I am a 56 year old male, just trying to plan for my retirement. my wife of 8 years passed away in 2012. I have heard rumors that I can apply for her benefits at age 60. she had minor children that drew her ssn. they are now adults. can I still receive her benefits? thank you for your input.
Hi,
I'm sorry for your loss.
Larry, my wife, born in 1951, is now age 67. A year ago or so, she started her social security benefit based on her own earnings record at her Full Retirement Age 66. I was born in 1949. A couple of years ago, I filed and suspended my benefit in March 2016 (prior to April 29, 2016) at my age 67 and have been letting my credits increase. I am now 69+ and planning on delaying a few more months until I am age 70 in 2019 to start my benefit. Assuming I die after having started to receive my age 70 benefit, what amount will my wife get as a widow benefit?
I am 72 and my husband is 78 we both draw social security now. Will it be affected? If something happens to one of us can the other one draw part of their social security? We make almost the same in Soc Sec so we would only get our own?
Hi,
Question regarding survivor's/widow's benefit. Page 62 of "Get What's Yours" states "If they died after FRA, your survivor's benefit is the actual benefit, inclusive of Delayed Retirement Credits..." My wife and I are the same age, 65 (born 1952) and she filed on her social security at 62. I just filed for spousal benefits on her record when I turn 66 in Dec 2018 and plan to hold off of filing on my record till 70.
My father has recently passed away, my mother and father have been together since 1989 but have never "officially" married but lived as husband and wife my dad collected social security benefits and my mom collected SSI. WE would like to apply for "spousal benefits" for her to help her continue to pay her bills what would I need to have to prove that they have been together all this time?
Thank you
Hi,
I'm sorry for your loss.
Hope you can help. I'm 63.5 years old, plan to wait until 70 before claiming my own SS benefit (>$3k/mo at that age). My 1st wife of 35 years died 3 years ago at age 63. I re-married, and fill all the criteria for SS survivor bene's from my 1st wife (about $1k p/mo). I'm also self employed and not certain what my income for the next 3 years (until FRA) will be. Likely it will be somewhat above the $17,040 earnings test, perhaps even enough to wipe out the full survivor bene (> $ 44k/year) if I apply now.
Jerry,
Thank you for your prompt email reply to my inquiry. Since your email does not allow for a direct reply I’m sending a few additional thoughts via the contact page. While these thoughts deal with semantics, I’m seeking clarification in order to feel comfortable that I’m not misunderstanding things. Please bear with me.
#1) In your Dec. 30, 2017 answer you wrote “The resulting survivor benefit of $1890 would be paid in addition to her own retirement benefit, making her combined benefit amount equal to her ex’s full rate of $2640.”
Regarding Dec. 30, 2017 posting (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/if-i-take-reduced-benefits-my-own-r...).
Jerry, excellent question and reply. I have two follow-up questions. 1) Where did the 82.5 % come from? and, 2) can you post a POMS citation for your procedure and calculations?
Thank you.
Chris
Hi Chris,
We are both 64 and my wife was collecting SSDI until she suddenly died. I am working full time. Do I get any survivor benefits while i continue to work until i am 66? When I do retire and collect my SS do I get to collect as a survivor any percentage from what my wife was collecting? Thanks.
Hi,
I'm sorry for your loss.
My good friend and his boyfriend have been living together for over 20 years. They finally got married just recently. They got married on or about 4/21/2018 and unfortunately, his spouse passed away on 5/20/2018. Upon initial internet research and when he walked into the SSA to ask questions, we discovered that he is ineligible to receive his belated husband's social security because of the length of their marriage. I believe they should have been married for at least 9 months? in order for my friend to receive the benefit.