MY 62 year old FIL has cancer and will likely pass away within several months. The local social security office encouraged him to apply for early benefits because disability would take longer to start (or, this is what I am told by my MIL). He followed their advice and filed for retirement benefits. He has yet to receive any SS payments.

My MIL is 60. She will be eligible for fill survivor benefits at 66 and 4 months. I am concerned that my FIL's act of filing early will result in my MIL receiving a reduced benefit for the duration of her life (she has no SS income and will only get survivor benefits).

Can this decision be reversed and his filing withdrawn? What if he dies before he reverses his filing, is it locked in? Any other considerations?

Hi,

I'm sorry to hear about your father in law's diagnosis.

Yes, your father in law's (FIL) filing for reduced retirement benefits could definitely have an adverse effect on your mother in law's (MIL) potential widow's benefits. If your FIL draws reduced retirement benefits and not disability benefits, your MIL's highest widow's benefit rate would likely be limited to no more than 82.5% of your FIL's primary insurance amount (PIA). On the other hand, if your FIL doesn't receive reduced retirement benefits your MIL could receive up to his full PIA as a widow at full retirement age (FRA).

Your FIL could withdraw his application for reduced retirement benefits, but such a request could not be made posthumously by a survivor (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/withdrawal.html). Your in laws may want to strongly consider using our maximization software to explore and compare their options in order to help them make choose their best strategy.

Best, Jerry