Social Security Survivor Benefits – Part 2 - AMAC Foundation
Understanding the “Widow Limit”
The “widow limit” rules apply in situations where the higher-earning spouse took their benefits early, such as at the age of sixty-two. When someone takes their retirement benefits at age 62, they receive 75% of their benefit if their full retirement age (FRA) is 66, and only 70% if their FRA is 67. That is a substantial, permanent reduction for the retiree. The “widow limit” can result in the surviving spouse getting a slightly higher survivor benefit than their actual “number holder” spouse received while alive. Of course, if the survivor has a higher personal benefit, even though they took it at 62, they receive the higher amount.
When a spouse passes away, the surviving spouse can only receive the higher of the two benefits received as a married couple; the smaller benefit ends. The standard rule says you can take your survivor benefits as early as age 60 (50 if disabled), but you will only receive 71.5% at that time, and the reduction is permanent. If you wait until your FRA, you will receive 100% of the amount of your deceased spouse’s benefit at their time of death, including all cost-of-living increases since their death.
This is not the case if the deceased spouse took their retirement benefits early causing the “widow limit” to apply. The widow limit gives the surviving spouse a benefit equal to 82.5% of the deceased spouse’s primary insurance amount (or “PIA,” which is the deceased’s FRA benefit amount), and that can be achieved before FRA when the widow(er) reaches the age to receive that amount. For example, for someone born in 1960 with an FRA of 67, under the widow limit, the survivor reaches their largest survivor benefit amount at age 62 & 7 months, and it will no longer grow except for cost-of-living increases.
Even though a surviving spouse affected by the widow limit may reach their largest survivor benefit amount sooner than their FRA, they will still be subject to an earnings limit until they reach their FRA. The earnings limit for 2026 is $24,480, and for 2027 will be adjusted based on the National Average Wage Index. For further information, contact the AMAC Foundation Social Security Advisory Service
Does all this still seem complicated? Well, it is – which is why the AMAC Foundation’s Social Security Advisory Service offers free guidance on Social Security matters, such as how couples should approach their benefit claiming options. Email questions to ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org or call us at 1 (888) 750-2622.