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

This is such an important story to share! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - I'm 61 and my husband passed 8 months ago. I've been going back and forth about when to file for survivor benefits because I keep getting conflicting information. I had no idea about the RIB-LIM rule until reading your post. It sounds like I really need to do my homework before making any decisions. The fact that you could have lost out on $21,000 by following the first rep's advice is terrifying! Can I ask - when you used those calculators, did you need specific information about your husband's earnings record? I'm wondering how detailed the input needs to be to get accurate results. I have his Social Security statement but I'm not sure if that's enough information for a proper analysis. Thank you for being so detailed about your experience. Stories like this are exactly why I joined this community - the real-world experiences are so much more valuable than the generic advice you find elsewhere.

This is exactly the kind of detailed, helpful information this community needs! As someone who's been navigating Social Security benefits for my aging parents, I can't stress enough how important it is to get multiple opinions and do your own research. The RIB-LIM rule is so obscure that even I hadn't heard of it until reading your post, despite spending months researching survivor benefits. It's shocking that a rule with such significant financial implications isn't better explained or more widely known. Your persistence at the SSA office was admirable - I know it's uncomfortable to push back when you feel like you're being difficult, but $21,000 is absolutely worth advocating for yourself! The fact that they suddenly found a "technical specialist" when you mentioned calling your Representative's office says everything about how the system works. For anyone else reading this who might be in a similar situation: document everything. Keep notes of what each SSA rep tells you, including their names and the date. If you get conflicting information, ask them to put their recommendation in writing. This creates a paper trail that can be helpful if you need to escalate or if there are errors that need to be corrected later. Thank you for sharing this experience and potentially saving other widows and widowers from making costly mistakes!

As someone who works in financial planning, I can't emphasize enough how critical this story is for anyone dealing with survivor benefits. The RIB-LIM rule is one of those "hidden" provisions that can literally make or break someone's retirement security, yet it's rarely discussed in general Social Security education materials. What's particularly concerning is that this isn't just about one misinformed representative - it reflects a systemic issue where front-line SSA staff often aren't trained on the more complex optimization scenarios. They're taught the basic rules but may not understand how different provisions interact with each other. For anyone reading this thread: if you're dealing with survivor benefits, divorced spouse benefits, or any situation involving multiple benefit types, please get a second opinion before filing. The difference between optimal and suboptimal timing can easily be $20,000-$50,000+ over your lifetime. Ally, thank you for being persistent and sharing this experience. Your willingness to stand your ground potentially saved not just yourself but countless others who will read this story. This is exactly the kind of real-world advocacy that forces the system to work properly.