Based on everything discussed, here's what appears to be your best strategy given your situation: 1. Continue working and wait until your FRA to claim survivor benefits (you'll get 100% of your wife's PIA) 2. At age 70, switch to your own retirement benefit (which will have grown by 8% per year from your FRA to age 70) This approach avoids the earnings test completely and maximizes your lifetime benefits. The survivor benefit will provide income from your FRA until 70, and then your maximized retirement benefit takes over from 70 onwards. It's worth having a personalized analysis done. You might consider scheduling an appointment with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security strategies or with an SSA representative directly to confirm this is optimal for your specific situation.

I'm sorry for your loss. This is a really complex situation that many widowers face. Based on what others have shared, it sounds like waiting until your FRA is the smart move given your income level. One thing I'd add is that you might want to check what your wife's actual benefit amount would be at her FRA versus what your own benefit would be at age 70. Sometimes people assume the survivor benefit is always the better choice, but if you had significantly higher earnings than your wife, your own delayed retirement benefit at 70 could be substantially higher. The SSA website has benefit calculators that can help you estimate both amounts. Also, don't forget that as a widower, you may be eligible for other benefits or tax considerations that could help with those medical bills you mentioned.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Mateo. Losing a spouse is incredibly difficult, and navigating Social Security on top of grief can feel overwhelming. I went through something similar when my husband passed three years ago. The information you're getting here is spot-on - that SSA rep definitely gave you incomplete information. You absolutely ARE entitled to your husband's higher benefit amount as a survivor! One thing I'd add to the excellent advice already given: make sure to ask SSA for your complete benefit estimates in writing. When I finally got through to a knowledgeable representative, they provided me with a detailed breakdown showing: - My own benefit at different claiming ages - My survivor benefit amount - Projections for both strategies (claim survivor first vs. claim own first) This written comparison made it so much clearer which approach would give me the most money over my lifetime. In my case, I'm planning to take survivor benefits at my FRA (66+4mo) and then switch to my own at 70 since mine will be about $200/month higher. Don't let that first phone call discourage you - keep pushing for the information you need. You've worked hard and deserve every benefit you're entitled to receive.

I'm really sorry for your loss, Mateo. Dealing with Social Security after losing a spouse is incredibly stressful when you're already grieving. The advice you're getting here is excellent - that SSA rep definitely didn't give you the full picture. I work as a benefits counselor and see this confusion all the time. Here's what I tell clients in your situation: You have THREE key decision points: 1. Age 60-FRA: Reduced survivor benefits with earnings test 2. Your FRA: Full survivor benefits with NO earnings limit 3. Age 70: Maximum personal retirement benefit The "restricted application" strategy others mentioned is huge for widows. Since you're still working full-time, claiming survivor benefits at your FRA while letting your own benefit grow until 70 is often the optimal approach. One tip: when you meet with the SSA specialist, ask them to show you the "break-even analysis" - the age at which your cumulative lifetime benefits would be higher under each strategy. This helps you see the long-term financial impact of your decision. Also, don't forget that survivor benefits aren't taxed the same way as regular retirement benefits if you have other income. This can affect your overall tax planning. The fact that you're asking these questions now at 60 puts you in a great position to maximize your benefits. Take your time to understand all your options before deciding.

Just to add one more thing - I would recommend applying for your benefits 3-4 months before you want them to start. That gives SSA plenty of time to process everything, including any potential spousal adjustment for your husband. With their current backlogs, the earlier you apply (within their allowed timeframe), the better!

Does anyone know if the firefighter pension affects this at all? My neighbor was saying something about GPO being different from WEP and that first responder pensions sometimes mess up spousal benefits completely

After thinking about your situation more, I recalled another possibility: if your husband took reduced retirement benefits first and then later qualified for SSDI, his disability benefit would have included both his reduced retirement benefit PLUS an additional amount to bring it up to the full disability rate. When he reaches FRA, the additional amount stops, and he goes back to just his reduced retirement amount. This scenario would explain the significant drop. Did he by chance apply for early retirement before being approved for disability?

Glad you figured it out! This is a perfect example of why it's important to understand how the original benefit was calculated. When someone takes early retirement and then qualifies for SSDI, they receive their reduced retirement benefit plus an additional amount to reach the full disability benefit level. At FRA, they return to their original reduced retirement amount plus any COLAs. For others reading this thread: this is why claiming strategy and timing matters so much with Social Security benefits. Taking early retirement can have long-term impacts even if you later qualify for disability.

tell her to watch out for ELDER ABUSE too!!! financial threats against seniors is considered elder abuse in texas!!! if hes threatening her ss money she could report him!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share some additional resources that might help your sister. The National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233) has financial abuse specialists who can provide guidance on protecting assets during separation. They're available 24/7 and have experience with Social Security protection issues. Also, Texas has a Legal Aid hotline (1-833-457-5342) that provides free legal advice for low-income seniors. Since your sister is 68 and living solely on Social Security, she likely qualifies for their services. The threats sound like intimidation tactics, but having professional support can give her confidence and concrete steps to protect herself. Document everything he says about taking her money - text messages, emails, even notes about verbal threats with dates and times. This creates a paper trail if she needs legal protection later. Stay strong and keep advocating for her!