Ask Larry

Am I Able To Collect Survivor Benefits Even Though I Got My Wife's Life Insurance?

I just turned 60 years old , my wife passed away a few months ago, am I able to collect her survivors benefit even though I got her life insurance ?

Hi. I'm sorry for your loss. The fact that you collected your wife's life insurance wouldn't have anything to do with your eligibility for widower benefits. If your wife had enough Social Security credits to be insured for benefits, then you would probably be eligible to claim reduced widower benefits. However, if you're still working, then whether or not you could actually be paid widower benefits prior to your full retirement age (FRA) depends on how much you're earning and your potential widower's benefit amount (https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/whileworking.html).

It sounds like your best strategy for claiming benefits would likely be one of the following:
1) File for reduced widower benefits now or as soon as your earnings will permit at least some benefits to be paid, then switch to your own record at age 70; or,
2) File for reduced retirement benefits on your own record at age 62 or as soon as your earnings will permit at least some benefits to be paid, then file for unreduced widower benefits at full retirement age (FRA).

Normally, you would want to start out drawing the lower benefit first and then switch to the higher benefit when it reaches its highest potential rate. Our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) could help sort all of this out for you so that you can determine the best strategy for maximizing your benefits.

Best, Jerry

Posted: 
Sep 2 2022 - 8:13pm
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