Overview: The exam frequently tests candidates' ability to distinguish retirement, disability, and survivor benefits side by side.

Social Security's three main benefit programs share a common funding source but differ significantly in who qualifies, what triggers the benefit, and how much is paid.

Retirement benefits are age-triggered. The worker must be fully insured (40 credits) and at least 62. The benefit is based on the top 35 earning years. Claiming before FRA permanently reduces the monthly amount by up to 30%; delaying past FRA increases it by up to 24%.

SSDI benefits are disability-triggered. The worker must be fully insured and pass the recent-work test, and must meet the SSA's strict total-disability definition. There is no age-based reduction — SSDI pays 100% of the projected FRA benefit from day one (after the 5-month waiting period). Because the SSA evaluates disability against all work in the national economy, it is meaningfully harder to qualify for than most private long-term disability policies.

Survivor benefits are death-triggered. The benefit is drawn on the deceased worker's record, not the survivor's. Amounts range from 71.5% to 100% of the deceased's benefit depending on the survivor's age and relationship. Survivors have a planning advantage unavailable to retirees: a surviving spouse can claim reduced survivor benefits at 60 and let their own retirement benefit accumulate delayed credits until 70, then switch to whichever is higher — a strategy not available under standard retirement deemed-filing rules.

Feature	Retirement	SSDI	Survivors
Triggering event	Age	Total disability	Worker's death
Earliest eligibility (worker)	Age 62	Any age, under FRA	N/A (it's the family)
Credits needed	40 (permanent)	Varies by age (typically 20 in last 10 yrs)	Based on deceased worker's record
Benefit basis	Worker's own top-35 earnings	100% of projected PIA	% of deceased's PIA
Early claiming reduction?	Yes (up to −30%)	No	Yes for surviving spouse (−28.5% at 60)
Delayed credits available?	Yes (up to +24%)	No (converts at FRA)	No
Waiting period	None	5 months	None
Family maximum cap	Yes	Yes (stricter formula)	Yes