Scenario - Married couple for 30 years. Jim is 66 and collects PIA of $2,500/mo. Jill is 62 and collects a reduced Spousal of ~$925/mo. Jim dies this year.
1) What options if any does Jill have? i.e. can she continue her spousal until she is 66 then switch to survivor and receive $2,500?
2) Would her options be any different if instead of collecting a $925 spousal she was collecting a $925 retirement benefit on her own record at 62?
Thanks for clarifying.

Hi,

If Jill is already receiving spousal benefits and doesn't also qualify for retirement benefits on her own record, then she would have no option in the scenario you present. Her spousal benefits would automatically convert to reduced widow's benefits effective with the month of Jim's death. She couldn't continue to receive spousal benefits on the record of a deceased spouse. The only way that Jill could avoid the conversion to reduced widow's benefits in this scenario would be to withdraw her application for spousal benefits, which would require her to repay any spousal benefits that she had already been paid.

If Jill is receiving reduced retirement benefits on her own record at the time of Jim's death, either instead of or in addition to spousal benefits, then she would then have the option to either a) elect to continue receiving only her reduced retirement benefits until her full retirement age, at which time she could file for unreduced widow's benefits, or b) elect to receive reduced widow's benefits effective with the month of Jim's death.

Best, Jerry