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Old 06-04-2015, 06:21 PM
 
Location: Cape Elizabeth
426 posts, read 504,960 times
Reputation: 760

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Quote:
Originally Posted by brokensky View Post
What affects survivor's benefits? Is it just a matter of reduction in benefits if you take them before your full retirement age? (I have looked at all the charts, read about it, but am still confused).

If I go ahead before my full retirement age and sign up for spousal benefits, will the fact that I have accepted reduced benefits mean my survivor's benefits will also be reduced, even if I am at full retirement age (or older) when my spouse dies?

Assumptions: spouse retired at FRA; I am considering filing for spousal benefits early (prior to my FRA); 8 year age difference; husband in tenuous health status.

Any clarification would be so very appreciated! Thank you!
Do you have your 40 quarters of coverage? If so, if you file on your husband pre-FRA, you will "be deemed to have filed on your own" and it will be reduced for your age. The spousal will be computed as follows: 100% of your FRA amount will be subtracted from 1/2 (50%) of your husband's FRA amount. Then the difference is reduced for your age at the time and added to your reduced retirement.

But, spousal is different than survivors (widow's). If you are a widow and also a worker (meaning you have your 40 quarters), then if you become widowed at your FRA or later- you will go to 100% of what your husband was receiving when alive.

If you become widowed before your FRA date, but from age 60 on, your widow's could begin and be reduced for your age, but you do have the option to switch to your own full amount, either at FRA, age 70 or really at any time after age 62. However, it doesn't really make sense to take both benefits "reduced". A person usually takes one reduced and the other "full".

Last edited by ilovemycat; 06-04-2015 at 06:23 PM.. Reason: clarification
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Old 06-04-2015, 06:58 PM
 
Location: State of Being
35,879 posts, read 77,264,411 times
Reputation: 22751
Quote:
Originally Posted by ilovemycat View Post
Do you have your 40 quarters of coverage? If so, if you file on your husband pre-FRA, you will "be deemed to have filed on your own" and it will be reduced for your age. The spousal will be computed as follows: 100% of your FRA amount will be subtracted from 1/2 (50%) of your husband's FRA amount. Then the difference is reduced for your age at the time and added to your reduced retirement.

But, spousal is different than survivors (widow's). If you are a widow and also a worker (meaning you have your 40 quarters), then if you become widowed at your FRA or later- you will go to 100% of what your husband was receiving when alive.

If you become widowed before your FRA date, but from age 60 on, your widow's could begin and be reduced for your age, but you do have the option to switch to your own full amount, either at FRA, age 70 or really at any time after age 62. However, it doesn't really make sense to take both benefits "reduced". A person usually takes one reduced and the other "full".
Thank you for clarifying that.

We didn't think hubby was going to make it through last year, but his docs have been wonderful and we are so grateful to them. But we are realistic and don't take a day for granted.

We made sure our affairs were in order b/f his surgery last year, but I had not really thought much about Social Security. In fact, I did not realize I would even qualify for survivor's benefits. It was because of some posts on this forum that my husband and I started researching what that even meant.

Hard to believe we were so clueless but . . . we were, lol.

Thank you again!
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Old 06-05-2015, 03:00 AM
 
Location: Central Florida
1,319 posts, read 1,077,219 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ilovemycat View Post
Highly unacceptable, and makes my blood boil! But, she probably didn't know how to do it - which could or could not be her fault. Here is why. We originally were trained as specialists- either in SS or SSI. Actually, when I started, there was no SSI so we were all trained in Social Security and then all learned SSI. Then, the programs became so complex that they began just to hire people in one program or the other. But, then, they weren't allowed to hire anyone, so they decided to make us "generalists" and gave everyone cursory training in the other program. Then, all initial training was by video (horrible) and some people came out of training not particularly good at anything. Because, without an excellent basis, there is just too much to know and with video training, you need to speak up, ask your questions etc. If no one speaks up, the instructor just moves on. Most new workers are totally overwhelmed, and many are still overwhelmed after years and thrust into whatever program the supervisor needs for interviews that day. So, they will tell an SSI rep to be on phones and they will have to deal with any SS calls, like yours.

Widow's vs. workers is still an area that the public cannot be expected to figure out, but I would say you would need a person very comfortable with Social Security to assist you properly. But, there are such people, and being new doesn't mean they don't know it. I mentored a new employee, who was smart as a whip, and understood all the complex situations. So, if your situation happens again, ask to speak with a supervisor, explain the response you were getting, and the discrepancy in figures and tell the supervisor you want an expert in Title II (Social Security) to call you. You see, it is not just getting the numbers, it is determining when, it may be advantageous, to start with a lower benefit, and at a later date, switch to a higher benefit amount.

When you get your figures and your widow's figures, you can direct message me and I can look over what they told you. Take good notes. You want your figures and your widows for all the critical dates- like you listed above.
Good luck!
Thank you so much for sharing your time and expertise Lack of training in these important SSA positions also happens at the VA where I work. I spend a good part of my day putting out veteran fires for incorrect info told to them by someone that did not have the training and knowledge to give them the correct info and this makes my blood boil!!!

Thanks again, and when I get the figures I will DM you.
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Old 06-10-2015, 07:48 AM
 
334 posts, read 536,190 times
Reputation: 578
When my dh died I was 59. When I turned 60 I took his SS. When I turn 66 my SS will exceed his, so I can then take mine. I will probably wait until I'm 70 though. My dh left life insurance and a 401k. The money does not last as long as you would think. I took out a reverse mortgage when I turned 62. I have since remarried.
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