Hi,
I am wondering, I am a disabled surviving widow of a deceased worker (he became disabled due to cancer). I was married to him 13 years. We have 2 children, both with intellectual disabilities whom are disabled adult children and collecting DAC benefits. Is it in my best interest to file for widowers benefit at age 50 ( I am 48 now) or to file now based on my caring for the disabled adult children of my deceased ex-husband? Carol

Hi,

Hi,

My husband recently passed away at age 71. He was still working at the time, but we had started to receive his social security payments this past year.
I am 64 and still working. The social security representative I just spoke to said that I cannot continue to receive his benefits until I am age 66, at which point I can apply to receive. Is this correct?

Thanks!

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

My husband died 1 day before his claim for disability became effective. Would it matter if I research the exact day he last worked and find out that it was earlier in the month than we had thought? He was 64. He only received regular retirement social security benefits for about three months before his death. His SS retirement benefits exceed mine. I will be 64 in the fall. I am working and my earnings exceed the ~$18,000 limit. I have a disability that is making it more difficult for me to do my job each day and I am wearing down.

I was widowed at age 58 and turned 60 last month. I contacted SS about collecting widows benefit and was informed I was earning too much to qualify for it. I intent to continue working for at least five more years and yearly will be over the earnings annual limit. There is also a strong possibility I will re marry next year. Does my ability to collect widows SS against my late husband go away if I re marry? trying to cover all bases in case I cannot work for five more years. Thank you.

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

My husband passed away in 2012 at the age of 57 and I was 53. Someone told me that when I turn 60 in 2019 I can apply for his Social Security benefits until I reach my full retirement age. My question is will I qualify for benefits even though I am currently working full time with a yearly income of $45,000? When he died, I lost $1,400 in monthly income and it has been tough financially. Any extra money I would get would help a lot.

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

This is kind of a 2 part question. First I will be 60 in Feb. I was married to my husband Aug 2008, he passed away in May 2016. He was 59 when he passed away but was on disability. We were married about 7 years. What benefits if any can I receive at age 60 and would it benifit me or how will it affect me later. Part 2, on my phone interview with S.S. They asked if he had been married before, I answered no, very recently I learned differently, he had been married like 18 0r 20 years ago. He was only with his first wife like 2 years.

I started receiving soctal security disability in 2011 at the age of 55. In 2013 my husband, who was 18 years older than me and received approximately $2300 a month in SS passed away. I then applied for widow's benefits as well, which I was entitled to since I became disabled after age 50 but before age 60. The social security lady I spoke with at the time told me I would qualify for my late husband's full social security amount when I turned my personal retirement age of 66 years and 2 months.

I'm a widow can I draw his funds by me being a widow

Hi,

You can if you meet the requirements for entitlement: https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.04/handbook-0401.html.

Best, Jerry

Larry, I am a 64 year old woman (born 12/1952) who was widowed 19 months ago. I began taking social security benefits on my own record at age 62. My late husband (born 02/1937) began taking social security benefits at age 70. When I called SSA to inquire about my options, they told me that I could continue to take benefits on my own record, and then switch to survivor benefits at age 66. If I choose this option, they told me that my total survivor benefits would equal the amount that my late husband WOULD HAVE received, had he taken his benefits at age 65 or 66.

Larry, I bought the audio book and listened twice. Great read. And I regret to share that although I have an economics degree from Boston University (graduated 2007), I never took your class.