Ask Larry

Will My Wife Be Able To Get My Benefits When I Die?

I am near my FRA of 66 & 4 months. Wife is 63 1/2.
She is retired already and drawing a State Retired Teachers Pension. She only paid into ss for about 6 years. I know she will not get any SS on her own but on my passing will she able to get mine. Thanks

Hi. It sounds like any spousal or survivor benefits for which your wife would otherwise qualify will be subject to full or partial offset due to the Government Pension Offset (GPO) provision (https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10007.pdf). GPO causes Social Security spousal or survivor benefits to be offset by 2/3rds of the amount of a persons pension that's received based on their work for a governmental agency (i.e. local, county, state, federal) where their earnings were exempt from Social Security taxes.

So, it sounds like your wife will only be able to collect benefits from your account if her benefit rate is more than 2/3rds of the amount of her teacher's pension. You and your should strongly consider using our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to fully analyze all of your options so that you can determine the best overall strategy for maximizing your benefits.

Best, Jerry

Posted: 
Aug 3 2022 - 1:20pm
MaxiFi software running on a laptop
Get What's Yours!
Discover tens of thousands in extra retirement dollars with Maximize My Social Security software!
  • Find your maximized strategy
  • Unlimited what-ifs
  • Step-by-Step filing instructions
  • Our software's lifetime-benefit increase for an illustrative couple earning $65K each and planning to take retirement benefits at 62.

    Results will differ based on your specific case and filing strategy.

Getting Started is Easy
Web-based software. Works on ALL browsers. No download.