Does deemed filing apply to survivor benefits?

Deemed filing does not apply to survivor benefits, which is why the answer is correct. Deemed filing is a rule primarily related to retirement and disability benefits that is intended to determine the claim you will file when you are eligible for multiple types of benefits. It requires individuals who are between ages 62 and full retirement age to file for both their own benefits and any spousal benefits they may be entitled to.

Survivor benefits, however, are treated differently under Social Security regulations. When someone is eligible for survivor benefits, they can choose to claim these benefits based solely on the deceased spouse’s record without affecting their own retirement benefit eligibility. This means that filing for survivor benefits does not invoke deemed filing, allowing the individual to maximize their potential lifetime benefits by allowing their own retirement benefits to grow until they choose to claim them later.

Understanding this distinction is important for financial planning, as it offers flexibility in how an individual approaches claiming benefits after the loss of a spouse.