| When Social Security was first established, it only | | | | Widows can apply for survivor benefits starting at |
| paid retirement benefits to workers who qualified. | | | | age 60, or age 50 if they are disabled. Just like |
| It was later amended to include benefits for | | | | with retirement and spousal benefits, the widow |
| spouses and survivors, which made it more of a | | | | may not want to start collecting at age 60 |
| family benefit plan, instead of just a retirement | | | | because the benefit will be reduced for every |
| plan. | | | | month received before reaching full retirement |
| Unfortunately, it is inevitable that many husbands | | | | age. A widow can expect to receive anywhere |
| and wives will find themselves widowed during | | | | from 71.5% to 100% of her deceased spouse's |
| their retirement. This is not only a huge loss | | | | benefit depending on how old she is when she |
| emotionally, but can be a huge loss financially as | | | | starts collecting the survivor benefit. |
| well, especially since the survivor will lose the | | | | It's important to note that as a widow you will |
| income earned by the spouse that has passed | | | | receive the survivor benefit or your own benefit, |
| away. | | | | whichever is higher. So your benefit will go up if |
| The Social Security survivor benefit was created | | | | your spouse's benefit was higher than your own, |
| to ensure that the surviving spouse wouldn't lose | | | | however you will still lose one benefit, so your |
| all of their income when the first spouse passes. | | | | total income from Social Security could be 1/3 to |
| Basically, the survivor benefit is 100% of the | | | | 1/2 lower than it was before your spouse passed. |
| spouse's benefit before he or she passed. | | | | One strategy to help maximize your total benefits |
| Assuming that both spouses are already receiving | | | | assuming your spouse passes before you reach |
| Social Security benefits, if the spouse with the | | | | full retirement age is to start collecting widow's |
| higher benefit passes away first, the lower benefit | | | | benefits when your spouse passes (assuming you |
| spouse will get an increase in her benefit. | | | | are at least age 60 or your are age 50 and |
| However if the spouse with the lower benefit | | | | disabled), then switch to your own benefit once |
| passes first, the surviving spouse's benefit will not | | | | you reach your full retirement age. This will allow |
| change. | | | | your own retirement benefits to continue earning |
| There are some rules in order to qualify for the | | | | credits and therefore will increase your retirement |
| survivor benefit: The couple must have been | | | | benefit. Or, if the survivor benefit is significantly |
| married for at least 9 months before the | | | | higher than your own benefit, you could apply for |
| spouse's death, unless his death was a result of | | | | your own benefit early, then switch to the |
| an accident. Also, divorced spouses may qualify | | | | survivor benefit when you reach full retirement |
| for widow's benefits as long as they were | | | | age. |
| married for at least 10 years. | | | | |