Taking Social Security survivor benefits at 60 - any hidden taxes or deductions?

Regarding taxes - if survivor benefits are your only income source, you likely won't owe federal taxes on them. For a single filer, Social Security benefits are only taxable if your combined income (adjusted gross income + nontaxable interest + half of your SS benefits) exceeds $25,000. However, there are other potential deductions to be aware of: 1. If you enroll in Medicare at 65, Part B premiums will be deducted (currently about $174/month for most people) 2. If you have any outstanding federal debts (student loans, back taxes), they could garnish up to 15% of your benefit 3. If you're subject to a court-ordered garnishment for alimony or restitution As for pitfalls when claiming early - watch out for the earnings test if you decide to work in the future. In 2025, if you earn more than $22,320, SSA will withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above that limit until you reach your Full Retirement Age.

my mom started survivors at 60 and she had to report her work income every year or they would come after her later!!! the form comes in the mail i think. she said the worst part was when they estimated her income wrong and gave her a huge overpayment notice!! took months to fix

I started my survivor benefits at 60 three years ago, and while they don't take taxes out automatically, I DO have to pay some taxes at the end of the year because I have a part-time job. Just be careful if you start working - I was shocked my first year when I owed the IRS! Also, WATCH OUT for the earnings limit! They don't tell you clearly enough that if you work too much, they take back $1 for every $2 you earn over the limit. I learned this the hard way and had THREE MONTHS with no benefits because of an overpayment situation. The SSA is TERRIBLE about explaining this upfront!!! Oh and when you apply, TRIPLE CHECK your application. One wrong date and they'll delay everything for months. The system is designed to frustrate you!

congrats on making it to 60! my advice is to print out EVERYTHING they send you and keep good records. the SSA loses stuff all the time lol

One thing I'd strongly recommend is requesting an official benefit verification letter after your survivor benefits are approved. This shows your exact benefit amount and serves as proof of income for any housing applications, loan applications, or other situations where you need to verify your income. You can request this through your my Social Security account online or at your local office. Regarding your budget planning - remember that survivor benefits receive the same Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) as regular Social Security benefits. So your payments will increase slightly each year with inflation. Also, if your late husband had higher earnings and you remain unmarried, you might want to reconsider your claiming strategy. If you can afford to wait until your Full Retirement Age (probably 67), you'd receive 100% of your husband's benefit instead of the reduced 71.5%. That's a significant difference that compounds with every COLA increase over your lifetime.

Yes, that's correct about remarriage. If you remarry at age 60 or later, you can still collect survivor benefits on your late husband's record. This is different from spousal benefits, which would require you to be currently married to claim on a spouse's record. Regarding your earlier question about reporting earnings - if you get a part-time job, you would need to proactively report your expected earnings to SSA. They'll adjust your benefits accordingly throughout the year. If your earnings change significantly (higher or lower), report the change immediately to avoid over or underpayments. SSA typically sends an annual earnings estimate form, but don't rely solely on that. It's better to be proactive about reporting any work activity or income changes.

Everyone here has good advice but nobody mentioned about Medicare. Since your only getting 71.5% of benefits and waiting till 65 for Medicare, make sure you look into Medicaid in your state if your income is low enough. Also some states have programs that help pay for medicare premiums once you turn 65. You might qualify for Extra Help with prescription drugs too. Oh and a tip - if you have any life insurance policies from your husband, that money doesn't count against your benefits! My neighbor thought she couldn't claim survivors benefits because she got life insurance but that's not true at all.

did anyone say you should check if ur eligible for SSI too?? if ur survivor benefits are really low you might get a little extra from SSI every month

I want to thank everyone for all this helpful information! I've learned so much and feel much better prepared for my appointment with SSA next month. I'm going to: 1. Double-check my application carefully before submitting 2. Request a benefit verification letter once approved 3. Look into Medicaid until I'm eligible for Medicare 4. Keep excellent records of all communications with SSA 5. Research my state's assistance programs It's such a relief knowing what to expect with taxes and potential deductions. I'm still nervous about making ends meet on the reduced benefit amount, but at least now I understand what I'll actually receive and can budget accordingly.

You sound like you have a solid plan! One additional tip - when you go to your SSA appointment, bring multiple forms of ID and any documents related to your husband's work history or benefits if you have them. Also, ask specifically about when your first payment will arrive - there's usually a waiting period after approval. Since you mentioned being nervous about making ends meet, you might also want to look into local senior centers and community organizations. Many offer free meals, transportation assistance, and other services that can help stretch your budget. Some even have programs specifically for widows navigating Social Security benefits. Best of luck with your appointment - you've got this!

I'm so sorry for your loss, and I want to echo what others have said about keeping detailed records - this saved me so much trouble when I applied for survivor benefits two years ago. One thing I didn't see mentioned yet is that you should ask about direct deposit when you apply. It's much safer than waiting for paper checks in the mail, and your benefits will arrive faster (usually the second Wednesday of each month for survivor benefits). Also, if you're worried about budgeting on the reduced amount, consider looking into your local Area Agency on Aging. They often have resources specifically for widows and can help connect you with programs for things like prescription assistance, utility bill help, and even free tax preparation services. Mine helped me understand which benefits might be taxable and which weren't. You're being very smart to plan ahead and ask these questions. The SSA staff should be able to give you a clear breakdown of exactly what you'll receive after any deductions. Don't hesitate to ask them to put everything in writing!

I'm also a widow who started survivor benefits at 60, and I want to add something important that hasn't been mentioned yet - when you apply, make sure to ask about retroactive benefits. If your husband passed away more than 6 months ago and you're applying now, you might be entitled to back payments for some of those months. Also, regarding healthcare before Medicare - don't overlook COBRA if your husband had employer health insurance when he passed. You might still be eligible to continue that coverage for up to 36 months as a surviving spouse, which could bridge the gap until you're Medicare eligible at 65. One more tip from my experience: if you ever need to call SSA, try calling early in the morning (right when they open at 7 AM) or later in the day after 4 PM. The wait times are usually much shorter than during peak hours. And always write down the name of whoever you speak with and get a confirmation number if they make any changes to your account. You're asking all the right questions and it sounds like you'll be well-prepared for your appointment. The hardest part is often just getting through the application process - once your benefits start, the monthly payments are very reliable.