Widow's benefit calculation was wrong at SS office - RIB LIM saved me $16,000

You're absolutely right to share this experience! The RIB-LIM (Retirement Insurance Benefit Limitation) is one of the most commonly misunderstood rules even among SSA employees. It specifically affects widow(er)s who are under their survivor FRA but eligible for both their own retirement benefit and a survivor benefit. The rule essentially prevents your combined total benefit from exceeding a maximum amount - which can create this counterintuitive situation where waiting longer doesn't increase your benefit at all. For others reading: This won't apply to everyone - it depends on your specific earnings record compared to your deceased spouse's. But this is why getting informed before filing is so crucial. The difference can literally be tens of thousands of dollars.

omg this EXACT thing happened to my mom!!! she waited 2 full years because thats what the SS office told her to do and then found out later she could have been collecting the whole time. she was so mad. those SS people don't even know there own rules sometimes!!

This is a perfect example of why understanding the RIB-LIM rule matters so much. For technical clarification: The RIB-LIM applies when you're entitled to both your own retirement benefit and a widow(er)'s benefit before reaching your FRA for survivors benefits. It creates a maximum family benefit amount that effectively caps what you can receive. In some scenarios - like yours - this means taking benefits earlier won't reduce the total amount compared to waiting until survivor FRA. Key factors that determine if RIB-LIM will affect you: 1. Your age when filing 2. Your PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) based on your work record 3. Your deceased spouse's PIA 4. Your survivor FRA Anyone in a similar situation should absolutely use specialized calculators or consult with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security before making decisions. The rules are complex enough that even SSA employees sometimes misunderstand them.

this is why i always tell people to call SSA multiple times and ask the same question to different reps. if you get the same answer 3 times then maybe you can trust it lol

wait so did u take ur own benefits first and then switch to survivors? or did u never take ur own? iam confused about how this all works

To answer your question about divorced spouse survivor benefits - yes, the RIB-LIM rule would also apply to divorced surviving spouses as long as the marriage lasted at least 10 years. The calculation works the same way. This is why the claiming strategy for widow(er)s and surviving divorced spouses can be so different from regular retirement benefit strategies. The standard advice of "wait until FRA or 70 for higher benefits" often doesn't apply in the same way. In many cases, the optimal strategy for widow(er)s is to take one benefit type early (either their own retirement or the survivor benefit) and then switch to the other benefit when it reaches its maximum value. But RIB-LIM can complicate this, which is why personalized analysis is so important.

those calculators sound helpful, can you share links to them?

I've been fighting with Social Security for 6 MONTHS about my widow benefits!!! They keep sending me in circles and nobody can give me straight answers about anything!!! Every time I call they tell me something different and I'm SICK OF IT!!! I finally got my Congressman's office involved last week because this is ridiculous. The whole system is designed to CONFUSE us so we don't get what we're entitled to!!! My husband worked for 45 YEARS and paid into the system and now they want to nickel and dime me over benefits I DESERVE!!! Thank you for sharing your story. I'm bringing printouts about this RIB LIM thing to my next appointment because I BET this is what's happening in my case too!!

this is y i tell everyone to just go to the office in person, its easier than calling