Ask Larry

How Will My Benefit Be Calculated If I'm Approved For Disabled Widow's Benefits?

Ok my husband pass last year of June 9 iam going to apply for widow dwb and iam on disability will I get a higher pay are how do they do it

Hi. I'm sorry for your loss. Since you're planning to apply for disabled widow's benefits (DWB) I assume you are between 50 and 60 years old (https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.05/handbook-0513.html).

If you're already drawing Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits, you won't qualify for additional DWB unless your own primary insurance amount (PIA) is lower than your husband's PIA. A person's PIA is equal to their Social Security retirement benefit rate if they start drawing their benefits at full retirement age (FRA), or their full SSDI benefit amount.

If you're approved for DWB, your DWB benefit amount will be calculated by subtracting your PIA from your husband's PIA and then multiplying the result by 71.5%. That amount would then be paid in addition to your own SSDI benefits. However, if your husband collected reduced Social Security retirement benefits prior to his death, then your DWB rate could be somewhat less than the full 71.5% of the difference between your PIA and your husband's PIA.

Best, Jerry

Posted: 
Apr 29 2023 - 12:00pm
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