General question about social security

[teller80]

I'm not quite sure how SS works when a spouse dies. My husband and I have both worked all of our lives, so we both have retirement pay benefit (although his is larger than mine).

When we retire, I assume we'll each collect our own benefit. But what happens one of us dies? Do we lose the spousal benefit altogether? Or does the surviving spouse get a portion of the others benefit?

I went on social security's website but it seemed too wordy for my brain right now, I'm hoping somebody can offer a simple explanation. thank you!

 

[Marionnette]

I'm not quite sure how SS works when a spouse dies. My husband and I have both worked all of our lives, so we both have retirement pay benefit (although his is larger than mine).

When we retire, I assume we'll each collect our own benefit. But what happens one of us dies? Do we lose the spousal benefit altogether? Or does the surviving spouse get a portion of the others benefit?

I went on social security's website but it seemed too wordy for my brain right now, I'm hoping somebody can offer a simple explanation. thank you!

When a spouse passes, the survivor can choose to collect a check in the amount equal to their spouse's benefit or they can continue to collect their own benefit. It depends on which check is larger.

 

[davper]

You should talk with an expert advisor.




Q. What happens when widows or widowers who receive survivor benefits become eligible for their own retirement benefits?

A. Social Security provides widows and widowers with considerable flexibility in deciding how to take their benefits.

For example, a widow who took a reduced survivor benefit at age 60, can switch to her own earnings record when she becomes eligible at age 62-- if the benefit would be greater. Or she can wait to switch until she reaches full retirement age and receive her own full retirement benefit -- if that is higher.

Pasted from <http://www.aarp.org/work/social-security/info-02-2011/social_security_mailbox_survivor_benefits.html>

 

[barkley]

You should talk with an expert advisor.

best advice.

seems I recently read that social security is making some changes to the spousal benefits this year so you might do best to just tough it out on phone hold with one of their representatives (and be prepared to be on hold a LONG time).

 

[amcnj]

As explained in several above posts, the exact circumstances (ages, are you both collecting when the one spouse passes, etc) can affect what will happen/what options you have. From my understanding, what is commonly referred to as the "spousal benefit" is the option for a spouse to collect a portion (percentage is age dependent, but can be up to 50% of spouse's amount if wait till full retirement age) if that is more than the amount based on your own work record. In reality they are paying you your benefit plus the difference up to the spousal amount.

Your initial question seems to be as to what happens if you were both retired and were already collecting your own social security, so I assume the spousal benefit did not and will not come into play. Instead now you move to the area of survivor benefits. Again, I believe if done at or after full retirement age, you could collect the deceased spouse's amount if it is higher than your current benefit, otherwise you would continue to collect your own amount as before.

I hope this is accurate!

 

[tvguy]

When a spouse passes, the survivor can choose to collect a check in the amount equal to their spouse's benefit or they can continue to collect their own benefit. It depends on which check is larger.

I don't think you get to choose. Social Security will evaluate which Social Security Account will get you the highest benefit, and THEY will select that account to pay your benefits from.

 

[arminnie]

A surviving spouse qualifies for HALF of their spouses benefit not the full benefit. They get their own benefit or the spouse's not both at the same time. Most women who had their own career do better with their own benefit.

 

[tvguy]

A surviving spouse qualifies for HALF of their spouses benefit not the full benefit. They get their own benefit or the spouse's not both at the same time. Most women who had their own career do better with their own benefit.

And if you have been married more than once, you could be eligible for benefits from your ex-spouses account. I think that applies if you were married more than 10 years.
I was in the awkward situation with my MIL when her third husband died, of having to call my FIL from the Social Security office, to get his SS number to see what her benefit would be based on his account. They were married 12 years, and had a nasty divorce 30 years before. She did not qualify for benefits from her second husband because they were only married 2 years. Social Security can track down a number if you can't get it to check if you qualify.

 

[eliza61]

A surviving spouse qualifies for HALF of their spouses benefit not the full benefit. They get their own benefit or the spouse's not both at the same time. Most women who had their own career do better with their own benefit.

I don't think you get to choose. Social Security will evaluate which Social Security Account will get you the highest benefit, and THEY will select that account to pay your benefits from.

You guys are both partially right, lol

You do get to choose (or at least I did)

My husband died in November 2012. He was the major wage owner. Now the problem is that he died very young.

I am collecting his disability (80% not half) because at the time of his death we still had a kid under 18 and my oldest kid has Asperger's. When I turn 60 I will turn on his social security benefits and letting my grow until I turn 70. when I turn 70 I will turn his off and begin collecting mine which by that time will be at max.

Now this is subject to changes as usual. I am only 57 so the time between now and 70 a bunch could happen.

Now if I remarry before I am 62 I lose his benefits. so that makes the decision, lol much easier, I'll be a professional dater

That's how it's working for me

 

[tvguy]

You guys are both partially right, lol

You do get to choose (or at least I did)

My husband died in November 2012. He was the major wage owner. Now the problem is that he died very young.

I am collecting his disability (80% not half) because at the time of his death we still had a kid under 18 and my oldest kid has Asperger's. When I turn 60 I will turn on his social security benefits and letting my grow until I turn 70. when I turn 70 I will turn his off and begin collecting mine which by that time will be at max.

Now this is subject to changes as usual. I am only 57 so the time between now and 70 a bunch could happen.

Now if I remarry before I am 62 I lose his benefits. so that makes the decision, lol much easier, I'll be a professional dater

That's how it's working for me

Okay, not sure how I am partially right. I assume what you are doing is the method that nets you the most money? That's what social security is required to do, test all possible avenues you have for receiving benefits and giving you the one that provides the most benefits.

 

[eliza61]

Okay, not sure how I am partially right. I assume what you are doing is the method that nets you the most money? That's what social security is required to do, test all possible avenues you have for receiving benefits and giving you the one that provides the most benefits.

My apologies, I misunderstood your post, I thought you meant something else.

 

[georgina]

A surviving spouse qualifies for HALF of their spouses benefit not the full benefit. They get their own benefit or the spouse's not both at the same time. Most women who had their own career do better with their own benefit.

Your post confuses me a bit, because of the wording I think. When I reach retirement age, I will get half of my living spouse's benefit as my SS. (he is 8 years older than me and does not plan to take SS before age 70, plus half of his will be more than my own personal claim) If he dies, I will get the full amount of his benefit instead of the half I was getting. So I will get his benefit, but not mine. If you are saying I would get my half and then another half of his, then I guess I agree.