Will earning $70K affect my Social Security widow benefits at age 60?

Yes, your widow benefits will be affected by the earnings test if you're working before your Full Retirement Age (FRA). For 2025, if you're under FRA for the entire year, SSA will deduct $1 for every $2 you earn above $22,320. With a $75K salary, you'd be significantly over that limit. So you'd calculate: $75,000 - $22,320 = $52,680 over the limit Then: $52,680 ÷ 2 = $26,340 in benefits withheld for the year Since your monthly benefit would be about $1,700, that means approximately 15-16 months of benefits could be withheld. You might not receive any payments for a period, depending on when you start working.

My mom went thru this EXACT situation!!! When my dad died she was 60 and got widows benefits. Then she started working again making like 65k and they stopped her payments completely. She was FURIOUS bc nobody explained this to her when she applied!!!! The SS people should tell everyone about this b4 they apply!

You might want to run some real numbers before deciding. If you're making $75k, that's about $6,250/month before taxes. Compare that to $1,700 in survivor benefits. Financially, taking the job makes more sense even if you lose all your benefits temporarily. Also worth considering: you can earn Social Security credits through this job that might increase your own retirement benefit later. And if you wait until your FRA to claim widow benefits, you'll get 100% of your husband's benefit instead of the reduced 71.5%. Lots of factors to weigh beyond just the earnings test!

i heard somewhere that the first year u claim theres a different rule? like a monthly test instead of yearly? anybody know if thats true?

Have you tried actually calling the SSA to ask? I spent 3 HOURS on hold last week trying to get someone to explain my benefits situation and kept getting disconnected. Finally gave up. Their website is useless for complicated situations like this.

One thing to keep in mind is that the earnings rule changes in the year you reach Full Retirement Age. In the year you reach FRA, the earnings limit increases significantly (around $59,520 for 2025) AND they only deduct $1 for every $3 you earn over the limit (instead of $1 for every $2). Plus, they only count earnings BEFORE the month you reach FRA. So when you get closer to your FRA, the penalty becomes much less severe. And once you hit FRA, there's no earnings limit at all - you can earn any amount without affecting your benefits.

Thank you all for this helpful information! It sounds like I should probably take the job if offered, even though it means temporarily losing my widow benefits. The long-term financial benefits seem to outweigh the short-term loss of survivor benefits. One last question - if I take the job and have my benefits withheld, do I need to officially withdraw my application for survivor benefits? Or does SSA automatically adjust things based on my reported earnings?

I'm so sorry for your loss, and what a difficult situation to navigate while grieving. Just wanted to add a few practical considerations that might help with your decision: 1. **Tax implications**: Your $75K salary will be taxed, while Social Security survivor benefits are often partially or fully tax-free depending on your total income. Make sure to factor in the after-tax comparison when weighing the numbers. 2. **Health insurance**: If this job comes with good health benefits, that could be a significant factor. Losing spousal coverage and needing to find your own can be expensive. 3. **Timing strategy**: Since you mentioned you're turning 60 next month, you might consider applying for survivor benefits first, receiving them for a few months, then starting the job later in the year. This way you could take advantage of that first-year monthly earnings test that was mentioned. The good news is this isn't a permanent decision - you can always reassess as your situation changes. And remember, the withheld benefits aren't lost forever; they'll increase your monthly payment once you reach FRA. You're being very thoughtful about planning for your financial future, which your husband would surely want for you.

I'm really sorry for your loss. Going through this financial planning while grieving is incredibly challenging, and you're doing such a thoughtful job thinking through all the angles. One additional consideration that might help with your decision: since you've been out of work for 8 months, you may want to factor in the emotional and professional benefits of returning to work beyond just the financial calculation. Many widows find that having structure, purpose, and social connections through employment can be valuable for their overall wellbeing during this difficult transition. Also, if you do decide to take the job, consider asking about flexible start dates or part-time options initially. Some employers are willing to work with candidates on timing, especially if they know you're dealing with Social Security coordination issues. This could help you maximize those early months of survivor benefits while transitioning back into the workforce. Whatever you decide, you're clearly being very strategic about securing your financial future. That's exactly the kind of forward-thinking approach that will serve you well in the years ahead.