Widow's benefit calculation at FRA - based on deceased spouse's age 70 benefit or death age?

You'll receive what your husband would have received at the time of his death, INCLUDING any delayed retirement credits he had earned up to that point. Since he died at 66 and his FRA was probably 66 (or close to it depending on his birth year), you would receive his full FRA benefit amount. The key here is that widow's benefits are based on the higher of: - The benefit your husband was actually receiving when he died - The benefit he WOULD HAVE received if he had applied for retirement benefits at the time of his death Since he died at 66 and never filed, you'd get 100% of his FRA amount. The calculation does NOT include potential credits he might have earned had he lived to 70.

Wait, I think the previous response isn't quite right. My husband passed 3 years ago and I went through this exact situation. The SSA rep explained that I would get my husband's benefit including ANY delayed retirement credits he had earned up to his death. So if your husband was past his FRA when he died, you should get those extra credits he earned between FRA and when he passed away.

The previous responses contain the correct information, but let me clarify a bit more technically: As a widow, you'll receive your husband's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) plus any Delayed Retirement Credits (DRCs) he earned between his FRA and the date of death. Since he died at 66 and his FRA was likely 66, he would have earned very few DRCs (possibly none depending on the exact timing). If you file for widow's benefits at your widow's FRA (66+8mo), you'll receive 100% of this amount. If you file earlier, the benefit is reduced by approximately 0.396% per month before your widow's FRA. Regarding optimal timing: If you have a substantial earnings record yourself, it might make sense to take reduced widow's benefits earlier and switch to your own retirement benefit at 70 (if your own benefit at 70 would be higher than the widow's benefit). This strategy works best if your own benefit at 70 would exceed your widow's benefit. And yes, if you claim widow's benefits before your FRA while still working, the earnings test would apply ($22,320 annual limit for 2025 with $1 in benefits withheld for every $2 earned above that).

call ssa and ASK THEM! dont trust what people on forums say, even me lol. but i waited til my widows FRA and got ALL the delayed credits my husband earned. he died at 68 and never filed, but i got his benefit with the extra 16% for the 2 years he lived past FRA. but the rules are comlicated and the 800 number is IMPOSSIBLE to get thru on.

Just wanted to share my experience - I'm 67 and just went through this process last year. My husband passed at 67 (he was past his FRA of 66 but hadn't filed yet). When I applied for widow's benefits at my FRA, they gave me his FRA amount PLUS the delayed retirement credits he'd earned in that one year. So the benefit was 108% of his FRA amount. The SSA rep confirmed that if he had lived to 70 but never filed, and then died, I would have received his age 70 benefit (132% of his PIA). But you only get the credits actually earned before death.

One more thing to consider - have you checked if taking your OWN benefit now and then switching to widow's benefits at your FRA might be a good strategy? Since you're still working, maybe not, but it's worth looking at all options. That's what I did (took my own reduced benefit at 63 then switched to widow's at my FRA).

My mom kept working til 67 (past her widows FRA) and SSA gave her RETROACTIVE benefits for 6 months!!! Did u know u can get up to 6 months of back pay if u file after your FRA? They dont advertise this!!

To summarize what appears to be causing confusion: 1. You WILL receive any DRCs your husband earned between his FRA and his death at 66. 2. You will NOT receive additional DRCs he might have earned had he lived longer (up to age 70). 3. Since you mentioned he died at 66, which was likely very close to his FRA, there may be very few DRCs involved (possibly just a few months' worth). 4. Given your still-working status and the fact that your own benefit at 70 would be less than the widow's benefit, waiting until your widow's FRA (66+8mo) appears to be the optimal strategy in your case. 5. Once you stop working or reach your FRA, don't forget to inquire about the possible 6 months of retroactive benefits that may be available if you file after your FRA.