Survivor benefits for widow with minor child - Will SS amount change after kids turn 18?

I can help clarify this for you. Let me address your questions one by one: 1. Yes, as a widower, you'll be eligible for survivor benefits, but typically not until you reach age 60 (unless you're disabled, then it's age 50). There's a gap period between when your children age out and when you can claim. 2. At your Full Retirement Age (FRA), you can receive 100% of your deceased wife's benefit amount. If you claim earlier (starting at 60), it will be reduced to about 71.5% at the earliest claiming age. 3. Your work history will determine your own benefit. When it's time to claim, you'll get either your own benefit OR your wife's survivor benefit, whichever is higher (not both). 4. YOUR earnings don't affect what your CHILDREN receive in survivor benefits. Their benefits continue regardless of your income. However, if THEY earn over the annual limit (which is $22,320 in 2025), their own benefits could be reduced. 5. If you remarry before age 60, you generally cannot collect survivor benefits on your deceased wife's record. If you remarry after 60, you can still receive survivor benefits based on your deceased wife's record.

My condolences for your loss. Been there too (lost husband 8 years ago). Just want to say ur income doesnt matter for kids benefits BUT if ur kids have jobs when theyre teenagers and make over a certain amount it can affect THEIR benefits. My son lost part of his check when he worked too much one summer. The SSA sent a letter later saying he owed money back!

I went through this EXACT situation!!! My husband died when we were both 42, married 14 years, with kids who were 11 and 13 at the time. The MOST IMPORTANT thing - you have to budget for what they call the "blackout period" - thats the gap between when your youngest turns 18 and when you turn 60. NO benefits during that time! I found this out too late and it caused me major financial problems. ALSO IMPORTANT - if you remarry before 60, you LOSE your right to your late wife's survivor benefits FOREVER. I almost remarried at 55 but waited until after 60 specifically because of this. Social Security rules are BRUTAL for widowers in their 50s!!!

I had similar questions after my spouse passed. Spent WEEKS trying to reach someone at Social Security to explain my options. Constantly disconnected or on hold for hours. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual SSA agent in under 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU The agent I spoke with explained that your survivor benefit options depend on your age at claim and your own work record. They helped me understand the blackout period everyone is mentioning and gave me personalized advice about maximizing my benefits. Worth talking to an actual SSA agent about your specific situation.

The SSA has TERRIBLE rules for widows/widowers! The system basically forces you to either: 1. Stay single until 60 (or lose benefits) 2. Survive with NO benefits during the "blackout period" 3. Try to save enough during the years your kids get benefits I'm going through this right now at 57 - my last kid aged out 2 years ago and I have THREE MORE YEARS with no benefits. It's CRUEL that they make us wait until 60! And don't get me started on the RIDICULOUS earnings limit if you claim survivor benefits between 60-FRA. They take away $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above their limit. The whole system PUNISHES working widows/widowers!!!!!

Hey my aunt was in your shoes few years back. She said for the kids, once they turn 18 or graduate high school (whichever is later) benefits stop. If your kid is disabled before 22 they can keep getting them tho.

To address your follow-up question about disability: Yes, if you become disabled before age 60, you could potentially receive survivor benefits as early as age 50. The SSA defines disability quite strictly though - you need to be unable to perform substantial gainful activity (SGA). Regarding planning for the "blackout period" others have mentioned, here are some strategies: 1. Maximize retirement account contributions now if possible 2. Consider long-term disability insurance while you're still working 3. Look into whether your state has any support programs for caregivers 4. If your younger child has significant health issues, explore whether they might qualify for benefits under their own record Finally, you might want to request your Social Security statement through your mySocialSecurity account to see what your own benefit amount might be at various ages. This will help you better compare your own benefit versus survivor benefits when that time comes.

They never warned us about the earnings limit! Just got a letter later saying my son made too much and we owed back $1200. Was a huge shock! Now I tell him he can't work more than about 20 hrs a week during school year or he loses benefits. Sucks cause he wants to save for college.

