Two questions.
1. I have been on Soc Sec disability since I was 53 and am currently 63. My wife started drawing her soc sec last year when she turned 63. She receives $580 a month on hers and $ 340 a month additional due to my Soc Sec which is about $2000. if I died now(God forbid) what would she receive? Also will it increase for her as I age I.E. will she receive more if I survive longer?
2. My sister-in-law lost her husband who was 56, she is 70 and has been on her Soc sec disability for 10 years. how and when can she receive his benefits and at what percentage?

Hi,

1) If you died now, your wife would have the option of a) taking reduced widow's benefits or b) waiting until her full retirement age (FRA) to receive unreduced widow's benefits. Her unreduced widow's rate would be equal to your full benefit rate minus her reduced retirement rate, meaning that if your wife started receiving widow's benefits at FRA or later her combined benefit rate would be equal to your full rate. If she chose to take the widow's benefits before FRA, the amount she'd receive would depend on her age at the time she filed. For example, if your wife started drawing widow's benefits in the month she reached age 64 her combined benefit rate would equal roughly 90.5% of your full rate.

2) If your sister-in-law is age 70 and widowed, she would be eligible for the higher of her own benefit rate or 100% of her deceased husband's primary insurance amount (PIA). There would be no reason for her to wait to file for the widow's benefits if she's eligible, since she would already be eligible for the maximum rate. It sounds like your sister-in-law should check with Social Security as soon as possible to see if she qualifies for additional benefits as a widow.

Best, Jerry