Widow benefit at 60 - SSA office told me I won't get 71.5% of deceased husband's benefit - accurate?

The rep was correct, but didn't explain it well. The 71.5% is applied to your husband's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), not his actual benefit payment at death. The PIA is the benefit amount he would have received at his Full Retirement Age (FRA). If your husband claimed benefits after his FRA, he was receiving more than his PIA due to delayed retirement credits. The survivor benefit is based on the PIA, not including those extra credits (with some exceptions). For widow(er)s at exactly age 60, the benefit is 71.5% of the PIA. At your FRA, you'd get 100% of what he was receiving including any delayed credits. You should consider requesting an appointment with a Technical Expert at SSA who can show you the actual calculations.

This is so confusing! I went thru the same thing 2 yrs ago with my husband passing. What they told me was the % depends on your age AND his age when he started taking SS. if he took it early you get less, if he waited til later you get more. But yeah they dont go by the actual $ amount. Good luck getting anyone to explain it clearly!!!

The SSA representative was correct. Survivor benefits for widows are calculated based on several factors: 1. Your age when you claim (71.5% of the PIA at age 60) 2. Your husband's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) 3. Whether your husband received delayed retirement credits If your husband claimed after his FRA, he received delayed retirement credits (DRCs) that increased his benefit amount above his PIA. As a widow, you're entitled to either: - A reduced benefit based on the PIA if claiming before your FRA - The higher of either 100% of the PIA or the actual amount your husband received (including DRCs) if you wait until your FRA The 71.5% reduction only applies to the PIA, not his actual benefit amount. This is likely what caused the confusion.

I had EXACT same issue last yr!! The 71.5% is right but they don't apply it to what he was actually getting. They have this base amount called the PIA and THAT'S what they take the 71.5% from. You can actually get a statement that shows his PIA if you bring his death certificate and your marriage license. I think it's called a PEBES? No wait, it's a BOAN (Benefit Output Analysis New) or something like that. BTW if you're having trouble getting through to them on the phone, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a real person in like 20 minutes instead of spending days trying to get through. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU

i just want to say im sorry for your loss. my husband died 5 years ago and it gets easier but never easy. i waited until 62 to take my widows benefit and got more than 71.5%, i think it was like 81% or something. just wanted you to know you can get more if you can wait a little longer. wish someone had told me that option when i was deciding what to do

@casual_commenter - Yes, Claimyr is legit. I was skeptical at first but it saved me from pulling my hair out trying to reach SSA. They just connect you to the regular SSA number but somehow get you through the phone tree and hold times. After I finally spoke with someone, I got that document showing my husband's PIA so I could understand my actual benefit amount.

To clarify on switching benefits: Yes, you can switch from widow's benefits to your own retirement benefits later if your own benefit amount would be higher. This is one of the few remaining "claim now, claim more later" strategies still available. You can: 1. Take reduced widow's benefits at 60 2. Switch to your own retirement benefit at 70 (when it reaches maximum value) This strategy allows your own retirement benefit to grow with delayed retirement credits (8% per year from FRA to 70) while still receiving some income as a widow. Ask the SSA for a BRIEF (Benefit Rate Increase Forecast and Estimation) document which will show projections for both benefit types.

did u bring a list of questions with u to the SSA office? i always forget half of what i want to ask when i get there cuz theyre always rushing us through

To address your question about finding his PIA: You can request a "Survivor Benefits Summary" from SSA that will show your late husband's PIA and your potential benefit amounts at different ages. Based on his $2,680 benefit at age 67, his PIA was likely around $2,300-2,400 (just an estimate). At age 60, you'd receive approximately 71.5% of that PIA, so roughly $1,645-1,715 per month. Remember that claiming any Social Security benefits before your FRA will subject you to the earnings test if you're still working. In 2025, you can earn up to $22,720 without penalty, but they'll withhold $1 for every $2 you earn above that limit.

Regarding the earnings test: Any benefits withheld are not permanently lost. Once you reach your Full Retirement Age, SSA will recalculate your benefit amount to credit you for the months when benefits were withheld. At your current $28,000 annual income, approximately $2,640 would be withheld annually from your survivor benefits (($28,000 - $22,720) ÷ 2). This effectively means you'd lose about 1-2 months of benefits per year until you reach your FRA. Also, I recommend requesting an appointment specifically with a Technical Expert or Claims Specialist who specializes in survivor benefits, rather than speaking with a general Service Representative. Their knowledge of the complexities of survivor benefits tends to be more comprehensive.

DON'T TRUST WHAT THEY TELL YOU AT THE FIELD OFFICE!!! My mom was a widow and they told her THREE DIFFERENT THINGS on three different visits! The entire survivor benefit system is designed to confuse people so they take a lower amount than they're entitled to. ALWAYS get a second and third opinion before filing any paperwork. The rules are intentionally confusing and most SSA employees don't understand them correctly!!!