Ask Larry

Can A Woman Collect Reduced Retirement Benefits And Still Get A Full Widow's Benefit Later?

if a woman is collecting early (therefore, reduced) social security payments and her spouse later dies, can she get 100% survivor benefits from her deceased spouse who collected at full retirement age?

Hi,

Yes, provided that the woman is at least full retirement age when she starts drawing the survivor benefits. What she would actually receive in that event is her own reduced rate, plus the difference between that amount and her deceased spouse's full rate. The total amount payable would add up to her deceased husband's full rate.

Best, Jerry

Category: 
Posted: 
Aug 4 2017 - 10:09am
MaxiFi software running on a laptop
Get What's Yours!
Discover tens of thousands in extra retirement dollars with Maximize My Social Security software!
  • Find your maximized strategy
  • Unlimited what-ifs
  • Step-by-Step filing instructions
  • Our software's lifetime-benefit increase for an illustrative couple earning $65K each and planning to take retirement benefits at 62.

    Results will differ based on your specific case and filing strategy.

Getting Started is Easy
Web-based software. Works on ALL browsers. No download.