Earnings Test Rules for Widows with Different FRA Dates for Retirement and Survivor Benefits

If a widow has her FRA for retirement benefits and FRA for survivor benefits in the same calendar year, then she must use the latter of the two (FRA for retirement benefits) for purposes of the earnings test. 

When a widow reaches her Full Retirement Age (FRA) for both retirement benefits and survivor benefits within the same calendar year, the Social Security Administration applies the earnings test based on the later of the two FRA dates, which is typically the FRA for retirement benefits.

This means that regardless of when each FRA occurs during the year, the earnings test will be governed by the retirement FRA date. The retirement FRA date controls when the earnings test ends and which earnings limit applies for that year.

For example, if a widow's FRA for retirement benefits is in June and her FRA for survivor benefits is in April, the earnings test will consider her retirement FRA of June as the controlling date. The year in which she reaches her retirement FRA determines which earnings limit is used and when the earnings test no longer applies. After reaching the retirement FRA, any additional earnings she receives will no longer reduce her Social Security benefits.

Understanding this rule is crucial for widows who are working and want to maximize their Social Security benefits while avoiding unnecessary reductions due to the earnings test.

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