If you're receiving survivor benefits, you might be wondering if they'll increase after you reach full retirement age. The answer is yes, but only if you're eligible for delayed retirement credits.
Reaching full retirement age can be a significant milestone, and it's worth considering how it might impact your survivor benefits. For example, if you're receiving reduced survivor benefits because you started receiving them before full retirement age, you might be eligible for a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase when you reach full retirement age.
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Eligibility and Rules
To be eligible for social security survivor benefits, you must be at least 60 years old. This is a crucial qualification to keep in mind.
To receive 100% of benefits, you must be at least full retirement age or older, which varies based on your birth year. The chart below shows the breakdown of full retirement age by birth year.
In addition to age, you must have been married for at least 9 months and currently be widowed or remarried after age 60 to be eligible for survivor benefits.
Eligibility for Social Security Survivor Benefits
To qualify for social security survivor benefits, you need to meet certain requirements. You must be at least 60 years old.
To be eligible, you also need to have been married for at least 9 months and currently be widowed or remarried after age 60. This is a key factor in determining your eligibility for these benefits.
The age at which you can receive 100% of benefits varies based on your birth year. If you're 60 or older, you're eligible for survivor benefits, regardless of your birth year.
Here's a breakdown of your full retirement age, based on your birth year:
These benefits are not the only type of social security benefit. There are also Dependent or Disability benefits available to certain individuals, including Dependent Children, Dependent Parents, and Disabled Individuals.
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Social Security Survivor Benefit Minimum Rule
If you're a surviving spouse, you're entitled to a Social Security survivor benefit, which can provide a significant income boost after the loss of your partner.
The amount of the survivor benefit is based on the deceased spouse's benefit, which determines the amount you'll receive. If you're the higher earner, delaying your own Social Security application can increase the survivor benefit by up to 20% if you wait until age 70.
You can start receiving survivor benefits as early as 60, but doing so will reduce the amount you receive. If you start benefits at 60, you'll get 71.5% of your husband's benefit, but if you wait until 67, you could get 99% of the benefit.
The full retirement age for survivor benefits is 67 for people born in 1962 and later, which is different from the full retirement age for retirement benefits, which is also 67 for people born in 1960 and later.
You can switch between survivor benefits and your own benefits, or vice versa, at any time, which can be a useful strategy for maximizing your income in retirement.
If you start receiving reduced survivor benefits at 60 and switch to your own maxed-out benefit at 70, you can potentially increase your overall benefit amount.
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How Survivor Benefits Work
Survivor benefits can be based on the deceased spouse's Social Security check if they were receiving it at the time of death. This means the survivor benefit would be based on that check.
If the deceased spouse was not receiving Social Security benefits, the survivor benefit would be based on the amount they would have gotten at their full retirement age, or the benefit they earned if they died after full retirement age.
The full retirement age for survivor benefits is 67 for people born in 1962 and later. This is different from the full retirement age for retirement benefits, which is also 67 for people born in 1960 and later.
The amount of the survivor benefit varies based on when the surviving spouse starts receiving it. If they start at 60, they'd get 71.5% of their husband's benefit. If they wait until right before they turn 67, they could get 99%. If they wait until they turn 67, they get 100%.
The earlier you start Social Security benefits, the less you get.
Benefit Amounts and Timing
Your survivor benefit can be a significant source of income after your partner passes away. If you're the higher earner, delaying your Social Security application can boost your spouse's survivor benefit by about 20% if you wait until 70.
If you make it to 70, your spouse's survivor benefit would be about 20% larger than if you had applied earlier. This is because you've earned four years' worth of 8% annual increases, which are added to your benefit.
The amount your spouse receives varies based on several factors, including when they decide to start receiving Social Security benefits. Starting benefits early can cause you to leave money on the table in the long run.
If you start receiving survivor benefits at 60, you'd get 71.5% of your husband's benefit. If you wait until right before you turn 67, you could get 99% of his benefit. If you wait until you turn 67, you get 100% of his benefit.
Your check could also be reduced if you start survivor benefits early and then go back to work. The earnings test would reduce your check by $1 for every $2 you earned over a certain limit, which in 2023 is $21,240.
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