So many years worked by a Social Security beneficiary worker allows him to leave his spouse protected in the event of his death, since he could receive his monthly payments up to 100%
Losing a loved one, who for a long time was the breadwinner of a home, is a difficult situation. But when you’re the widow or widower of a Social Security beneficiary, you may be able to receive your husband’s or wife’s monthly payments after his or her death.
The Social Security Administration has complex rules when it comes to spousal benefits, which many find confusing. However, when it comes to Social Security benefits for widows or widowers, the difficulty comes down to just proving the marital relationship to the beneficiary.
Basically, a widow or widower can receive up to 100% of their spouse’s Social Security payment, as long as the survivor has reached full retirement age (FRA) at the time of application (age 66 or 67, depending on the age). be the case).
If you are receiving spousal benefits and your partner dies, you must notify Social Security. Your spousal benefit of 50% of your partner’s benefit will be converted to a 100% survivor benefit.
The payment is reduced to between 71% and 99% of the deceased’s entitlement if the widowed person is at least 60 years old but below full retirement age.
Disabled survivors can apply starting at age 50. The agency has a streamlined application process to avoid delays in the first payment.
You may also be eligible for Social Security benefits even if your spouse died well before reaching retirement age. Each employee accumulates annual Social Security “credits” for working. If your spouse earned credits for at least 10 years before she died, she has earned a spousal benefit.
Remember that in order to receive the maximum amount of Social Security benefit that you can qualify for as a surviving spouse, you need to claim it until your full retirement age, either 66 or 67.
Another important fact for widows or widowers to know is that if they marry after age 60, it does not affect their eligibility for the survivor benefits they receive. That puts them in a strategic position to claim payment, because if their current spouse is eligible for Social Security benefits and earns more than the deceased, they can claim spousal benefits based on their current partner’s record.
Also, if you collect a survivor’s benefit but qualify for a benefit on your own, you could collect a survivor’s benefit in early retirement and let your own Social Security benefits accumulate delayed retirement credits. This strategy will allow your benefits to grow, even more than your widow’s benefits, and collect a higher monthly payment at age 70.