Survivor's Benefit in the Year You Reach Full Retirement Age

[DoubleStrike]

•In the year you reach full retirement age, we deduct $1 in benefits for every $3 you earn above a different limit, but we only count earnings before the month you reach your full retirement age.

If you will reach full retirement age in 2012, the limit on your earnings for the months before full retirement age is $38,880. (If you were born in 1946 or 1947, your full retirement age is 66 years.)

Starting with the month you reach full retirement age, you can get your benefits with no limit on your earnings.

I found the above in SS website. 1) Let's say you reach your Full Retuirement age in December 2012. Then, it very much sounds like you can earn up to $38,880 until end of November 2012, and get your full survivor's benefit. Right?

2) From December 2012, is this person eligible for both his own SS retirement benefit AND his survivor's benefit per his windower status? My guess is that SS will only pay one entitlement benefit whichever one is the bigger amount.

Could you clarify please?

[Mr. Knowitall]

I'm not sure what you are trying to ask in your first question. If you don't exceed the salary limit and apply the first month you are eligible (after you actually retire) you should get benefits for the first month in which you qualify. You are correct, that you don't get to double-dip.