Widow's Benefits

My husband passed away 4/2017 at 73 he was collecting SS $1684 with Medicare taken out I'm 62 just started to collect my ck $884 SS sent me form SSA-4111 to fill out I'm hesitant. It's for permanent reduced benefit of $1251. Thats half of what we got together. Do I hv to accept this they said if I don't sent form back I will get nothing. Can I wait till I'm 65 to get survivors full benefits or do I have to sign and accept this now. Please let me know as I have appt 5/16 with SS. Thank You, Eileen

Hi Eileen,

I'm sorry for your loss.

Hi Larry

My father has passed away recently , is my mother eligible for Survivors benefits even though she makes little more?

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

The answer to your question depends on your mother's age among a number of other factors, so I can't really give you an answer. You may want to refer to Social Security's website: https://www.ssa.gov/planners/survivors/ifyou2.html.

Best, Jerry

My husband died in Sept, 2014 at age 62. I am 3 yrs younger than he, thus 59 when he died, and will be 62 in July of this year. I am unable to work outside of my home due to a disability not recognized/accepted as such, so currently have no income except a $700.00 widows benefit from the VA. I did work for years, but not hi income jobs. If I take my SS at 62, it will only amt to slightly more than 700.00 and I will loose the VA income.

Is there ANY exception to the 9 month rule?

Hi,

Hello, I'm 62 and considering applying for early benefits. My husband is 69 and waited until his FRA to apply, he gets about $2200 per month. My own full benefit amount is only $800. I realize my benefit including the spousal supplement would be reduced if I applied early. A SSA agent told me it would also reduce any future widow's benefit I might receive, even if I was over FRA when that occurred. I think that was incorrect.

I have recently been given widowers survival Social Security Benefits. The added amount of 439 dollars has taken me off medical. If I only took 200 dollars from social security I'd be okay. Can I take only half of what's being offered?

Hi,

My sister is 59 (as of Feb 2017). She worked as a nurse for about 12 years and then became a stay at home mom. Her husband died in January 2017. They were married for more than 25 years. He was 66 and still working at the time of his death, although on a leave of absence. He was a high wage earner, making more than the SS max for most of his career. I am reading your book "Get What's Yours: Revised Secrets to Social Security." None of the examples for widows exactly encompasses my sister's situation. Should she wait until she is FRA to claim her survivor benefit?

As a widow, am I entitled to my husband's social security though I remarried at the age of 54? And if things don't workout in my marry, if I divorce, am I entitled to my deceased husband's social security? And, if I decide to remarry again will my deceased husband's social security benefits cease?

Thank you!

Hi,

I my husband of 30 years died in 20022l

He W 20 years old er than me
Quit my. Job to take caRe of him..I.later w las SO DEPRESSED I.got disability ss. He died..I now have a 14 year.s/o.he has diavetid..Pad.can't do anything I do Everything. I am.so tired and have terrible back. I HURT ALL the time. I f. Eel I.should get some better benift OU r I have to go work HELP

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

I just turned 60 April 2017. My husband passed away 2001. I work full time and make around $40,000 per year. Do I qualify for any widow benefits?

Hi,

It sounds like you qualify for widow's benefits, but whether or not you could receive any benefits depends on your potential benefit rate. Social Security would withhold $1 of benefits for every $2 that you earn in excess of $16,920 this year (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/whileworking2.html).