Will my Social Security widow benefits automatically change when I turn 65? Still working full-time

You'll continue receiving your widow's benefits - turning 65 doesn't automatically switch you to anything else. Those benefits continue until you either: 1) apply for your own retirement benefits if they would be higher, or 2) reach age 70 when any unclaimed benefits would max out. At 65, the only automatic change is Medicare eligibility, which is probably what your HR department was referring to.

Be careful about the earnings limit!!! Since ur not at full retirement age yet, if u make too much money from your job, SSA will TAKE BACK some of your benefits!!! They dont tell you this clearly enough and it SHOCKED me when it happened to me last year. They withheld THREE MONTHS of payments to recover what they said I owed them!!

When I turned 65 last year, I was also worried about my benefits changing. After 4 frustrating calls to Social Security (got disconnected twice, 2+ hour wait times), I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to reach an agent in under 10 minutes. They confirmed my widow benefits wouldn't change at 65 but explained exactly when I should consider switching to my own benefits. They even have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - definitely worth it to get clear answers instead of stressing!

my aunt got switched from survivors to regular retirement when she hit FRA without asking for it and it lowered her payment by almost $400!! you should def call and make sure you STAY on widows benefits!!

Same boat as you last year. Turned 65, kept my widow benefits. The only thing that happened was Medicare enrollment. Make sure you sign up for that though! They don't do it automatically and you can get penalties if you miss the window around your birthday.

wait I thought survivor benefits were just for when kids are minors ? my neighbor said she got ss survivors for her kids until they were 18 but not for herself

Since you're turning 65 in March 2025 and working full-time while receiving widow's benefits, here are three important things to understand: 1. Your widow's benefits continue unchanged - they don't automatically convert at 65. 2. You should evaluate whether it's better to: a) Stay on widow's benefits now and switch to retirement on your own record later b) Switch to reduced retirement benefits on your own record now c) Wait until your Full Retirement Age when restrictions on working while receiving benefits end The best strategy depends on your earnings history compared to your late husband's. 3. You MUST enroll in Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period (3 months before/after your 65th birthday) even if you're still working, unless you have qualifying employer coverage and your employer has 20+ employees.

just wondering but if ur working full time why u even taking widows benefits before retirement age? doesn't working reduce them anyway?

I'm in a similar situation but a few years behind you - my husband passed away last year and I'm 62, still working full-time. Reading through all these responses is really helpful! It sounds like you're on the right track with continuing your widow's benefits at 65. One thing I learned from my own research is that you can actually receive both Medicare and continue working with employer health insurance - Medicare becomes your secondary coverage if your employer has 20+ employees. Just wanted to add that since you mentioned HR brought up Medicare. Also, definitely get that benefits comparison from SSA like Sofia suggested - it's free and gives you the exact numbers to make the best decision for your situation.

I went through this exact situation two years ago when I turned 65. Your widow benefits will absolutely continue unchanged - turning 65 doesn't trigger any automatic switches in your Social Security benefits. The only thing that changes at 65 is Medicare eligibility, which is completely separate from your cash benefits. You'll need to enroll in Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period (3 months before through 3 months after your birthday month), but your widow benefits stay exactly the same. The key thing to remember is that YOU control when to switch benefits, not SSA. You can stay on widow benefits and evaluate later whether switching to your own retirement benefits would be better, or you can wait until age 70 when delayed retirement credits max out. Just make sure you understand the earnings limit since you're working full-time - but that's based on your age, not the type of benefits you're receiving.

I'm glad you found this community to get answers! As someone who works in benefits administration, I want to emphasize a few key points that came up in this thread: 1) Your widow benefits absolutely continue at 65 - no automatic changes to your Social Security payments, 2) Medicare enrollment at 65 is mandatory even if you have employer coverage (unless specific exceptions apply), and 3) The earnings limit still applies until you reach your Full Retirement Age (likely 66 or 67 depending on your birth year). One thing I'd add that wasn't mentioned - you can actually do a "what-if" analysis online through your my Social Security account to compare your potential retirement benefit vs your current widow benefit, which might help you prepare for that eventual SSA appointment. Don't let anyone pressure you into switching benefits before you're ready - you have complete control over that decision!

