Understanding Social Security Survivor Benefits and Switching to Your Own Benefit
As people approach retirement age, they often have questions about how to maximize their Social Security benefits. One common scenario involves claiming survivor benefits after the passing of a spouse and then switching to one’s own benefit at a later age. A 68-year-old reader, who plans to wait until age 70 to maximize their benefit, recently asked about this topic. The reader’s spouse passed away in 2018 after starting to draw Social Security benefits at age 62, and the reader wants to know if they can draw survivor benefits now and then switch to their own benefit at age 70.
The rules surrounding Social Security can be complex, with different regulations applying depending on age, marital status, and the type of benefit involved. Survivor benefits have distinct rules compared to spousal benefits, and both differ from the retirement benefit earned through one’s own work record. It’s essential to understand these rules to make informed decisions about claiming benefits. In this case, the reader is correct that they can apply for survivor benefits now and then switch to their own retirement benefit when it maxes out at age 70.
How Survivor Benefits Work
Survivor benefits can begin as early as age 60, or 50 if the survivor is disabled, or at any age if the survivor cares for minor or disabled children from the marriage. However, starting early would reduce the benefit amount, and the survivor would be subject to the earnings test, which withholds $1 for every $2 earned over a certain limit (which in 2025 is $23,400). The earnings test goes away when the survivor reaches full retirement age, which for someone born in 1957 is 66 years and 6 months.
In the reader’s case, their survivor benefit will be smaller than it might have been because their spouse started benefits early. The survivor benefit is determined by what the deceased spouse was receiving at the time of death. There was no benefit to delaying the application past full retirement age, which means the reader has missed out on several months of survivor benefits they could have been receiving. They can get six months of back benefits when they apply, but that’s the limit.
Switching to Your Own Benefit
When the reader switches to their own benefit at age 70, their retirement benefit will not be reduced because they collected survivor benefits first or because their spouse started their benefit early. However, it’s crucial to understand that the ‘deeming’ rule may affect spousal benefits. If the reader had already started receiving their benefits, their spouse would be “deemed” to be applying for both their own benefit and their spousal benefit and would be given the larger of the two. They couldn’t apply for just one, and there would be no switching later.
Because the reader hasn’t started receiving their benefits yet, the spousal benefit hasn’t been triggered. The only benefit their spouse can currently apply for is their own. When the reader applies, the spousal benefit will become available, and their spouse will be switched to that if it’s larger. Spousal benefits can be up to half of what the primary earner would get at full retirement age, but the amount is reduced when started early.
To navigate these complex rules and make the most of Social Security benefits, it may be helpful to use paid Social Security claiming strategy sites such as Social Security Solutions or Maximize My Social Security. These resources can provide personalized guidance and help individuals make informed decisions about their benefits.
For more information on how to receive Social Security survivor benefits and switch to your own benefit, visit Here
Image Source: www.latimes.com
