I turned 66 y.o. in march 2011 and collected my SS pension at that time. My husband died on February 2010. My SS pension is higher than him. Am I intitled to collect any widow benefit? He collected his SS when he turned 66, in 2006.

Norma,
You are eligible for the higher of your retirement benefit off of your record or your widow's benefit, which is generally what your husband was receiving when he died, as increased by subsequent COLAs. From what you say, your retirement benefit is larger. So, you are getting the maximum that you’re entitled to.

Hi, I turned 60 on 2/3/2016. My husband died 11/3/1991, we had been married since 11/26/1977 when he died. He had been collecting SS Disability (for our whole family, myself & our 3 boys) since about mid 1986. (He became ill in 5/1984). I collected survivors benefits for my sons & myself until each turned 18; mine stopped when my youngest turned 16, he was born 11/1/1984, after my husband became ill. Now that I am eligible for my widow's benefits I was told by the SS office that I make too much income to really get any (about $30,150 annually vs.

My husband died in 2015, he was 61 when he died and a was 59.I work and make $24,500 a year thru Disability Services of the Southwest being my disabled adult sons aid. He's 27 and has autism. I applied for mu hisbands social security in March of 2015. My son was receiving disability payments of $834. per month. The disability benefits were taken away and now he gets $900. a month of husbands SS death benefits. I get $900. a month from June thru December only and receive nothing January thru June, they say because I make to much money. We are struggling to pay bills and eat.

I am a subscriber to Maximize My Social Security and have bought and read (and continue to reference) "Get What's Yours: The Secrets to Maxing Out Your Social Security" (original edition, not the new Revised edition that's on sale now) but I have encountered a situation that is not covered, as best as I can tell, in the book and I am looking for some guidance.

I am a 63 year old widow, still working as a librarian. My husband died in his forties, but his income was much greater than mine so his social security benefit would be much higher than mine. I have been told by a financial person that I should work as long as possible and delay drawing any social security until age 70. I have seen other widows who are drawing survivor's benefits from their husband's accounts with plans to draw on their own accounts at full retirement age, but that is different for me as my own account is smaller.

My live-in spouse and I are both going on to 47 yrs old. Since we are both disabled and getting SSD, we were told by a SS representative 22 yrs ago, that if both recipients were to legally wed, the wife would lose her survivors benefit, although the husband keeps his. Nonetheless the rep recommended that we just live together and Keep It Simple, Silly. So we did just that and are still happily together. She works p/t and I haven't worked since 2011. We have no kids. Question is: when we turn 67, what will happen to our benefits? We are each receiving about $990 each per month.

I am 60 and I was divorced from my husband in 2000 after 15 years of marriage. Neither of us remarried and he died in 2010 at the age of 55. My income is about $50k a year and I'd like to maximize my benefits. I plan on working as long as possible. What do you suggest I do? Thanks for your time.

Dear Madam,

Dear Larry, A am a 64 year old woman who after a 24 year marriage has been divorced for 15 years. My former husband died a year ago at the age of 69. I have not worked enough outside the house to obtain Social Security based on my own record. As a widow of a divorced spouse can I apply now for benefits or can I earn more by waiting until I am 66 or even more by waiting until 70. I am planning on obtaining Medicare though his social security record when I become 65.

I am a bit confused about spousal benefits. I turn 66 this Oct. (2016). My husband passed away in Feb. 2013 at the age of 57. His DOB is 11/9/1955. According to your program I can start drawing spousal benefits now. So as a surviving spouse I can collect benefits even before his "early retirement age" (62 in 2017)? Will the benefit be reduced by claiming before his full retirement age (66 or 67)?
Thank you for considering my question.
Cyndy R.

Hi Cyndy,

Jan: How do I know when to take my Social Security? A financial adviser told me it would take until I was 80 to make up for the benefits lost if I wait until 70 to start collecting. The adviser said I should start taking my benefits at 65 or 66, but continue working until age 70. How can I find out if this is true? He used a calculator. I was married for 20 years, and my late husband died when I was 50. I was told nothing of taking widow’s benefits, but I did collect for his child until she turned 18. I worked part time and do not know the earnings limit.