Ask Larry

Survivor Benefits

How Will The Fact That My Ex-Wife Collected Disability Benefits Starting At Age 58 Affect My Survivor Rate?

Larry: I was married for 10+ years and we divorced. Ex-spouse worked 40+ years paying into Social Security. I have not remarried. Ex-spouse began receiving Social Security disability at age 58 and died at age 59. I want to claim ex-spouse survivor benefit when I become 66 next year under restricted application and defer receiving a benefit based on my account until I am 70. I was the higher wage earner but will still work until 70. How will her claiming at 58 for disability impact what I receive on her account from a restricted application?

Posted: 
Friday, November 5, 2021 - 14:21

Will Social Security Take Away My Mother's Benefits Because Of My Father's Death?

My mom and dad were married for 18 yrs before getting divorced which when he retired she got a portion of his retirement he passed away 2weeks ago and my mom is scared to death they will take away anything she was getting is she entitled to anything now that he has passed

Hi. I'm sorry for your loss. I see no reason to think that your mother has anything to worry about with regard to her benefits. If your mother has been receiving benefits as a divorced spouse, then her divorced spousal rate should go up as a surviving ex-spouse.

Posted: 
Tuesday, October 12, 2021 - 15:27

What Will My Wife Need In Order To Ensure Eligibility For Survivor Benefits?

Hi Larry

I am a US citizen aged 55. I have been living in Spain for the past 3 years. I was born in the UK and I worked in the USA from 1991 to 2018. I hold both UK and USA passports. During the years I worked in the USA I contributed to the system and my account on ssa.gov shows I am eligible for social security benefits.

I recently married a Spanish citizen and we want to understand what we need to do to ensure that she is able to receive social security survivor benefit after I die and spousal benefit too, if available.

Posted: 
Monday, September 20, 2021 - 16:21

If I Don't Start Drawing My Own Benefits Until Age 70 Would My Wife Be Able To Draw A Higher Survivor Benefit Rate?

I am 65 and drawing survivor ship from my wife’s SS. I have remarried and it is my understanding if I draw the survivor ship until age 70 and then if I die my current wife would be able to draw my survivor ship at a higher rate. Is this true?

Posted: 
Friday, September 17, 2021 - 12:09

Do You Have Any Advice For Me About Applying For Survivor Benefits?

My mother passed away in the US when I was 13 in 2001. My father was not and still isn’t living in the US and I was bounced round to different family members that helped raise me as a child. I was never adopted and technically was a ward of the state. Life has been hard and I just recently found out about death benefits which I believe I may be entitled to. Do you have any advise for me to claim these benefits? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Posted: 
Saturday, September 11, 2021 - 13:56

If My Wife Takes Her Benefits At Age 62 Will She Be Forced To Take A Reduced Survivor Benefit If I Die Before She Reaches FRA?

My spouse just turned 62, is 8 years younger than I, and is requesting her benefit now. Her benefit will be deemed. If I die before my wife reaches FRA, will she be forced to take the survivor benefit based on her age, since she already is receiving a benefit? Or can she wait until her FRA to get the survivor benefits?

Posted: 
Tuesday, September 7, 2021 - 16:23
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