Widower's benefits eligibility at 65 when wife was on SSDI - conflicting info about age requirements

I'm very sorry for your loss. The information you received is conflicting because survivor benefit rules can be complex, but I can help clarify. Yes, you ARE eligible for widower's benefits at 65, even though your wife was receiving SSDI. When someone on disability passes away, their spouse can receive survivor benefits just as if they had been on retirement benefits. At your current age (65), you can receive approximately 91.9% of your wife's SSDI benefit amount. You would only receive 100% if you waited until your Full Retirement Age (FRA) of 66 and 10 months. The strategy of taking one benefit now and switching later is important to consider. If your own retirement benefit would eventually be higher than the survivor benefit, you might want to take the reduced survivor benefit now and switch to your own retirement at 70 when it reaches its maximum. Conversely, if the survivor benefit would be higher, you might take your reduced retirement now and switch to the full survivor benefit at your FRA. I'd recommend making an appointment with SSA to discuss these options with specific calculations based on your records.

sorry about your wife. my husband died 2 years ago and i got survivors benifits right away. was only 61 then. BUT they reduce it cuz i wasnt at full retirement age yet. think they took like 28% off what he wouldve gotten

The SSA is NOTORIOUS for giving conflicting information! I went through the same thing when my wife passed in 2023. I called 6 different times and got 6 different answers about my widower benefits!!! It's absolutely infuriating and adds stress during an already difficult time. From what I eventually figured out, here's the deal: YES you are eligible at 65, but at a reduced rate. And YES it absolutely matters that she was on SSDI - the benefit amount is based on what she was receiving. But NO, they won't automatically give you the highest benefit, you have to SPECIFICALLY ASK about restricted applications and maximizing strategies. Many SSA workers don't even know all the rules themselves! I ended up taking my own benefit at 63 and will switch to widower's benefits at my full retirement age in 2 years. The reduced widower benefit would have been less than my own reduced retirement.

Having worked with Social Security regulations for many years, let me explain the actual rules for widower's benefits: 1) You're eligible for reduced widower's benefits starting at age 60 (or 50 if disabled) 2) At age 65, you're eligible for approximately 91.9% of your deceased wife's benefit amount 3) You'd receive 100% only at your Full Retirement Age (66 years and 10 months) 4) Since your wife was on SSDI, the survivor benefit is based on her disability benefit amount The real strategy question is about maximizing your combined benefits. If your own retirement benefit at age 70 would be higher than the survivor benefit, you might want to take the survivor benefit now and switch later. You can file a restricted application for just the survivor benefit while letting your own retirement benefit grow. If you haven't already, you should create a my Social Security account online to see your projected benefit amounts. This will help with your decision. Whatever you do, get everything in writing when you apply. Different SSA representatives unfortunately do sometimes give conflicting information.

good luck getting thru to anyone at SSA! i tried calling for 3 weeks straight about my medicare question. busy signals or disconnected EVERY TIME!

What no one has mentioned yet is the earnings test. Since you're working part-time and under FRA, be aware that if you earn over $22,320 in 2025, they'll withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above that limit. This applies to widow(er) benefits too, not just retirement. I learned this the hard way when I had to repay some of my survivor benefits because I didn't know about the earnings limit. Make sure you factor this into your calculations if you're still working!

has anyone else noticed that SS office treats you like your stupid when you ask questions??? i swear the lady i talked to about survivors benifits acted like i was wasting her time

One more important point about survivor benefits that hasn't been mentioned yet: If you decide to take your own reduced retirement benefit now and switch to survivor benefits at your FRA, the reduction to your own benefit is permanent. But taking reduced survivor benefits now won't affect your own retirement benefit if you switch to it later. This asymmetry in the rules is why many financial advisors recommend taking the reduced survivor benefit first and then switching to your own retirement benefit at 70 if it would be higher. Also, don't forget that you'll need to provide documentation when you apply: marriage certificate, your wife's death certificate, both your SSNs, and proof of her SSDI status. Having all this ready will make the application process smoother.