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I'm glad that it was all very cordial Oildog. I agree, wait for the estate....I had some fun issues with that when my Dad died! I'll keep a good thought. Keep us posted.
Except that the divorced spouse had children with the man who died and may want to support them. Just like in your example the spouses of the fired employees may still work for the company. (I know that is a stretch).
Let me assure you if I got fired( not laid off) from my place of employment I would not be showing up for any company picnics regardless if my wife was presently employed there or not.
If she was married to the deceased at least ten years and remarried after she turned 60, she is eligible for survivor benefits. If she remarried before age 60 and later divorced the subsequent spouse, she is likewise eligible for survivor benefits. Finally, if she remarried before age 60 and is currently married, she could divorce her current spouse, claim survivor benefits, remarry her current spouse and continue to receive the survivor benefits.
If she was married to the deceased at least ten years and remarried after she turned 60, she is eligible for survivor benefits. If she remarried before age 60 and later divorced the subsequent spouse, she is likewise eligible for survivor benefits. Finally, if she remarried before age 60 and is currently married, she could divorce her current spouse, claim survivor benefits, remarry her current spouse and continue to receive the survivor benefits.
Aren't those benefits based on the deceased person's social security monthly checks? Wouldn't she have been able to draw off his SS benefits at any time, the same amount, as long as she was at 62 or older? I am so mixed up on this, so excuse my ignorance.
I guess what I am asking is . . . a divorced person can draw off her ex's SS earnings regardless of whether he is alive or deceased, right? Is the % allowed the same in either scenario?
Aren't those benefits based on the deceased person's social security monthly checks? Wouldn't she have been able to draw off his SS benefits at any time, the same amount, as long as she was at 62 or older? I am so mixed up on this, so excuse my ignorance.
I guess what I am asking is . . . a divorced person can draw off her ex's SS earnings regardless of whether he is alive or deceased, right? Is the % allowed the same in either scenario?
I don't want to get this thread off track, so I'll limit my reply. Spousal benefits are a component of retirement benefits. When the wage earner dies, the retirement benefits (including the spousal component) end. The amount of the divorced spouse's survivor benefit is not negatively impacted by the divorced spouse's prior election of early retirement benefits. The divorced spouse will receive the full survivor benefit as long as she waits until her full retirement age to collect.
As an example, as a divorced spouse, I can collect about $900/month on my ex's record when I reach age 62. If I wait until my full retirement age, I will collect about $1300, the amount that is about 1/2 of his PIA (primary insurance amount). However, if he dies, I can apply for a reduced survivor benefit now OR I can wait until I have reached my full retirement age (66) to collect the equivalent of his entire monthly benefit (about $2600/month). In any case, the survivor benefit will be dramatically higher than a spousal benefit.
I don't want to get this thread off track, so I'll limit my reply. Spousal benefits are a component of retirement benefits. When the wage earner dies, the retirement benefits (including the spousal component) end. The amount of the divorced spouse's survivor benefit is not negatively impacted by the divorced spouse's prior election of early retirement benefits. The divorced spouse will receive the full survivor benefit as long as she waits until her full retirement age to collect.
As an example, as a divorced spouse, I can collect about $900/month on my ex's record when I reach age 62. If I wait until my full retirement age, I will collect about $1300, the amount that is about 1/2 of his PIA (primary insurance amount). However, if he dies, I can apply for a reduced survivor benefit now OR I can wait until I have reached my full retirement age (66) to collect the equivalent of his entire monthly benefit (about $2600/month). In any case, the survivor benefit will be dramatically higher than a spousal benefit.
Thank you so much for that excellent reply. It is something I have discussed with others in the past as it seems there is universally a lot of confusion about it. I have had many women ask me what I knew or understood and I had to frankly say - I don't understand it, even though I have read the SS info many times. It just never clicked the way you just explained it.
And yes, don't want to take this off track!!!
Hopefully, the OP will not have a tangled mess to unravel when it comes to settling her father's estate. It sounds as though he has planned well.
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