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As the title implies, I started receiving a survival benefit on my wife's record when I was 60 years old. I am fairly clear that I can switch over to my own benefit any time after age 62. I am currently 67 and plan to wait for age 70. My question is: If I am receiving a reduced survivors benefit, will that affect my Social Security benefit and amount? BTW, yes, I have been all over the web looking for a concise answer to that question. Many thanks in advance!
Survivors Benefits and your own work record retirement benefits are completely different because they are based on the work record of (2) different people.
One is deceased and the other alive.
You are understanding the program in this regards completely correct.
You can continue to draw your Survivors benefit until you file for your own benefit -
If you decide to switch to your own benefits, it works just like normal - that is to say:
SSA.gov - If You Are A Survivor
Look down the page to the heading “A few other situations” where it says:
[quote]
Understand that when different benefits are filed for - you will get the higher benefit. Sometimes this is a blend of different benefits in name only but the total amount will be the higher one.
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