Hi Larry,

my first wife died when she was 26 years old in1983
she did not have much of a work history
Am I able to collect death benefits and will that effect my ss disability payout
Thanks

Hi,

Your deceased wife would need to have had enough Social Security work credits to be insured In order for you to potentially qualify for survivor benefits on her record. If she died at age 26, though, she would only need 6 quarters of coverage to meet the insured status requirement.

Both my wife and I are 59. I have had cancer 2 times but am now clear of it. However was wondering, if I die before age 62 will my wife qualify for my earned social security benefits. We have no children under age 16. Thanks

Hi,

Yes, if you die and you earned at least 40 quarters of Social Security coverage (QC), your wife could potentially qualify for widow's benefits on your record. And, if you died before age 62 the minimum number of QCs required would even be slightly less than 40.

I have a friend who was married less than 7 yrs and divorced and they had 1 child. She is just over 62 yrs and says she is collecting on her ex husbands SS record until she turns 70 then she will collect on her own SS record. The child is over 18 and her collecting is not due to disability, handicapped or other reason. She says the 10 yr rule is for those who had no children. Is this true?

Hi,

Hi. My husband passed away 2 years ago. I was 48 and my kids were 16,14 and 10 at the time. We all collect survivor benefits, except for my oldest who aged out, but his portion was redistributed to the rest of us. I am wondering if I will still continue to receive my benefits once my youngest ages out. I will be 55 at that time. Thank you in advance for your assistance! Adriana

Hi Adriana,

I'm sorry for your loss.

My girlfriend and I want to get married. She receives some type of social security. She divorced. Her ex-husband passed away when her daughter was 11. Her daughter received SSI and now as an adult received SSI disability. My girlfriend also receives a monthly check we assume for caring for her daughter who will never be able to live alone. She was told if she was to get married she would lose the check receives. Her daughter does work a part-time job but is unable to drive etc...

Your answer to the question today regarding whether a reduction due to age of a claimed spousal benefit would carry forward to a claim of spousal benefit on the record of a new spouse post FRA begs a related question.

My mother is 77 years old now. At 60 she started collecting the Survivor benefit off of my deceased father's Social Security claim. She has never gone back to Social Security to switch over to the full retirement age benefit that my father-in-law would have been entitled to had he lived. He worked for 30 years paid Social Security taxes and died at the age of 56. Can she switch over from the Survivor benefit to his full retirement benefit at this point?

Hi,

My cousin started drawing her SS at 63 and is drawing only around $700/mo. She was divorced a few years ago after 15 years married and her ex is drawing disability at around $1200/mo. If he passes away ad she waits until full retirement age of 66, will she be able to draw the extra $500 to bring her to the full $1200 that he draws? Even though she started drawing her own at 63?

Hi,

can I collect on my late husband's social security? How long did we have to be married?

Hi,