Why delaying Social Security survivor benefits offers no advantage for many widows

Many people assume that waiting to claim Social Security survivor benefits will always result in a larger monthly payment.

In many cases, that’s true. But there is one little-known rule that can mean delaying offers no additional benefit.

What are Social Security survivor benefits?

Social Security survivor benefits are monthly payments made to certain family members after a worker who earned Social Security credits dies.

For many widows and widowers, the benefit is based on the deceased spouse’s earnings record and can be paid for life if Social Security’s eligibility rules are met.

Does waiting for Social Security survivor benefits mean a larger benefit?

Normally, claiming survivor benefits before your own survivor Full Retirement Age permanently reduces your monthly payment.

That’s why many financial advisers recommend waiting if possible.

However there’s an important exception that applies if the spouse who died claimed their own Social Security retirement benefits early.

In those cases, a rule known as the Retirement Insurance Benefit Limitation (RIB-LIM), sometimes called the widow(er)’s limit, can come into play.

Under this rule, the maximum survivor benefit is generally limited to the higher of:

- the benefit the deceased spouse was receiving (or would have been receiving), or

- 82.5% of the deceased worker’s Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is the benefit they were entitled to at Full Retirement Age.

The 82.5% rule protects surviving spouses whose late husband or wife claimed retirement benefits very early and therefore received less than 82.5% of their full retirement benefit.

Why waiting may not increase your benefit

Because of the RIB-LIM rule, some surviving spouses reach their maximum possible survivor benefit before survivor Full Retirement Age.

Once the benefit reaches that limit, delaying your claim further does not increase your monthly payment. For some widows and widowers, that point can be reached at around age 62 years and 8 months, rather than at survivor Full Retirement Age.

That means waiting longer may simply delay payments without increasing the amount you receive.

However, this rule does not apply to everyone. It only affects certain survivors whose deceased spouse claimed retirement benefits before reaching Full Retirement Age, and the exact claiming age that maximizes benefits depends on the individual’s circumstances. The Social Security Administration recommends discussing your options before filing.

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