Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses! I think I understand it better now - the increase is calculated monthly rather than jumping at birthdays, and the exact percentage depends on whether I'm before or after my full retirement age. I'll check the SSA calculator to get a more precise number for my situation and maybe use Claimyr to actually talk to someone at SSA to confirm everything. Definitely feeling better informed now!

One thing to keep in mind is that Social Security benefits are calculated based on your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) and then adjusted for the age at which you claim. The monthly adjustments are applied using actuarial tables, so it's not a simple linear calculation between the annual amounts you see on your statement. Also, since you mentioned you're turning 64 in August 2025, your Full Retirement Age is likely 67 (if you were born in 1961 or later). This means claiming at 64 would give you a reduced benefit, and the reduction lessens each month you wait until you reach your FRA. The SSA applies these reductions/increases on a month-by-month basis, not just annually. If you want the most accurate calculation, I'd recommend using the SSA's online retirement estimator tool where you can input your exact birth date and proposed claim date. It will give you a much more precise figure than trying to interpolate between the annual amounts on your statement.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Edwards. Losing a spouse is incredibly difficult, and navigating the SSA system on top of grief makes it even harder. Based on what you've shared, it sounds like you're in a situation where the earnings test would significantly impact your survivor benefits if you claim early. With your $55K income, you'd be losing most of your benefit to the earnings test anyway, so waiting until FRA might be the smarter financial move. One thing to consider is whether you might want to reduce your work hours in the next few years. If you could get your earnings below the $21,240 limit, claiming survivor benefits early could work out better. You'd need to do the math on whether the reduced work income plus survivor benefits would exceed your current salary. Also, don't forget to factor in your own retirement benefit when making this decision. If your own benefit at 70 would be higher than the survivor benefit, you might want to claim survivors at FRA and then switch to your own at 70. A financial planner who specializes in Social Security could help you run these numbers. Hang in there - this stuff is complicated even for people who work with it regularly!

I'm sorry for your loss, Edwards. This is such a difficult situation to navigate while you're still grieving. From what I'm reading in the thread, it sounds like you're getting some really solid advice about the financial aspects. The earnings test issue is a real pain point - I went through something similar when my mom was widowed and still working. She ended up reducing her hours to part-time specifically to stay under the earnings limit, and it worked out well for her situation. One thing I'd add is that you might want to request a formal benefit estimate from SSA in writing, especially given the confusion about whether that $3900 figure includes delayed retirement credits or not. Sometimes having it in black and white helps cut through the confusion. And definitely consider that Claimyr service someone mentioned - anything that can get you past those endless phone waits is worth it. You're asking all the right questions, and it's clear you're being thoughtful about this decision. Take your time and don't let anyone pressure you into claiming before you're ready. The financial impact is permanent, so it's worth getting it right.

One more thing that confused me during my application - they ask if you want to apply for ALL benefits you're eligible for. Say NO to this question! If you say yes, they'll automatically give you whichever is higher right now (probably your own), which defeats the whole purpose of the strategy of taking survivors now and your own later.

As someone new to this community, I just want to say how incredibly helpful this discussion has been! I'm in a similar situation - my husband passed away 3 years ago and I'm approaching my FRA next year. I had no idea about the survivor maximization strategy or that you could work without penalty at FRA while collecting survivor benefits. The practical advice about what documents to bring and the warning about not applying for "all benefits" is exactly what I needed to hear. It's so frustrating that SSA doesn't make these strategies more widely known - seems like you have to stumble upon communities like this to learn about them! One quick question - does anyone know if there are any gotchas or special rules if your deceased spouse was receiving disability benefits before they passed away? My husband was on SSDI for the last two years before he died.

Thank you all for the helpful responses. I've learned a lot about my options. I do have a small life insurance policy that will help for now, and I'm going to see if I can increase my work hours for the next few years. I'll definitely contact SSA soon to make sure I'm in their system correctly as my husband's widow. And I'm going to start looking into the strategy of taking survivor benefits at 60 vs. waiting for a higher amount at my FRA. When the time comes, I'll check out that Claimyr service to get through to a real person at SSA. Thanks again everyone for sharing your knowledge and personal experiences - it's been really helpful during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss. As someone who went through this process myself two years ago, I want to emphasize a few practical steps that really helped me: First, definitely contact SSA now to report your husband's death and get yourself established in their system as his widow - this was crucial advice from Miguel. Don't wait until you're ready to claim benefits. Second, regarding the earnings limit that StarSeeker mentioned - since you're making $28,000, you're well above the threshold. But here's something I learned: you can actually request that SSA withhold benefits during months when you expect to earn more, rather than having them reduce your annual benefits. This gives you more control. Third, consider getting a Social Security statement to see your own projected benefits. You might discover that the strategy of taking reduced survivor benefits at 60, then switching to your own (potentially higher) benefit later could work in your favor, especially if you continue working and building up your own credits. The emotional and financial stress is overwhelming right now, but you have time to plan the best strategy. Take care of yourself first, then tackle these decisions one step at a time.

Just wanted to add one more consideration that might be helpful - since you're already on SSDI, you should also think about Medicare timing. If you've been on SSDI for 24 months, you're automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and B. When you switch to any other type of Social Security benefit (like ex-spouse benefits), your Medicare coverage continues without interruption. This is important to keep in mind as you navigate these benefit decisions, especially if you have ongoing medical needs. The transition between benefit types won't affect your healthcare coverage, which is one less thing to worry about!

I work as a benefits counselor and see situations like yours frequently. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here is that you should also ask SSA about "protective filing" when you call. If there's any chance your ex-spouse benefit would be higher than your SSDI, you can establish an application date while they calculate the exact amounts. This protects you from losing any retroactive benefits if there are processing delays. Also, since you mentioned your ex-husband has always earned more than you, there's a good chance his PIA is high enough that 50% would exceed your current $1,450 SSDI. High earners often have PIAs in the $3,000-4,000 range, which would make your potential ex-spouse benefit $1,500-2,000. Don't forget that if you do switch to ex-spouse benefits, you'll still be protected by cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) just like with SSDI. The benefit type changes but the annual increases continue.