Hi Larry, I have been on disability since 2005. My husband passed away in 2012. I am 62 and he would have been 66 this year. What should my spousal benefit be? I am only receiving $100 a month.

Hi,

I assume what you mean is that you're getting $100 per month from your husband's Social Security record in addition to your own Social Security disability (SSDI) benefit. If that's true and if you've been drawing the survivor benefit since age 60 or earlier, then your survivor rate should be equal to 71.5% of the difference between the higher of a) your husband's primary insurance amount (PIA) or b) his PIA augmented by delayed retirement credits if he waited past full retirement age (FRA) to start drawing his benefits, and your full SSDI rate. 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 rate.

For example, say Jane is age 53 and receiving SSDI benefits in the amount of $1500 when her spouse dies. Jane's spouse died at age 60 and wasn't yet drawing his benefits. His PIA was $2000. Jane's disabled widow's benefit rate would then be calculated at 71.5% of the difference between her husband's PIA and her PIA, which in Jane's case amounts to $357.50 (i.e. .715 x ($2000 - $1500).

Best, Jerry