I'm sorry for your loss and understand your concerns about benefits changes at 65. Based on everything shared here, it's clear your widow benefits will continue unchanged - the system doesn't automatically switch you at 65. The Medicare enrollment is the only thing that becomes mandatory around your birthday. Since you mentioned working full-time, I'd definitely recommend using that online "what-if" analysis tool through your my Social Security account that Anastasia mentioned, plus scheduling an appointment with SSA to get the exact comparison numbers. With your husband's finance career versus your years out of the workforce, staying on widow benefits might be your best option long-term, but having those concrete numbers will give you peace of mind. Don't stress too much - you have time to make informed decisions on your timeline, not theirs!

I'm so glad you asked this question - I went through the exact same worry when I turned 65 last year! Your widow benefits absolutely will NOT automatically change at 65. That's one of the biggest misconceptions people have. The only thing that happens at 65 is Medicare eligibility kicks in, which is completely separate from your Social Security cash benefits. I stayed on my widow benefits and they continued exactly the same amount. The key thing to remember is that YOU decide when (or if) to switch to your own retirement benefits - Social Security doesn't make that decision for you. Since you're still working full-time, just be aware of the earnings limit until you hit your full retirement age. But don't stress about any automatic changes to your benefits - they'll keep coming just like they have been!

I'm really glad you found this community to get clarity on your situation! Based on all the great advice shared here, it sounds like you have a solid understanding now that your widow benefits will continue unchanged at 65. One thing I'd add from my own experience helping family members navigate this - when you do eventually meet with SSA to compare your benefits, bring a list of specific questions about timing. For example, ask them to show you exactly what your benefits would be if you switched at 65 vs waiting until full retirement age vs waiting until 70. Having those concrete numbers in writing really helps with planning. Also, since you mentioned your husband worked in finance, his earnings record is probably quite strong, so staying on widow benefits may indeed be your best long-term strategy. Don't let the Medicare enrollment process stress you out either - it's straightforward once you get started, and you have that 7-month window around your birthday. You're asking all the right questions!

I'm so glad you asked this question because I was in almost the exact same position two years ago! At 65, your widow benefits absolutely continue unchanged - there's no automatic switching or conversion that happens. The only thing that changes is Medicare eligibility, which your HR department was probably referring to. One thing that really helped me was scheduling a phone appointment with SSA (I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned - it really does work!) to get a side-by-side comparison of my widow benefits versus what my own retirement benefits would be at different ages. Since you mentioned having years out of the workforce while your husband had a finance career, there's a good chance staying on widow benefits will be your best option, but seeing the actual numbers gave me peace of mind. Also, definitely start your Medicare enrollment process early in that 7-month window around your birthday - I waited too long and it was more stressful than it needed to be. But remember, Medicare enrollment is completely separate from your Social Security benefits, so one doesn't affect the other. You're in control of when (or if) to switch benefits, not SSA. Take your time and make informed decisions on your timeline!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my recent experience since it's so similar to yours! I just turned 65 in December and was terrified about the same exact thing - whether my widow benefits would automatically change or get switched to something else. I'm happy to report that absolutely nothing changed with my Social Security payments! They continued exactly as they were before my birthday. The only thing I had to deal with was Medicare enrollment, which honestly wasn't as scary as I thought it would be once I got started. What really helped me was calling SSA about 2 months before my birthday to confirm everything and ask about the Medicare process. The representative was really patient and explained that my widow benefits would continue indefinitely unless I specifically chose to switch to my own retirement benefits. Since you're still working full-time like I am, just make sure you understand the earnings limit rules - but those are based on your age, not the type of benefits you're getting. Don't let the anxiety get to you like it did me - you're going to be just fine! Your benefits will keep coming as usual, and you have plenty of time to research and decide if switching to your own record would ever make sense down the road.

I'm a newcomer here but wanted to add my perspective as someone who works in retirement planning. All the advice you've received is spot-on - your widow benefits absolutely will NOT change automatically at 65. That's one of the most common misconceptions I see clients worry about unnecessarily. The key points to remember: 1) Your widow benefits continue unchanged until YOU decide to switch, 2) Medicare enrollment at 65 is separate from your Social Security cash benefits, and 3) You maintain full control over timing any benefit changes. Given that you mentioned your husband worked in finance while you had career gaps, staying on his record is very likely your best long-term strategy. When you do meet with SSA for that benefits comparison, also ask them to explain what happens to any "unused" delayed retirement credits on your own record if you never switch - sometimes there are nuances worth understanding even if you plan to stay on widow benefits. The fact that you're proactively asking these questions shows you're on the right track. Take your time, get the official numbers from SSA, and don't let anyone rush you into decisions. You've got this!