To answer your question about survivor benefits more specifically: If your husband passes away, you would be eligible for survivor benefits, which can be up to 100% of what he was receiving (not the 50% limit of spousal benefits). However, if you claim survivor benefits before your FRA, they would be reduced. Unlike with retirement benefits, you can actually claim survivor benefits as early as age 60 (or 50 if disabled). At 60, you'd receive about 71.5% of your deceased spouse's benefit, and the percentage increases until you reach FRA, when you'd get 100%. The rules for survivor benefits are different from spousal benefits in several important ways. You can also switch between your own retirement benefit and survivor benefits at different times to maximize your lifetime benefits.

I'm in a very similar situation and have been researching this extensively. One thing that might help with your decision is to calculate the "break-even" point. If you claim at 62 and get reduced benefits, versus waiting until 67 for full benefits, you need to figure out at what age the total amount received would be equal. For many people, this break-even point is around age 78-80. So if you expect to live beyond that age, waiting usually makes financial sense. But if you have health concerns or really need the income now, claiming early might be the right choice despite the permanent reduction. You might also want to consider your husband's age and health, since that affects potential survivor benefits down the road.

This is such valuable information for families! I'm in a similar situation - my husband is planning to retire next year and we have a 14-year-old. I had no idea the children could get benefits even if I'm not collecting yet. One thing I'm wondering about - do the kids need to provide any special documentation when you apply for their benefits, like birth certificates or school enrollment records? And does it matter if they live with both parents or if there's a custody arrangement involved? Want to make sure I have everything ready when the time comes!

I just went through this process myself about 6 months ago when I retired early at 62. My twins were 16 at the time and I was worried about the same thing since my spouse won't be eligible for another 5 years. The good news is that your kids absolutely CAN get benefits based on just your record! When I filed for my retirement benefits, I made sure to mention I had minor children during the application process. The SSA representative walked me through everything and set up their benefits at the same time. Each of my kids now receives about 40% of my benefit amount (it would have been 50% each but the family maximum kicked in slightly). The whole process was actually smoother than I expected once I got the right person on the phone. My advice is to apply for everything together in one appointment - don't wait or try to add the kids later as a separate process. Also keep good records because you'll get annual forms to report how you're using the children's benefit money.

I'm really sorry for your loss, Nia. This is such a difficult situation to navigate while you're still grieving. One thing that might help with your decision-making is to get your actual survivor benefit estimate from SSA before you decide. You can create a my Social Security account online to see what your monthly survivor benefit would be at different ages. That way you can do the math more precisely rather than guessing. Also, don't forget that if you do decide to claim survivor benefits now, you can always reassess later. For example, if your work situation changes or you decide the earnings test is too much of a hassle, you could potentially suspend your survivor benefits and restart them later, or switch to your own retirement benefit if that becomes more advantageous. The most important thing is not to rush into a decision. Take time to understand all your options, maybe even consider meeting with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security planning. Your situation with the rental income actually gives you more flexibility than many people have.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Nia. This thread has covered the earnings limit really well, but I wanted to add one more consideration that might help with your planning. Since you mentioned you're 62 and about 5 years from FRA (so FRA at 67), you might want to look into whether your own retirement benefit at age 70 would be higher than your survivor benefit. If your own benefit would be significantly higher, you could potentially use a "claim and switch" strategy: 1. Claim reduced survivor benefits now (even with the earnings test reducing them) 2. Let your own retirement benefit grow with delayed retirement credits until age 70 3. Switch to your own higher benefit at 70 This only works if your own benefit at 70 would exceed the survivor benefit, but it's worth checking. Your own benefit grows by about 8% per year from FRA to age 70, so it can get quite substantial. Given your rental income providing some financial cushion, you have more options than many people. The online benefit estimator others mentioned will show both your survivor benefit and your own retirement benefit projections, which will help you see if this strategy makes sense for your situation.

Since several people have mentioned the earnings test, let me provide some clarity on that since it might affect your decision: 1. For 2025, the earnings limit is projected to be around $22,800 if you're under full retirement age for the full year (this is an estimate based on current trends). 2. If you earn over that amount, $1 in benefits will be withheld for every $2 you earn above the limit. 3. However, it's important to understand that this isn't a penalty - it's a deferral. After you reach FRA, your benefit will be recalculated to give you credit for months when benefits were withheld. 4. If you're planning to continue working full-time at a job with significant earnings, you might want to calculate whether it makes sense to claim at 60 or wait until your earnings decrease or you reach FRA. I strongly recommend discussing these specifics with an SSA representative who can look at your exact situation and provide personalized guidance.

I'm in a similar situation and wanted to share what I learned from my SSA appointment last month. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to compare different scenarios before my meeting. I calculated: 1. What I'd receive at 60 with the earnings test reduction 2. What I'd get if I waited until I could reduce my work hours 3. My break-even point for when the withheld benefits would be made up With your $65K salary, you're looking at about $42K over the earnings limit, which means roughly $21K in withheld benefits annually. Even though you get credit later, that's a significant cash flow impact. Another option to consider: some people reduce their work hours or negotiate part-time arrangements around age 60 to stay under the earnings limit while still collecting survivor benefits. It's not feasible for everyone, but worth exploring if your job allows flexibility. The SSA representative was very helpful in running through different scenarios with actual numbers from my husband's record. Don't feel like you have to figure it all out beforehand - they have tools that can show you exactly how different timing decisions would affect your benefits.

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I think I'll try the online application first since my case is straightforward, but I'll leave plenty of time before my 70th birthday in case something goes wrong and I need to reach a real person. Having that Claimyr service as a backup option is reassuring too if I can't get through. I really appreciate all the different perspectives - it's given me a much clearer picture of what to expect!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through this exact transition 18 months ago. I successfully switched from survivor benefits to my own retirement benefit at 70 using the online system. The key things that helped me: 1. I applied exactly 3 months before my 70th birthday as recommended 2. Had all my documents ready (even though they already had them on file) 3. Double-checked that I selected "I am currently receiving Social Security benefits" when prompted 4. Made sure to print the confirmation page with my receipt number The transition was seamless - my survivor benefits stopped automatically the month my retirement benefits began, with no gap in payments. My first retirement payment was about $1,100 more than my survivor benefit, so waiting until 70 was definitely worth it. One tip: after you submit, you can check the status of your application online through your mySocialSecurity account. I checked mine weekly just for peace of mind. The whole process took about 6 weeks from application to first retirement payment. Good luck with your switch - it sounds like you've done your homework and will see a nice increase in your monthly benefit!