My husband passed away in December 2014 at the age of 56. I am now 61 years old and am trying to get a grasp on all my options. How do I find out what his social security benefits would have been so I know when would be the best time to file for widow benefits?

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

I am asking these questions for friends. The primary wage earner was born in Oct 1953, the wife April 1953 making her 64 and him 63 and 9 months. He is dying. He probably will not make to his next birthday. He probably won't make it to August 2017. He is NOT currently collecting social security benefits, but he is at the maximum available to collect if he was 66, according to his SS account. My questions are
1. Does he need to be collecting SS for her to receive survivor benefits?

I am a teacher in Texas not paying into the Social Security System. My husband just died. I just turned 60. Can I receive widows benefits if I am still working? I know I do not once I'm retired.

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

Larry: My mother was born in 1929. What was the minimum age requirement for her to draw Social Security benefits as a widow? What was the minimum age if she would not have been a widow?
Lastly what was the full retirement age for people born before 1930?

Thank you,

Sandra

Hi Sandra,

This is not for me but for my sis. My husband and I are planning to take benefits at 70. My sis worked but her SS calculated benefit at age 62 was not as great as filing under her spouses work record. So when he reached full retirement age she began collecting on his record. She collects less than half of her spouses current $1600. I dont have the amount. If he passes will her benefit be increased to his current full $1600 / month benefit or will it continue to be reduced because she began collecting under his benefit early at age 62?

My husband passed before he collected short of 3months I was given the wrong information that I should collect at 60 instead of 62. Because it was going to be a difference of 200.00 if I waited till I was 62 I would have received 600.00 more can I do anything?

Hi,

My father died right after retirement from GM and my mother got his retirement benefit and then took a lump sum buyout. My father made significantly more money working than my mother. She is now collecting social security and wants to know if she can switch to the benefit amount my father would have collected if he were alive which should be higher than hers?

Hi,

My husband died in 1994 he was 49.

I was deemed Disabled around 2010 at age 50.

SS checked to see whose SS out pay would be worth more - his or mine - turned out mine was.

So I have collected disibility for the last 6 or 7 years based on my own work record.

I will turn 60 in Aug. 2017 - my question is "Will I be eligible for widows benefits from SS for my husbands work record and if so how will it be calculated?"

Hi,

My neighbor [in her early 70's] who is collecting her own social security wonders if
she can receive her recently deceased husband's benefits as well. They were married
16 years and he died @ age 75, just a few days ago. She is frightened as she has to
evacuate the house within 6 months, and needs to know how much income she can
count on. Please advise and Thank You, for your help.

Hi,

My husband passed in 2002 I started drawing widows pension at age 60 I work during our marriage it only part time and the last 11 years of his life I was a 24/7 caregiver will I lose my widows pension when I turn 65

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

No, you can continue to receive your widow's benefits for as long as you live. However, if you're insured for Social Security benefits on your own record and you file for those benefits, you will only receive the higher of your retirement benefit rate or your widow's rate, not both.