This podcast covers a cornucopia of topics including women and Social Security, types of benefits available, importance of maximizing benefits, terminology, Full Retirement Age, when to file for benefits, loopholes closed by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 and a brief synopsis of spouse benefits.
This recording presents the viewpoints of the AMAC Foundation’s Social Security Advisory Staff, trained and accredited under the National Social Security Advisors program of the National Social Security Association, LLC (NSSA). NSSA and the AMAC Foundation are not affiliated with or endorsed by the United States Government, the Social Security Administration, or any other state government. To request additional information, contact our Advisory Staff at 888-750-2622, or email us at SSAdvisor@AmacFoundation.org.
my brother passed on Oct.29, 2020 at the age of 73. He left his daughter 45, son 40 and his second wife who is 55. He was an emigrant and lived here in USA from 1973 to 1980, He did not get social security because he was not fully vested in the system,
Now, his surviving spouse will get any benefit ? Please let me know
SS# 101-52-1002 Mohammed Harun ar Rashid
Dear Mr. Rashid,
First let me offer my condolences to you on the loss of your brother. Unfortunately, as your brother was not fully vested, there are no benefits available to his widow. A survivingng spouse’s benefits are based on the deceased spouse’s Social Security benefit at their time of death.
Please contact me if you have any further questions.
Sharon L Kleczka RSSA
NSSA Social Security Advisor
AMAC Foundation
a woman in her 70’s who lost her husband of 23 years, be entitled to a portion of … or all of his social security benefits
John:
If they were married at his time of death, she would be eligible for a one time lump sum benefit of $255. Whether or not she would be eligible for a portion…or all of his benefits would depend on whether or not his Social Security benefit was higher than her own Social Security benefit. If his Social Security benefit was higher than her own benefit at his time of death, she will then receive 100% of his benefit at his time of death, and her own smaller benefit will stop. If her own Social Security benefit is higher than his Social Security benefit at his time of death, she will retain the amount of her own benefit and his benefit will stop. She would then only be eligible for the $255 lump sum payment.
To claim survivor benefits you have to contact your Social Security office, you are unable to apply online.
Sharon Kleczka
AMAC Foundation Inc
888-750-2622
I have been receiving survivors benefits for 10 years. My own benefit ceased at that time. Does that original benefit accrue cost of living increase for the past years if it is used as a survivor benefit when I die, assuming I have remarried.
Hi Sue,
Your survivor benefit is a combination of your own retirement benefit “topped off” by the difference between your own benefit and your deceased spouse’s benefit. Should you remarry and your new spouse has a lower benefit than your own retirement benefit, and he/she is the surviving spouse, Social Security will remove the amount of your survivor benefit from your previous spouse, and your surviving spouse will receive 100% of your own retirement at your time of death which will include all cost of living increases from the time you turned 62, as long as they have reached their full retirement age (FRA), or it will be reduced according to their age.
Please contact me if you have further questions.
Sharon Kleczka
AMAC Foundation
(888)750-2622