HELLO I'M 51 YEARS OLD, MY WIFE DIED 9 YEARS AGO AND WAS ON SSI. WHAT BENEFITS AM I ELIGIBLE FOR, IF ANY AND WHEN?

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss. If your wife was only receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), then you wouldn't qualify for any survivor benefits. SSI does not pay auxiliary or survivor benefits to family members of the SSI recipient.

I've recently retired at the age of 64. FRA is 66, 4 mos. My husband passed away in 2017 at the age of 64. He hadn't applied for retirement benefits. I have spoken to 2 people from SSA regarding my application for benefits and got 2 different answers. The first said that I should take my own reduced retirement benefits first and then switch to survivors benefit from my husband after it had increased. My husband's benefit is significantly higher. But the second time I was told that I had to take survivors benefit first because my husband's was higher than my retirement benefits.

I am at full retirement age (67) and continue to earn income from various consulting projects. I am thinking of filing for SS benefits since my business is slow to non-existent, and would like to know if there is a maximum annual earning amount and/or penalty, and if my benefits will continue to increase until age 70 if I continue to have annual income. Thanks!

Hi,

No, since you're at least full retirement age (FRA) there is no limit on how much income you can have and still be able to draw all of your benefits.

My husband passed away 4/2018. I am going to wait until full retirement age, 66 & 2 months to collect his maximum benefit. I am currently 63. Can I collect my own SS benefit now and then switch to his at full retirement Age? I need his higher amount at retirement and don't want to jeopardize losing that option. Thank you.

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

I am 68 and not drawing S.S. retirement money yet . I still work full time . Thinking of retiring this year . Will be 69 in January 2021 . If I retire August 31, 2020 , how many months backward will they pay if I request backpayment (S.S. tells me it can be done ) . Also , if I wait until age 69 to retire , would these backpayments be at my age 69 benefit rate or age 68 rate? Thanks for any clarification on this matter !! Gary

Hi Gary,

I am turning 62 in Feb and plan on collecting SS. It's not much, $871 per month. My husband will only be 60 in Feb. Can I also draw spousal SS?
THANKS,
Katy

Hi Katy,

I am born 1961 and my husband 1949. We took his SS at his 62 years and had a minor child at home. It was the recession and loss of work. No other choice, believe me. It saved us. My husband is 70 and still working. We don't know at what point he may not be working. I am not working but have been looking. We owe $120,00 on a modest (already downsized home. We only have 50,000 saved (CD's) and a small 401K (30,000) that could lose money. Old vehicles. No other debt. Two children are self-sufficient for now. We have 2 grandchildren. No inheritance or anything else forthcoming.

Hi Larry, my question is about widower benefits. I will be turning 66 on December 4th of this year. My wife of 30 years died when I was 52. I remarried when I was 64. My question is. I plan on working until age 70 and was wondering if I could collect widower benefits, from my first wife, at age 66 and let my own benefits grow until age 70. So I can collect at a higher 32% rate.

Thanks, Vince

Hi Vince,

Larry, I just turned 66 a few days ago-my spouse died when I was 59 and I began collecting widower benefits at my age 60 since I was earning only about $12k per year. My widower amount is $600 currently and I can now take my FRA amount at $1000 per month but at this point have chosen not to in order to let my $1000 grow under the DRC until my age 70.

If a husband claims benefits at FRA of 66 (Wife is collecting her own benefit), but passes away six months later, can the wife choose to return his payments, with the intent of taking the husband’s increased benefit when she turns 70? Thank you

Hi,