I have been collecting SS disability since 2012 (at age 56) at $1293 a month. My husband was still working at the time. He got cancer at 64 in 2015, filed for SS in April of 2016, when he stopped working. When his condition became terminal, he filed for SS disability, received two payments and passed away in December of 2015. My benefits were more than his.

Can you please explain how the widow's benefits are calculated.

Thank you,
Tima

Hi Tima,

I am still working and turned 62 in June 2018. I was told by a financial advisor that I should take my deceased husband's social security right away even though i would only receive a small amount and that it would increase the amount I would get at full retirement age.
I did a phone interview with social security recently and was told that it would be a huge mistake to do that and that it would freeze my allowance at the current amount when I plan to retire at age 66.

I am 67. My plan is to take social security when I turn 70. What will happen to my wife's survivor benefit should I die before reaching 70 and claiming social security benefits? Will she be entitled to the benefits I would qualify for based on my age at the time of my death or would the benefits simply be those calculated at my full retirement age (66)?

Hi,

I'm disable since 52, amount less than 1k. Former husband died @ age 62,
never touched his SS. When I turned 62 was advised by SS to file for widow's
benefit. This boosted my 1k to 2100.00. Turned FRA this past March and
a letter came stating they made an mistake and I would have an increase of almost
300 hundred a month additional each month. Can you explain the raise and if they
had gotten it wrong before converting Disablity to FRA , am I due back monies
from date of filing for benefit? Thank-you.

Hi,

Larry, a few years ago I read your book in anticipation of coordinating and maximizing mine and my wife's Social Security. Unfortunately the revisions to the law precluded our optimization strategy. I am 64 and my wife turns 62 in 9/18. She is inclined to start collection at age 62. If I wait until age 70 and die first will my wife be able to collect the full amount of my larger social security payment?

Hi,

My husband passed away at age 75. He was collecting SS at age 66. I will turn 65 this August and am still working full time.
Should I wait until my FRA of 66 to collect SS? Is there a "loophole" to collect his full SS amount now?
As of 2016, his SS amount was $2,330. It is now 2018. Of course, this amount should be increased after 2.5 yrs since his death.
I really need advice. Can you please advise? Thanks so much.

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

When my father passed away (I was age 14, my mother was 42) my mother collected child-in-care benefits. My mother is now age 64, is she able to collect her deceased husband's social security (he would be age 66) until she is 70 years old?? Or has she forefitted that option since she was given money for 4 years raising me?

Thank you.

Hi,

I am currently 58. My husband passed away nearly 2 years ago. I currently work full time and plan to stop working at age 60 and will apply for Survivor Benefits (widow's benefits). My husband retired at full retirement age and was receiving approximately $2,400/month. I understand that if I begin taking my Survivor benefits at 60, the monthly amount will be reduced by 28.5% which will give me about $1,716. I will likely work part time and earn up to the earnings test limit of $17,040. I also plan to let my own retirement benefits grow until age 70.

I'm a 54 yr old widow that was married for 33 years. At what age can I draw Survivors SS benefits and still continue to work earning more than $70k per year? I was planning on drawing on my own SS at age 67 or 70. (his SS benefits is only $100 less than what I would collect at age 67).

Hi,