today. Just to make sure I understand - I'd get 71.5% at 62 and it increases until I reach 67 (my FRA), but there's no benefit to waiting beyond 67 for survivor benefits? That's helpful to know. Will the SSA site show me the exact dollar amounts I'd get at different ages?
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Ethan Scott
I went thru something similar last year and the my Social Security account didn't actually show my survivors benefit!! I had to call them anyway. Just letting you know so you don't get disappointed if it doesnt show up..
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Zane Hernandez
•Oh no, that's frustrating. If I can't see it online, I guess I'll have to call after all. Was it difficult to get through to someone when you called?
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Lola Perez
When I was trying to figure out my widow's benefits last year, I couldn't get accurate estimates online either. I spent WEEKS trying to get through to SSA on the phone - constant busy signals, disconnections, or being told the wait was over 2 hours! I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual SSA agent within 15 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. The agent was able to tell me exactly what my survivor benefit would be at different ages. Saved me so much frustration after struggling for weeks to get through on my own.
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Nathaniel Stewart
•I've heard about this service! Did they actually connect you or did you have to give them your SSN or anything? Im always paranoid about that stuff
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Lola Perez
•They don't ask for your SSN or any personal info like that. It just helps you bypass the hold times. Once you're connected, you're talking directly with the actual SSA rep just like if you'd called yourself (after waiting for hours). Definitely legitimate - worth it to avoid the endless waiting and disconnections.
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Riya Sharma
Just to clarify some information here: 1. As a widow, you can claim as early as age 60 (reduced to about 71.5% of his full benefit). 2. The online my Social Security account MAY show your survivor estimates, but often doesn't - this is a known limitation. 3. For accurate estimates, you'll need to speak with SSA directly. 4. Important: You can claim EITHER your own retirement OR survivor benefits first, then switch to the other later if it's higher. 5. Unlike retirement benefits, survivor benefits don't increase after your FRA. A strategy many widows consider: claim the survivor benefit at 60-FRA, then switch to your own retirement benefit at 70 if it's higher (since your own benefit grows until 70).
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Zane Hernandez
•Thank you for explaining this so clearly! I didn't realize I could potentially claim one benefit then switch later - that's really valuable information. So theoretically, I could take reduced survivor benefits at 60, then switch to my own retirement at 70 if it would be higher by then? Would I need to specifically request that arrangement or does SSA automatically give you whichever is higher?
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Riya Sharma
You need to specifically request this strategy. SSA won't automatically optimize this for you. You would tell them you want to restrict your application to survivor benefits only. Then later, you'd file a separate application for your retirement benefits. This strategy works well if your own retirement benefit at 70 would be higher than your survivor benefit at FRA. The difference can be substantial - your own retirement benefit increases 8% per year between FRA and 70 (for a total of 24-32% more than at FRA). Just be aware that if you're still working before your FRA, there are earnings limits that could reduce your benefits temporarily.
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Zane Hernandez
•This is incredibly helpful! I'm definitely still working and plan to until at least 65, so I'll need to look into those earnings limits too. I think I'll need to speak with SSA to get the specific numbers before making any decisions. Thank you so much for explaining these options.
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Santiago Diaz
WHATEVER YOU DO DONT TRUST THE ONLINE CALCULATORS!!! I used one and it was OFF by over $400/month from what I actually got!!!! The SSA people told me those calculators don't account for certain reductions and rules that affect survivors. The only way to get a REAL number is to talk to an actual person at SSA who can look at YOUR specific case!!!
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Genevieve Cavalier
•This is partially true. The official SSA calculators can be quite accurate, but they may not account for certain complex situations that apply to survivors specifically. Things like the Government Pension Offset (GPO), Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), or the effect of the deceased's early retirement can complicate calculations.
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Ethan Scott
my neighbor is a widow n she said theres a special LUMP SUM death payment too, I think its like $255 if thats helpful
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Millie Long
•Yes there is a lump sum death payment but since her husband passed in 2005, she would have needed to apply for that within 2 years of his death. That's long past now.
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Nathaniel Stewart
something nobody mentioned - if ur husband took his SS early (before his FRA) that will permanently reduce ur survivor benifit too. My husbands SS was reduced cuz he took it at 62 and when he passed they told me my widow benifits are based on his reduced amount not what he would of got at full retirement. just FYI
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Zane Hernandez
•Oh, I didn't know that! My husband was only 48 when he passed, so he hadn't started taking Social Security yet. I'm guessing that means my survivor benefit would be based on what he would have received at his full retirement age? This is all so complicated.
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Genevieve Cavalier
•Since your husband hadn't claimed benefits yet, you're in a different situation. Your survivor benefit will be based on what's called the "Primary Insurance Amount" (PIA) he would have received at his FRA. There's also something called the "young widow's limit" or "RIB-LIM" that might apply since he died young, but an SSA representative would need to explain how that might affect your specific case.
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Millie Long
Definitely contact the SSA directly. I've found the SSA agents to be very knowledgeable and helpful once you actually get to speak with one. They'll need your husband's SSN and earnings history to give you an accurate estimate. Since it's been quite a while since his passing, having his SSN and death certificate information handy when you call will speed things up.
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