Hi Larry my husband passed I January I waited 3 months for my widows pay but it's only 3 hundred and some change his is higher than my IAM 64he passed at 67 I get for my own disability 682 amonth and they put his 382 dollars to add to my but his disability was 1300 a month why didn't I receive his it's more than mine monthly and no IAM not divorce from him nor remarry Darlene thank you please respond

Hi Darlene,

I'm sorry for your loss.

Since you and your husband were both drawing Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits, your unreduced widow's rate would be equal to the difference in your full SSDI rates. However, widow's benefits are reduced for age if you start drawing them prior to full retirement age (FRA), so rather than getting the full difference in your and your husband's rates as a widow you'd instead get a lesser amount.

The good news is that since you were already drawing SSDI benefits when you became eligible for widow's benefits, the reduction for age in your widow's rate will be removed when you reach FRA. So, from then on you should be paid a combined benefit rate equal to your husband's full SSDI rate, which is the same as his primary insurance amount (PIA).

Best, Jerry