Social Security - Spouse

[TPAAgent]

Can anyone give me the skinny on what to expect in SS benefits when a spouse dies?

Does the surviving spouse receive any portion of their spouses SS benefits?

Is it state specific, number of years married, etc..?

I understand if you have children under 18 those benefits continue- but I don't have too many clients 65+ with 8 year old kids unless they've taken full custody of their grandchildren

How's about someone doing TPA a solid and give me the skinny

Thanks

 

[Biggin]

My understanding is that you keep the higher of the two. It's a federal program so I doubt it will vary from state to state.

 

[Norwayguy]

My understanding is that you keep the higher of the two. It's a federal program so I doubt it will vary from state to state.

Correct, the surviving spouse gets to choose the larger of the two benefits and the other one is lost. Other Social Security items to remember is a divorced person who was married to thier ex-spouse for 10 or more years can choose to recieve a benefit equal to 50% of that spouses Social Security in lue of thier own benefit...

 

[0b1kanobee]

Is there a requirement of how long they be married?

 

[Norwayguy]

Is there a requirement of how long they be married?

Only in the case of Divorce.

 

[0b1kanobee]

Only in the case of Divorce.

So one could have a crappy arse S.S. check one day (after realization) and then marry their partner, BF, GF, ect. and if they died, receive a better benefit?

Of course all this would have to be strategically planned ect. ect. but you understand my question?

 

[Norwayguy]

So one could have a crappy arse S.S. check one day (after realization) and then marry their partner, BF, GF, ect. and if they died, receive a better benefit?

Of course all this would have to be strategically planned ect. ect. but you understand my question?

In a word, Yes. A spouse can be married for 1 day and thier partner dies and if the partners SS benefit is larger than thier own they can get thiers instead. Please note I speak with many people that only catch part of this, talk to many people heading in to retirement or already retired and they know they can collect the spouses larger Social Security benefit on thier passing but they leave out the part about losing thiers in the process.

I will never forget the day I was meeting with a couple she was 51 he 73. They were barely getting by as they had a tone of joint debt, they had just refinanced the mortgage again for 30 years income was as follows:

Her Age 51
Income from employment $20K with the county sherifs Dept part time

His Age 73
Was still employed as a security guard with Tambrands (I know all the jokes right)
Pension from Maine State Retirement Option 1 Full Retirement
Social Security

I was looking at the wife when I was explaining on her husbands passing (because it would happen eventually), his income from work,gone, Pension from MSRS, gone, and Social Security (depending on her age at his passing) would enter the blackout period until 60 and even then when she stopped working her only income would be from Social Security 1 of thier benefits.

 

[TPAAgent]

Thanks Norway..........

 

[VolAgent]

I was looking at the wife when I was explaining on her husbands passing (because it would happen eventually), his income from work,gone, Pension from MSRS, gone, and Social Security (depending on her age at his passing) would enter the blackout period until 60 and even then when she stopped working her only income would be from Social Security 1 of thier benefits.

And did any of this sink in? Or does she still believe it is all hers at his passing?

 

[Norwayguy]

And did any of this sink in? Or does she still believe it is all hers at his passing?

Oh it sunk in we applied for life insurance on the husband but even that wasn't the total solution as thier budget was so small.