My mom is collecting my deceased fathers social security benefit. However, the amount is the same amount he always received, which is less his medicare part B premium. Should his premium deduction be included in her check? She pays her own premium with her benefit check.
Thanks,
Marie

Hi Marie,

Well, the basic rule is that, generally, the surviving member of a couple receives the higher of their 2 benefits. In your parents' case, I gather that your father's benefit was the higher one.

Your mother only needs to pay the Part B premium once, but the net rate payable to her after the part B withholding would be the same as your father's benefit amount after his part B premium was withheld. For example, say a husband was collecting $900 per month after part B withholding, and his wife was receiving $600 per month after part B withholding. To make the example easier to explain, say their Medicare premiums were $100/mo. In this example, then, their full rates were $1000 and $700, respectively. If the husband dies, his widow would continue to be entitled to her $700, plus an excess widow's benefit of $300, for a total of $1000. However, the widow still must pay her part B premium of $100, so her net total payment amount would be $900.

So, from your description, it sounds like your mother is being properly paid, and is actually only paying the part B premium once.

Best, Jerry