Widow benefits while still working - can I claim my husband's SS without reducing my $50k salary?

Survivor benefits work differently than retirement benefits. You can actually claim widow's benefits as early as age 60 (or 50 if disabled), but there are some important things to understand: 1. If you claim before your Full Retirement Age (FRA), the benefit amount will be reduced 2. The earnings test DOES apply to survivor benefits if you claim before FRA. For 2025, you can earn up to $22,320 without reduction. Above that, they withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn over the limit. 3. Once you reach your FRA, the earnings test goes away completely. You can earn any amount without reduction in benefits. 4. At your FRA, you'd be eligible for 100% of your husband's benefit amount as a survivor benefit. Based on your income of $62,000, claiming before FRA would result in significant benefit reduction or potential suspension until you reach FRA.

I went thru exact same thing when my husband past away!! They make it SO COMPLICATED!!! I was 61 and working full-time making like $48k. When i tried claiming his benefit they said i wuldnt get hardly anything because of the income limits!!! Its such a ripoff! The gov takes all our money and then makes it impossible to get it back.

There's a strategy worth considering in your situation. When you reach your Full Retirement Age, survivor benefits are no longer subject to the earnings test. At that point, you could: 1. Take the survivor benefit (your husband's full benefit amount of $2,750) 2. Continue working at your current salary with no reduction in benefits 3. Allow your own retirement benefit to grow with delayed retirement credits until age 70 4. At 70, if your own benefit has grown larger than the survivor benefit, you can switch to your own. This gives you the best of both worlds - immediate income from survivor benefits at FRA with no penalty for working, while allowing your own benefit to grow to its maximum amount.

EVERYBODY keeps saying wait till FRA but nobody explains how we're supposed to survive until then!!! I'm dealing with a similar thing and the whole system is designed to keep us working until we die. I tried calling SSA to get a straight answer and spent HOURS on hold only to get disconnected 3 times!!!!

Your student loans might actually qualify for forgiveness if you work for a non-profit! Look into Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. My sister got her loans forgiven after 10 years at a non-profit.

I thoght survivers benfits were 75% of what they get? Thats what my frend told me when her husband died last yr.

I really appreciate everyone's help! I think I'm starting to understand this better. So if something happens to my husband, I have options: 1. Claim survivor benefits early but face significant reductions due to both early claiming AND the earnings test 2. Wait until FRA to claim 100% of his benefit with no earnings limit, while still working 3. Potentially delay my own benefit until 70 to maximize it I'm going to try calling SSA to get my specific numbers. Does anyone have tips for actually getting through to a real person there?

One more important point: If your husband passes away, you would be eligible for a one-time death benefit payment of $255 from Social Security. It's not much, but it's something. Also, regarding your student loans - federal student loans are discharged upon death, and there are income-driven repayment plans that could help while you're alive. If you're working for a non-profit, definitely look into PSLF as someone suggested. The survivor benefit rules are complex but designed to provide flexibility. The key decision points are: 1. When to claim (early with reduction vs. FRA with full amount) 2. How your current earnings affect benefits before FRA 3. When/if to switch between survivor benefits and your own retirement benefit A personalized analysis of your exact situation by SSA would be very helpful.