Survivor benefits
Subtle Missteps That Can Lead to You Short-Changing Yourself on the Benefits Front
Even today, it’s surprising that many folks still are not fully aware of some of the very basic aspects that govern the amount of benefit they will be able to draw from Social Security. For example, our AMAC Foundation Social…
Spousal Benefits: A Refresher on the Fundamentals
The question of benefits available to spouses is an area we deal with frequently here at the AMAC Foundation Social Security Advisory Service. For many, an understanding of the rules and provisions embedded in the Social Security playbook can help…
Social Security Could Be One of the 5 Costly Mistakes You Could Make
Retirement planning–especially the financial side of the equation–presents many potential pitfalls if you’re not careful. In a post on finance.yahoo.com, reporter Mark Henricks explains how “messing up Social Security” can, for example, lead to problems in the area of survivor…
Complications That Married Couples Face When Claiming Benefits
Anyone who’s looked into the process for claiming Social Security benefits knows that it can be deceptively complex. Many uninitiated approach the process with the simplistic view that when you turn 62, you just go and sign up. They quickly…
Ask Rusty – About “Survivor” Benefits vs. “Spousal” Benefits
Dear Rusty: I will be 70 in August and will file my application for benefits in May. I know I’ll get my maximum possible amount at age 70, but I need you to clarify things I have read. Per an…
Ask Rusty – Can I Get Survivor Benefits While Still Working?
Dear Rusty: I lost my wife several years ago and I qualified for Social Security Spousal benefits. Unfortunately, because of my income, I have not been able to take advantage of this benefit. I am currently 64 and still working.…
Ask Rusty – Can A Working Widow Collect Survivor Benefits?
Dear Rusty: I’m 63 and still employed. My husband passed away 7 years ago at the age of 58. Am I able to collect my husband’s Social Security while I’m still working? Signed: Working Widow Dear Working Widow: Technically at…
Social Security goes beyond simple payouts to workers
Almost 70 million people, or more than 1 in every 6 U.S. residents, collected Social Security benefits in 2022. Social Security goes beyond paying benefits to workers; it pays benefits to surviving spouses, divorced spouses, and others. However, Social Security…
Ask Rusty – Octogenarian Asks About Wife’s Spousal and Survivor Benefits
Dear Rusty: I am now 80 and my wife is 76, and we both took early Social Security benefits at age 62. When my wife took her Social Security, it was a lot smaller than mine, so they took a…
Understanding Survivor Benefits
One of the most-often questioned areas of Social Security relates to the issue of survivor benefits and what scenarios need to be considered when one’s initial filing decisions are made. For example, what will be the increase a lower-earning spouse…