Will my Social Security widow benefits automatically change when I turn 65? Still working full-time
I've been receiving Social Security survivor benefits as a widow while working full-time since my husband passed away three years ago. I'll be turning 65 this March, and I'm starting to worry about whether my benefits will automatically change. Will I still remain on widow benefits based on my husband's record? Or does the SSA automatically switch me to something else when I hit 65? I don't want any surprises with my benefits amount changing unexpectedly. My HR department mentioned something about Medicare eligibility that got me confused about my actual SS benefits status. Thanks for any clarity!
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Amara Okafor
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.
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Liam Sullivan
•Thank you! That's such a relief. So I need to sign up for Medicare separately, but my widow benefits just continue as is? I don't need to contact SSA about keeping my widow benefits?
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Giovanni Colombo
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!!
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Amara Okafor
•You're right about the earnings limit - for 2025, if you're under full retirement age for the whole year, SSA deducts $1 for every $2 earned above $22,500 (approximate - they haven't announced the official 2025 limit yet). When you reach full retirement age (66-67 depending on birth year), the earnings limit goes away completely.
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
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!
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StarStrider
•does that thing really work? i've been trying to get thru to SS for 3 weeks about my husbands survivor benefits. can't ever get a human on the phone!
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
•It absolutely worked for me - that's how I finally got my widow benefits questions answered. The agent I spoke with was actually really helpful once I finally got through to a real person.
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Dylan Campbell
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!!
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Sofia Torres
•This is incorrect information. SSA does not automatically switch anyone from survivor benefits to retirement benefits at FRA or any other age. Your aunt's situation likely involved something else, perhaps she applied for her own benefits not realizing they were lower, or there was an error that could be appealed. Survivor benefits continue until you choose to switch or until 70 when maximum delayed retirement credits are reached.
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Dmitry Sokolov
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.
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Liam Sullivan
•Thank you for sharing your experience! That makes me feel better. I'll definitely get on that Medicare enrollment right away. Do you know how long before my birthday I should start that process?
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Dmitry Sokolov
•You have 3 months before your birthday month, your birthday month, and 3 months after - so 7 months total for the initial enrollment period. I'd do it early though because it can take time to process!
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StarStrider
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
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Amara Okafor
•There are different types of survivor benefits. Children can receive them until 18 (or 19 if still in high school). But widow(er)s can receive survivor benefits as early as age 60 (or 50 if disabled). The rules and amounts differ based on your age, whether you're caring for dependent children, if you're disabled, and other factors.
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Sofia Torres
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.
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Liam Sullivan
•This is so helpful, thank you! So I should probably schedule an appointment with SSA to compare my own potential retirement benefits vs staying on widow's benefits? My husband worked in finance his whole career while I had several years out of the workforce when our kids were young.
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Sofia Torres
•Yes, definitely schedule an appointment. With your work history having gaps, it's likely your husband's record will provide higher benefits, but only SSA can tell you the exact numbers. You can check your own estimated benefits by creating a my Social Security account online at ssa.gov, but a direct comparison from an agent would be most helpful.
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Dylan Campbell
just wondering but if ur working full time why u even taking widows benefits before retirement age? doesn't working reduce them anyway?
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Liam Sullivan
•That's a fair question. Yes, some gets reduced due to the earnings limit, but I still end up with additional income that helps. My husband's sudden passing left me with expenses I hadn't planned for, so every bit helps even if it's reduced.
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