Switching benefits

Ask Martha

401k Abroad Adult Disabled Child Applying for Benefits Caring for children Child Benefits Child Support Child-in-care benefits Claiming Strategies COLA Death Dependents Disability Disability Disabled Children Divorce Earned Income Earnings Earnings Test Eligibility for Benefits Ex-spousal benefits Family Benefits Family Maximum Foreign Pensions FRA Garnishment General GPO Green Card Income Limits Loans Marriage Medicaid Medicare Minor children Multiple benefits My Social Security Account News & Legislation Overpayment Pensions Railroad Retirement Remarriage Representative Payee Retroactive benefits Roadmap Software Self-Employed Social Security Administration Social Security Benefits Social Security Fairness Act (HR 82) Social Security Terminology Spousal Benefits SSDI SSI Substantial Gainful Activity Survivor Benefits Switching benefits Taxation Teaching Pension Totalization Agreements Underpayment Veterans WEP Withdrawing Application Withholding benefits Work Credits Working Working with an RSSA
Or Ask a New Question

Can I switch from survivor benefits to my own retirement benefits?

Full question: Can I collect survivor benefits from deceased ex-husband from age 60 until my FRA which is 67, and want to be sure that I can switch over as long as my own retirement benefits are higher. Is this true? Hi there, Yes, that is true. Survivor benefits may be collected as young as…

Read More

How do I switch from a spousal benefit to my own benefit online?

Hi there, Go to www.ssa.gov and on the main page click on “online services” then select “apply for retirement benefits.” Since you are currently collecting benefits on your spouse’s record, you should be able to start a new application for retirement benefits under your own Social Security number. You may also use the SSA online…

Read More

Can I claim survivor benefits now?

Full question: I have plans to retire January 2024. I am only 64 and want to claim survivors benefits because my husband died on 2006. Want to switch to my social security when I reach the age. Do I have to wait until I retire to start receiving these benefits or can I start now?…

Read More

Can I switch from an ex-spousal benefit to my own benefit at 70?

Full question: Good morning. I am divorced, 66 years old with two disabled adult children that have lived with me all their lives. One has Autism, the other was injured at age 22 and is a parapalygic. Can I collect 1/2 of my ex-spouse’s Social Security Retirement while I continue working and change over to…

Read More

Can I apply for ex-spousal benefits now and switch to my own at 70?

Full question: I am full retirement age and have been divorced for more than 10 years. My ex-husband and I have a disabled child (34 year old) that I care for and draws SSDI off of her father who is 70 years old. I have not applied for Social Security benefits, as I was wanting…

Read More

How do I find out if my own benefits at 70 will be higher than my survivor benefits?

Full question: Hi Martha, I’ve been collecting Survivor benefits since I was 66. I’ll be turning 70 in October. How do I find out if my own benefits at 70 will be higher than my deceased spouse’s? Hi there, You should contact your local Social Security office to verify if you are eligible for a higher…

Read More

< Back