hello Larry i'm confused on what should do. My case is a little different and i cant find anyone who can answer my questions. I'm 51 years old widowed 2 years ago. I have been on perm disability for 20 years and collect 800 a month. my husband and I were separated for 6 months when he got sick and passed away. Social security is paying me survivor benefits of 1100.00 per month plus my disability payment of 800.00 per month. My husband worked for the union and had a pension at the time of his death the pension was on a cridical freeze for the last nine years just 2 days ago the Union sent me (everyone) a letter saying the pension fund is now open and I have to make a choice take 500 dollar payment from them per month and leave the pension with them or a 1 time payout of 130,000 dollars. Im kind of afraid of leaving it in case it becomes frozen again after everyone cashes in their pensions from the last 9 years I figure they will close it again. So I have decided to take the one time payout. My one and only question no one can answer s will taking this payment affect my 1900 a month i receive now? And Medicare take care of my medical insurance now because of my disability. So if i get that one time payout are the going to remove m insurance and say i have to much money and i will have to get m own coverage? Those are my 2 concerns and I don't know what to do but only have 12 days to decide because the union only gave me a short window. Please advise me of my options Thank You very much.

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

No, neither a one-time payment or monthly payments from your husband's pension fund would not affect either your Social Security disability benefits (SSDI) or your disabled widow's benefits (DWB) or your Medicare coverage.

Best, Jerry