Hi, if I never filed and then die before my FRA, and my wife had filed early and was now collecting a reduced benefit, she would want to wait until her survivor FRA to collect my full PIA. I understand that much, but here is the question - if her survivor benefit (unreduced or reduced) is larger than her current personal benefit, and she decides to wait, does she have to notify SS of that so that they do not automatically switch her to the higher survivor benefit? If not, does she need to notify them that I died even if I am not collecting yet? Thanks very much.

Hi. If your wife is only drawing her own benefits and not spousal benefits at the time of your death, Social Security won't automatically start paying survivor benefits to her. She would then need to apply for widow's benefits whenever she wants to claim them. Even if your wife doesn't want to claim widow's benefits when you die, though, she'd likely qualify for a one-time $255 lump sum death benefit that can usually be paid to surviving spouses (https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.04/handbook-0430.html). An application is required to receive the lump sum death benefit unless the spouse is collecting spousal benefits at the time of the deceased worker's death.

Best, Jerry