Survivor benefits
Ask Rusty – Grieving Husband Asks About His Survivor Benefits
Dear Rusty: My wife died May 4, 2024. I notified Social Security, and they have removed the direct deposit made to my joint checking account on May 8, 2024. What are my options now for obtaining any benefits from my…
An Overview of Survivor Benefits
Retirement benefits are available to spouses, ex-spouses, children, or dependent parents of someone who worked and paid Social Security taxes before they died. It can be complicated, but the Social Security Administration has taken great pains to clearly explain what…
Social Security Fundamentals for Married Couples
Spousal benefits and survivor benefits are two of the murkier aspects of Social Security. Not having a clear understanding of the eligibility rules accompanying these areas can cause married couples to miss out on benefits that have been written into…
Ask Rusty – How Do Survivor Benefits Work for a Married Couple?
Dear Rusty: How does Social Security handle the death of one spouse? Say, for example, the husband receives $2,000 per month in Social Security and his wife receives $1,000 per month. How is the death of either spouse handled? Signed:…
Understanding Spousal Benefits…And Why They May Not Exist for You.
For married couples looking ahead to retirement finances, the issue of spousal benefits can become a major factor in the planning process. For this reason alone, it’s good to have a clear understanding of how the calculations work and what…
A Quick Refresher on Spousal Benefits
Although so much of Social Security’s rulebook involves complicated qualifications, there are a few very basic premises that anyone planning their retirement finances should know. Many folks are already aware of these basics, but it’s still a good idea to…
A Quick Review of Spousal/Survivor Benefit Rules
The general issue of which benefits are available to spouses and survivors contains some fairly explicit rules, so it’s always a good idea in financial planning exercises to be sure they’re well understood. The editorial staff at moneywise.com offers a…
Social Security benefits and death
Social Security started providing survivor benefits in 1940; before this, the 1935 law only paid retirement benefits to the primary worker. Since that time, Social Security survivor benefits have been providing a safety net for loved ones of the deceased…
Ask Rusty – Social Security Disability vs. Spouse Benefits vs. Survivor Benefits (and COLA)
Dear Rusty: I retired from working in June but will not sign up for Social Security until age 70 and, to do that, I plan to draw from my IRA for the next 3 years. My wife is receiving Social…
The Often Misunderstood Subject of Spousal Benefits–Some Clarifying Comments
Questions about benefits available to spouses fall into the most active category we deal with at the AMAC Foundation’s Social Security Advisory Service. For example, in 2022 the topics of spousal benefits and survivor benefits accounted for nearly a quarter…