Hi, My husband died in 2008. I have since remarried , my new husband is a new immigrant with no social security record of his own.. I have been collecting my own Social Security since age 62 but intend claiming my deceased husband's social security benefit this year as I will be 66. My new husband receives social security payments based on my SS record (I was 63 when I remarried).. Will his payments cease once I take my deceased husband's SS and if so how does this affect his medicare?
Thank you, Julie

Hi Julie,

When you file for remarried widow's benefits, your own benefits will not be terminated. You and your new husband will continue to receive the same benefits that you've been receiving on your record. Assuming that your widow's benefits are higher than your own, they will be calculated and paid as an additional, or excess, benefit to you. Social Security will then combine your retirement and widow's benefits into one monthly payment that will add up to roughly the full rate for which your deceased husband would have been eligible.

By the way, if your deceased husband received reduced retirement benefits prior to his death, you would want to file for your widow's benefits sooner that age 66. If that's the case, you may want to run the maximization software available on this website to determine the best time to apply.

Best, Jerry