Hi Larry. I was praying all day monday 9/18 you or colleagues would answer my question. I keep looking but so far it hasn't been answered. I’m worried i made a terrible mistake.
I didnt realize you could switch from taking my own reduced benefits after 62, then take maximum widow benefits at 66. I didn't understand about the switch. i thought you could take one or the other. So i feel sick basically. Because i didn't start taking my benefits.

Here is the letter i sent you monday.

I’m thinking about starting widow benefits a little early, aug 2017, three months before i turn 66 in nov 2017--because i need the 3-month (aug, sep, oct) money even though it would reduce my lifetime benefits by $18 per month.

i didn’t know i could start my own retirment benefits at 62 and switch over to widow benefits at 66. I thought if i was going to take widow benefits i should wait for them. I talked to social security representatives 6-8 times in the last four years but no one mentioned i could start my own (early) benefits and then switch over to widow benefits.

My husband died in 2013 after a 7 yr illness. i cared for him at home and worked part-time 12 hrs per week. We were married 29 years. we both worked but my Social Security retirement amount is $893 when i reach 66 and $1178 when i turn 70. If i take widow benefits when i turn 66 in nov 2017 my widow benefits are $1487.

I talked to a local social security rep by phone the other day. She said i could start taking widow benefits in august 2017 because i made what she called an “inquiry,” in aug 2017.
If i start accepting widow benefits in august it will be $1469. I think this would be $18 less per month for the rest of my life vs starting benefits in november ($1487). But i will get a total $4407, combined amount of $1469 per august, september, october. My part-time job was downsized a month ago and I’m earning 50% less than last year, so i could really use the $4407 (aug, sept, oct benefits).

My rough calculation was to multiply the $18 less per month ($1469 now vs $1487 in november) x 12 months, or $216 less per year x 34 years (live to age 100) for a total loss of $7344 over 34 years. But i’d be getting $4407 now if i took the widow benefits 3 months early.

Should i not take the $4407 now because i will lose $18 per month ($216 less annually) for the rest of my life? Or is it beneficial that i made an “inquiry” in august so i could take a little less each month (i think it’s $18 per month and $216 annually?) but get needed cash now?

SECONDLY, the social security rep didn’t mention this, but could i have chosen to take my own benefits prior to this, like anytime after i turned 62 in 2013, and then switch to my widow benefits when i reach 66 in november 2017? My husband died in 2013 and i couldn’t think straight. I fear i have lost a huge amount of money by NOT taking my retirement benefits early. No social security rep ever mentioned to me that i could start early but reduced, and THEN switch over to widow benefits. Is there any recourse? When i talked to a rep on the phone today, they said you are responsible for knowing.

I agree with what you say on your site, that you can receive incorrect or incomplete info. It’s unnerving. On more than one occasion i get different info from different people at Social Security, It’s surreal. But the possibility that i’ve lost all those benefits because i didn’t understand starting, then switching, is awful.

Now that i made this ‘inquiry’ that would allow me to receive widow benefits a little ahead of my FRA (august 2017 instead of nov 2017) should i go ahead and take them, and get the 3 months total of $4407 but at a loss of what it looks like will be $18 per month for the rest of my life?

Lastly, in my call with SS rep I did say yes to start my widow benefits from august 2017. But she told me if i change my mind i can CANCEL but it’s a big deal to cancel and hard to get an “appointment.” However my understanding is I have option to cancel the august start date. And I have not yet submitted marriage certificate. I believe SS can’t proceed with my application until they receive our marriage certificate.

This is alot to figure out when you are grieving. I didn't have a financial advisor. Thank you. I am grateful for your help and dedication to helping people.

meg

Hi Meg,

I can't make the decision for you as to whether or not you should start drawing your widow's benefits early. That's simply a personal decision.

An alternative option that sounds like it would probably be better, though, would be to file for your retirement benefits effective with August, and then file for widow's benefits effective with November. That way, although you won't get as much for the 3 months (August - October) as you would get if you took widow's benefits early, at least your widow's rate won't be permanently reduced. The protective filing (inquiry) that you apparently established in August can be used for retirement benefits as well as widow's benefits.

About the only way you could claim retirement benefits earlier than August is if Social Security misinformed you in the past about your right to file for retirement benefits. You may want to peruse the following section of Social Security's operations manual to see if you think that may have occurred in your case: https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0200204008.

Best, Jerry