Widows Benefits

My grandmother wants to know if she will draw her deceased husbands social security? She is 91 years old and her medicare supplement is $384.00. She also wants to know if she will draw his retirement check from John Hancock? His monthly retirement check from John Hancock was $166.00. She only draws $92.00 a month from John Hancock.

Hi,

I don't know whether or not your grandmother is eligible for survivor benefits from John Hancock, but if she is it won't affect her Social Security benefits.

I'm 62 my husband just passed away at 65 he wAs already collecting social security benefits. If I collect survival benefits now at a reduced rate will I get the greater amount at 66

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

I turn 66 this September. At that time, I will be elibible for full retirement benefits. My wife is 4 years younger. She turns 62 in October. With my earnings record, I will receive close to the maximum benefit. My wife, on the other hand stayed at home to raise our children and did not work full time. She would qualify for marginal benefits ( I think they are around $100.00/ month at full retirement age), so she basically has no benefits of note.

My husband of 40 years passed away 11-12-13. He was 69. I was unaware of widows benefits and did not file until January 2016, shortly after I turned 61. I know I am receiving a higher benefit because I "waited" to file. If I agree to lower benefits and repayment of my overpayment can I retroactively collect benefits for the year I was eligible?
Thank-you
Valerie

Hi Valerie,

I'm sorry for your loss.

I retired early I receive 600 a month, my husband died he was getting 1200 a month will I continue to receive my retirement along with survivor benefits?

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

I am 58 my husband was 73, he just died, we have no children, will I be able to get survivor benefits now or will I have to wait till I am 62? We were married 25 years.

Hi,

I'm very sorry for your loss.

You can qualify for reduced Social Security widow's benefits as early as age 60, or now if you are disabled based on Social Security's standards.

If I'm drawing my SSI & my husband dies, can I stop drawing my SSI & draw his?

Hi,

I will be 66 in Feb. however, I opted for early Social Security at age 62. My husband recently died & we were married for 32 years. His SS amount was higher than mine. Am I eligible right now to "upgrade" to his amount or do I have to wait until I'm 66 in Feb. 2017? Thank you in advance!

Hi,

First of all, I'm very sorry for your loss.

My husband and I were separated for many years but never divorced...(He said he wouldn't sign and 1/2 the time I didn't know where he was and couldn't afford an atty.) He passed away 2 years ago. I found out the night of his death that he remarried in 1995 while we were/are still married..Wife #2 refused/refuses to file an annulment even tho she knows the marriage isn't legal. She found out about 6 years after they were married with a kid that he was still legally married to me. Everyone kept it from me knowing I would file bigamy charges.

Local TV story about widow being denied Social Security widow benefit because missed 9 month marriage requirement by 1 day. Can you help her?
http://abc7.com/news/social-security-denied-to-whittier-widow-because-hu...

Thanks,
John

Hi,