I work full time, making approx $37,000. My husband worked full time with an annual salary of $86,000 + per diem
we have a 13 yr old daughter. My husband passed away Jully 30th and i am trying to determine what the monthly benefit will be in order to determine what things I can afford to keep
Hi. I'm sorry for your loss. You'll probably need to contact Social Security to find out how much your and your child's survivor benefits might amount to. And, you'll need to contact them anyway in order to initiate the process of applying for benefits. Surviving child and surviving mother's benefits are each calculated at 75% of the deceased worker's primary insurance amount (PIA), but your husband's full earnings history would be needed in order to calculate his PIA. Social Security would have access to that information.
Your daughter can be paid surviving child benefits regardless of how much you earn, but your potential survivor benefits could be subject to full or partial withholding assuming that your under full retirement age (FRA). For example, in 2021 Social Security's earnings test requires $1 of a person's benefits to be withheld for each $2 that they earn in excess of $18.960.
Best, Jerry