Hello Larry,

My mother-in-law is 65 and divorced, her ex husband is also 65. They were married for 30 years and she never remarried. Would she be able to file for spousal benefits now and delay her own benefits until 70? By collecting spousal benefits before her FRA will that reduce her benefit at age 70?

Thanks,
Casey

Hi Casey,

I get a widow’s pension and I’m close to retirement age. Can I still get widow’s pension plus my social security pay?

Hi,

can i get my ex wifes SSB and mine Too

Hi,

Not really. If you apply for both your own Social Security benefits and for divorced spousal or survivor benefits, you could only be paid essentially the higher of the two benefit rates. If your divorced spousal or survivor rate was the higher of the two benefits, though, Social Security would pay your own benefit plus a partial divorced spousal or survivor rate. The 2 benefits would basically just add up to the higher divorced spousal/survivor rate, though.

Best, Jerry

My wife is collecting SS from mine and started at age 62 as a reduced benefit. She needed one more 1/4 she was told. Now she has earned 5 more quarters earned. She turns 65 this October,. Will she be able to collect hers if it's higher?
Or will she just stay on mine.?

Hi,

I have read your REVISED 'How to Get What’s Yours' Social Security Benefits book and need some verification that I properly understand the rules as they apply to me and my husband.
My husband took Social Security at age 70 and retired at age 74 last year so he has received additional payment adjustments yearly due to that.
I turned 66 in late June 2020 so I lost out on filing for just a spousal benefit and letting my retirement benefit grow.

Hi Larry,
I was born 6/2/54 so have reached FRA. I just applied for SS benefits, to begin in November 2020. My husband was born on 10/10/56 so won't reach FRA until 66 years and 4 months or so. His benefits at full retirement age are pretty low so he plans to work as long as he can. My questions is this: Can he apply for spousal benefits at FRA and then switch to his own primary benefits at age 70? His benefits at age 70 will be higher than 50% spousal benefits.

Hi,

Hi Larry ,

If I worked for and am currently living in NYS and my husband passed away approximated 21 years ago in NYS under the current guidelines if I have lost my job and forced to retire early does this situation qualify me for benefits under SS rules?

Hi,

My wife is 63, and has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, with less than a year to survive. We applied for and are receiving ssdi. When she passes will I be eligible for spousal, widows, benefits and will this be based on her ssdi benefit of her standard ss benefit?
Also would there be any advantage for me to suspend these benefits and wait until my full retirement age?

Thanks, R

Hi R,

I'm very sorry to hear about your wife's diagnosis.

If a just turned 67-year-old who has not started taking his Social Security benefits files a restricted application to start taking spousal benefits under his 65 year old spouse’s record who has not yet started taking benefits, can the 67 year old spouse get any “make up” spousal benefits since it seems, under the restricted rules, he could have filed a restricted application for spousal benefits when he turned 66 a year ago?

Hi,

Can my wife draw social security at age 62, then switch to half of mine when I start drawing social security?

Hi,

No. If your wife claims her benefits at age 62, she'll receive those benefits for life and she'll continue to receive a reduced rate for at least as long as both of you are living. However, if you start drawing your benefits after your wife is already drawing her own benefits, she could potentially file for an additional partial spousal benefit when you file for your benefits.