I'm 75 and my husband recently passed away. I'd been drawing off of him for years. I thought when he died I would get what he was getting in benefits and my benefits would go away. I recently started a small business, its had no income, nothings been reported on my tax return. The SS office has told me that because I started a business I will not get the amount of his benefits. Is this true?

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

No, running a business wouldn't have any effect on the amount of your widow's benefits. Nor would it matter how much income you receive from the business since you are already over full retirement age.

Therefore, I see no reason why you wouldn't receive the full amount that your husband has been receiving. If you've been receiving combined benefits on your own record and your husband's record, your survivor rate should increase your total benefits up to at least the monthly amount that your husband was receiving.

Best, Jerry