Hello,
Thanks to your help, I am in the process of petitioning Social Security to permit me to file for widows benefits at my FRA. I was born 8/57. My husband passed away 10/31/21 and he waited until he was 70 to file. I filed at 62 and I received my amount plus a small spousal benefit that they gave me automatically. Will I have to pay back the spousal benefit they gave me with my benefit if I wait until my FRA to file for my widows benefit? Thank you for all your help, Lisa

Hi Lisa. You won't have to repay any spousal benefits that you were paid for months prior to the month of your husband's death, but if you receive spousal benefits for the month of your husband's death or for any month after that then those benefits will need to be returned. Spousal benefits can only be paid for months prior to the month of the worker's death, so you should only be paid your own benefits until you claim widow's benefits.

Best, Jerry