When a person is eligible for both Social Security retirement benefits and survivor benefits, they have a few options to consider. It’s important to understand how each benefit works and how they interact with each other:
- Claiming One Benefit First, Then Switching: A person can choose to claim one type of benefit first and then switch to the other later. For instance, if they are eligible for both a retirement benefit based on their own work record and a survivor benefit based on their deceased spouse’s work record, they might choose to take the survivor benefit early if it’s advantageous and then switch to their own retirement benefit later if it will be higher at full retirement age (FRA) or beyond.
- Claiming Both Benefits at the Same Time: In general, you cannot receive full payments for both benefits at the same time. If you are eligible for both, you will receive the higher of the two benefits. However, in some cases where you started one benefit early and it was reduced, and then later you are eligible for a higher benefit, you might receive an increase to match the higher benefit amount.
Regarding the increase of survivor benefits if the surviving spouse waits until full retirement age, yes, survivor benefits do increase if delayed until FRA. Here’s how that works:
- Survivor benefits are reduced if taken before full retirement age. The reduction is permanent and depends on how early the benefits are taken relative to the survivor’s full retirement age.
- If you wait until full retirement age to claim survivor benefits, you receive 100% of the deceased worker’s benefit. Waiting until your full retirement age ensures you get the maximum survivor benefit amount.
- Delayed retirement credits do not apply to survivor benefits. Unlike retirement benefits based on one’s own work record, survivor benefits do not increase if you delay beyond your full retirement age.
Each person’s situation is unique, so it can be very beneficial to use the Social Security Administration’s calculators or speak with a Social Security representative to explore the most advantageous options based on individual circumstances and the ages at which benefits begin.
-Bách Khoa-