My husband was receiving Social Security disability benefits upon his death at age 59 in 2013. I am age 62 and want to file for my widow’s benefit to be effective January 2019. As the higher wage earner I want to wait until age 70 to take my own retirement benefits. When I apply at the Social Security office will Social Security be using Form SSA-10 (Application for Widow’s Insurance Benefits) or Form SSA-1-BK (Application for Retirement Insurance Benefits)? Or something else? I want to complete the appropriate application form in advance so I am better prepared. Are there online instructions that help answer the questions on these forms? I know that the Get What’s Yours book provides some help for Form SSA-1-BK but was looking for more comprehensive instructions.

Also, it is mentioned in the Get What’s Yours book it is a best practice to provide clarification in the REMARKS section. I would appreciate it if you would make suggestions regarding the following Remarks – “I wish to EXCLUDE my own retirement benefits from the scope of this application. I am filing ONLY for my widow’s benefits which I want to begin January 2019.”

One last thing, I know that Social Security pays in arrears and that based on my requested begin date I won’t receive my first check until February 2019. Having said that, I would actually like to get money in January 2019 which would mean that I would need a begin date of December 2018 (assuming this is even possible due to I probably won’t be able to visit Social Security until November). My concern with a December 2018 begin date is I don’t’ want to “appear” as though I am getting money from Social Security in 2018 even though I won’t physically get the money until January 2019. Can you confirm based on this scenario that my first SSA-1099 will cover 2019 only and I won’t receive one for 2018 if I choose a December 2018 start date? I hope this makes sense.

Thanks for your assistance and the valuable information you provide. It is very much appreciated.

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

Whether you file for widow's benefits by phone or in-person, you won't actually complete the application form yourself. Instead, you will be interviewed by a Social Security representative who will complete an electronic version of form SSA-10. You'll just need to answer the questions that the representative asks you, and when they're finished they will print out a completed application for you to review. You will then be asked to attest that the information is correct, as opposed to signing the application.

One of the questions on the electronic SSA-10 asks if you also want to file for retirement benefits on your own record, and you will want to answer that question 'no'. That should generate a restriction statement similar to the one quoted in your question, so just be sure to review the application and make sure it contains such a remark.

I don't know of any source where you could find comprehensive instructions on completing form SSA-10, but it doesn't sound like you really need to worry. However, before filing you may want to consider using our software to make absolutely certain that you're choosing the best possible filing strategy.

You would need to be entitled to benefits for the month of December 2018 in order to receive a payment in the month of January 2019. Social Security benefits are paid in the month following the month for which they're paid. If you're still working and will earn more than $17040 this year and more than $1420 in December 2018, the Social Security earnings test may affect whether or not you could be paid for December, and if so the optimal month to choose to start your benefits. Our software can help you with that issue as well. If you do receive a payment in January 2019 for December 2018, though, it will show up as 2019 income on your 1099 for tax purposes, not 2018 income.

Best, Jerry