Just saw your question about the kids possibly owing money back. YES this happened to us too! My daughter got a job at 17 and worked too many hours one summer. We had NO IDEA there was an earnings limit for the kids. SSA sent us a notice 8 months later saying she owed back $2,800!!! I couldn't believe it. The limit for 2025 is $22,320 per year (they adjust it annually). For every $2 earned above that limit, they reduce benefits by $1. Make sure you keep track of your kids' earnings if they start working!!!

im in this situation. lost my wife 2 years ago. kids r 14 and 11 now. im so confused about this whole system. do i get any benefits now as a widower while kids r minors??

My sister went thru all this and she said don't count on the survivor benefits for your retirement planning. She said better to assume you'll just get your own benefits and then survivor benefits are a bonus if they're higher. That way you don't get surprised if the rules change.

One more IMPORTANT thing no one mentioned - if you DO qualify for father's benefits while caring for kids under 16, you are subject to the SAME earnings limit that affects people who collect early SS retirement. For 2025, if you earn more than $22,320, they reduce your benefit by $1 for every $2 you earn over the limit. Your KIDS' benefits aren't affected though. The whole system is designed to PUNISH working parents!!!! It's like they WANT us to be financially dependent. I lost out on thousands because I didn't know this rule when my husband died.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I went through something similar when my husband passed away 4 years ago. The Social Security survivor benefits system is incredibly complex, and I wish someone had explained all these nuances to me earlier. Based on what others have shared here, it sounds like you need to prepare for several key challenges: 1. The "blackout period" gap that everyone mentioned - this really caught me off guard too. You'll want to start building savings now while your kids are still receiving benefits. 2. If you're currently working part-time and might qualify for father's benefits (since your youngest is under 16), definitely contact SSA to find out. But be aware of the earnings limit that could reduce those benefits. 3. Consider speaking with a financial planner who specializes in widow/widower situations. They can help you create a strategy for that gap period and optimize your claiming strategy later. The system really does seem designed to penalize working parents trying to rebuild their lives. It's frustrating, but knowing these rules ahead of time at least lets you plan around them. Hang in there - you're asking the right questions now to prepare for what's ahead.

I'm sorry for your loss. This is such a challenging situation to navigate while grieving and caring for your children. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should definitely contact SSA to see if you currently qualify for father's benefits while caring for your children under 16. Since your youngest is 10, you could potentially receive these benefits until they turn 16 - that's about 6 years of additional support during this difficult time. Also, regarding the earnings limit for your children's future employment - you can actually report their wages to SSA throughout the year rather than waiting for the annual reconciliation. Call them when your kids start working and ask about voluntary monthly reporting. This helps avoid those surprise overpayment notices that others mentioned. For the blackout period planning, consider setting up automatic transfers from any survivor benefits you're currently receiving into a separate savings account specifically for those gap years. Even $100-200 per month now could make a significant difference when that time comes. Finally, create your mySocialSecurity account ASAP if you haven't already. You'll be able to see projections of your own benefits at different claiming ages, which will help you make informed decisions about survivor benefits versus your own retirement benefits later on. The system is complex and often feels unfair, but understanding these rules now puts you in a much better position than many people who discover them too late.

I'm sorry for your loss. Reading through all these responses really highlights how complex and sometimes harsh the Social Security system can be for surviving spouses. One additional resource that might help - many local AARP offices offer free Social Security counseling sessions where volunteers (often retired SSA employees) can walk through your specific situation. They're usually more patient than trying to get through on the phone and can help you understand all the timing considerations. Also, if your younger child has ongoing health issues that require significant care, you might want to look into whether they could qualify for SSI (Supplemental Security Income) based on disability. This is separate from survivor benefits and has different rules. If they qualify before age 22, they could potentially continue receiving benefits as an adult disabled child even after survivor benefits end. The documentation and planning everyone is suggesting is spot-on. Keep detailed records of everything - your work history, your wife's earnings record, any disability documentation for your child, and definitely track any future earnings your kids might have from jobs. It's overwhelming now, but you're asking the right questions at the right time. That puts you ahead of many people who discover these gaps too late to plan effectively.