Hi Larry,

I would like so send you a big thank you, for all that you and your colleagues are doing to help us get what is ours.

I am concerned about my recent social security application and hoping you can tell me if I have any cause to be concerned or if there is anything I need to do to make sure I will receive my late husband's full PIA?

At the age of 62, In October 2015 (my birth month) I applied for widow's benefits to begin January 2016 as I was planning to quit working in order to take care of my mother who fell gravely ill. In December she passed away and I went to my local social security office and withdrew my application before January 2016. Unfortunately, it was not processed (I still have the paperwork).

The following year I began to receive benefits much to my surprise. I went back to my local office. At that time they processed the withdrawal of my survivor's benefits. As expected, later in the year, I received the letter requesting repayment of 3 months benefits I had received. I sent it immediately (interestingly, the record of that was lost and I had to prove it with the cancelled check).

I am now a bit over 64 and just began to collect on my own record. My late husband's PIA will be higher at my FRA than my own PIA even at age 70 so I am aware there is no incentive to wait after 66 to switch to my widow's benefit. And that is thanks to your column and book!

After reviewing the application summary I received, here are the pertinent highlights, it states that I:
apply for all insurance benefits for which I am eligible
had filed an previous application
want to receive benefits on my record
do not want to take my widow's benefit at this time and wait until my FRA.

During my interview with the case worker I let her know I am expecting to receive my late husband's full PIA at my FRA of 66. But she told me that my widow's benefit will be reduced to 82.5% of his PIA. My understanding is that happens in the case of a spouse that had already claimed their own retirement benefits. I said this but she said no I would be getting a reduced benefit. I said I was confused as my husband died at age 34, well before receiving any of his own benefits. As I still have the figures she gave to me at our 2015 meeting (at my various ages), as well as the 2016 benefit amount I actually received that was reduced by my early age claim, I said it was clearly not based on 82.5 of his PIA. She said well when you turn 66 or when you apply we will find out the amount of your widow's benefits. As you are aware, there is no way in the system for widow or widowers to check on survivor benefit amounts.

In light of my experience, plus all I have read, I am concerned. Could I be deemed as applying for both benefits as the same time since I had previously applied and withdrew widow's benefits? Or can survivor benefits be reduced for some other reason? Is there something or anything I can do now or do I wait and see as she suggested?

Help! Elizabeth

Hi Elizabeth,

It sounds like you've done everything correctly so far. You withdrew your prior application for widow's benefits and repaid the amount that you had received, and your retirement application contains a statement restricting widow's benefits from the scope of your application.

So, my assumption is that the representative with whom you spoke was merely mistaken when she told you that your widow's rate would be reduced. Since your husband didn't receive reduced retirement benefits prior to his death you should receive 100% of his primary insurance amount (PIA) as long as you wait until the month you reach full retirement age to start drawing your widow's benefits. Of course, you will only receive the higher of your widow's rate or your own retirement rate, not both.

I don't know of anything you could do to further ease your concerns other than maybe re-contacting Social Security to speak with a different representative. It doesn't sound like that should be necessary, though.

Best, Jerry