Will taking Social Security at 63 affect my survivor benefits from husband's larger SS benefit?
I'm turning 65 this summer and trying to figure out my Social Security strategy. My husband is 78 and already collecting a substantial SS benefit (around $3,250/month). I'm eligible for my own retirement benefit now, but at a reduced rate of about $1,450/month since I'd be claiming before my FRA. When I spoke with an SSA rep last week, they mentioned I'd be eligible for approximately 80% of my husband's benefit as a survivor benefit if he passes away before I reach my FRA. That would be significantly more than even my full retirement benefit at FRA. What I can't get a clear answer on: If I claim my reduced benefit now, will that permanently affect what I could receive as a survivor benefit later? I can manage financially with 80% of his benefit, but definitely not on my own reduced benefit. Has anyone navigated this situation successfully? I don't want to make a mistake that costs me thousands down the road.
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Landon Flounder
I went through this exact situation! Your survivor benefit is completely separate from your own retirement benefit. Taking your own benefit early will NOT reduce what you get as a survivor. When your husband passes (hopefully not for many years), you'll get to switch to the higher survivor benefit. The 80% calculation sounds about right if you're under FRA at that time. If you're at or past FRA when he passes, you'd get 100% of his benefit amount.
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Jacinda Yu
•Thank you so much for that clarification! That's a huge relief. So basically I can take my reduced benefit now to help with current expenses, and then later switch to the higher survivor benefit? Did you have any issues with the transition when the time came?
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Callum Savage
my mom did this and the SSA messed up her payments for 3 months after my dad died!! make sure you keep calling them if the survivor benefits dont start right away, they told her she would 'automatically' get them but that was NOT true lol
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Jacinda Yu
•Oh no, that's concerning! I'll definitely make a note to stay on top of it if that happens. Did your mom eventually get back payments for those months they messed up?
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Ally Tailer
You're receiving accurate information about survivor benefits. Your own reduced retirement benefit will NOT affect the amount of survivor benefits you can receive. These are treated as separate entitlements by SSA. To clarify the specifics: 1. If you claim your own retirement at 65 (before your FRA), you'll receive a permanently reduced amount. 2. If your husband predeceases you, you can switch to survivor benefits. The amount depends on: - If you're under FRA when you begin survivor benefits: approximately 80-82% of his PIA - If you're at or above FRA when you begin survivor benefits: 100% of what he was receiving 3. The fact that you took your own benefit early has no impact on your survivor benefit calculation. Many people in your situation choose to take their own reduced benefit early, then switch to the higher survivor benefit later. It's a completely legitimate strategy.
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Aliyah Debovski
•yeah but doesn't the earnings test still apply if she's working and under FRA? that could reduce benefits too right?
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Miranda Singer
THIS IS EXACTLY what happened to me - but I made a HUGE mistake by listening to the WRONG information from SSA!!! I was told the SAME THING by an agent but when my husband died 3 years ago, I found out that because I had claimed early retirement at 62, my SURVIVOR BENEFITS WERE REDUCED!!! I'm now getting $650 LESS per month than if I had waited!!! DON'T TRUST what they tell you on the phone!!!
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Ally Tailer
•I believe there may be some confusion here. Your survivor benefits weren't reduced because you claimed your own retirement benefits early. They were likely reduced because you claimed survivor benefits before reaching your full retirement age. These are two different issues. To clarify for everyone: Taking your own retirement benefit early will not reduce your future survivor benefit. However, taking survivor benefits before your full retirement age will result in a reduced survivor benefit. These are separate decisions with separate consequences.
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Cass Green
My neighbor just went thru this. She got a better answer by going in person to SSA office instead of calling. Appts take forever tho.
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Finley Garrett
•Going in person is definitely better, but getting an appointment these days is nearly impossible! I helped my sister reach an actual SSA agent using Claimyr.com - it got her through to a live person in under 20 minutes when she'd been trying for days. There's a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - saved her hours of frustration and she got her survivor benefit questions answered clearly. Much better than the generic info on the website.
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Callum Savage
make sure you find out exactly when your FRA is! its not the same for everyone and depends on birth year. my aunt thought hers was 66 but it was actually 66 and 4 months, caused a whole mess with her benefits
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Landon Flounder
•Yes! This is so important! For anyone born in 1960 or later, FRA is 67. For those born between 1943-1954, it's 66. And for those in between, it increases by 2 months per birth year. Always check your exact FRA on ssa.gov or your Social Security statement.
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Jacinda Yu
I'm getting confused with all the different answers. So to be absolutely clear - if I take my retirement benefit at 65 (reduced), and then my husband passes away when I'm 68 (after my FRA), I would get 100% of his benefit amount as a survivor benefit? And my decision to take my own benefit early has no impact on this?
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Ally Tailer
•Yes, that's exactly right. If your husband passes when you're already at your FRA (which would be the case at 68), you would be eligible for 100% of what he was receiving. Your earlier decision to take your own reduced retirement benefit does not affect this amount. The two benefits are calculated independently of each other.
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Aliyah Debovski
not to be morbid but if your husband is 78 and has health issues you might actually come out ahead financially by taking your reduced benefit now then switching to survivor later, vs waiting for your full retirement age. just simple math really
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Jacinda Yu
•I appreciate the practical perspective, though it's not something I like thinking about. But you're right - it is ultimately a financial calculation that I need to consider objectively.
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Landon Flounder
One thing nobody mentioned - when you switch to survivor benefits, you'll need his death certificate and marriage certificate. Get multiple certified copies of the death certificate (at least 5-10) when the time comes. Every organization will want one and some won't accept photocopies. Just a practical tip I wish someone had told me!
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Jacinda Yu
•Thank you for this practical advice. I wouldn't have thought about needing multiple copies of the death certificate. I'll make a note of this for future reference.
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