My husband of 14 years died in 2000 at the age of 54. I will be 62 in June 2000 (never re-married). As my employer is going out of business soon, I plan on collecting my survivor benefits and working part time since my own social security will grow thru age 70. Will SSA deduct Medicare part B premiums from my survivor benefits @ age 65?
Hi,
I'm sorry for your loss.
Yes, if you're drawing any kind of Social Security benefit when you reach age 65, Social Security automatically enrolls you in parts A & B of Medicare and starts making the appropriate premium deductions. Part B is optional and can be declined, but part A coverage is premium free and mandatory for people receiving monthly benefits.
Your plan for claiming benefits might be your best option, but you might want to consider using our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to fully analyze your options so that you'll be able to choose the best possible filing strategy. Your optimal filing strategy would almost certainly be one of the following:
1) File for reduced widow's benefits now or as soon as your earnings will permit at least some benefits to be paid, then switch to your own record at age 70; or,
2) File for reduced retirement benefits on your own record now or as soon as your earnings will permit at least some benefits to be paid, then file for unreduced widow's benefits at full retirement age (FRA).
Normally, you would want to start out drawing the lower benefit first and then switch to the higher record when it reaches it's highest potential rate. Our software could sort all of this out for you to help you determine your optimal filing strategy.
Best, Jerry