MEDICARE SECTION:
Can your own Social Security benefit grow while collecting a survivor benefit?
“Yes, your own benefit can continue to grow while you collect a survivor benefit. However, we need to clarify how that happens…”
— Brandon Renfro, CFP®, RICP, EA1
Brandon Renfro, CFP®, RICP, EA, provided the quotes used in this article. Please note that Brandon is not a participant in SmartAsset AMP, is not an employee of SmartAsset and has been compensated.
"Your own Social Security retirement benefit can potentially grow even if you are already receiving a survivor benefit. This is because survivor benefits are based on your late spouse’s earnings record, while your own retirement benefit is calculated separately using your work history and the age at which you claim it. As you add additional earnings or delay claiming your own benefit, your future retirement benefit amount may increase, even though you are currently collecting survivor payments."
Important - see the section titled: "YOUR FILING AGE"
Source: Ask an Advisor: I Claimed Social Security on My Late Husband’s Record and then Unretired in 2024. Can I Claim a Higher Benefit Now?
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