Spouse Benefits
How Does a Disabled Widow or Widower Become Entitled to Benefits?
Benefits may be payable to a widow or widower with a disability if the following conditions are met: The widow or widower is between ages 50 and 60; The widow or widower meets the definition of disability for adults; and The disability started before the worker’s death or within seven years after death. Note: If [...]
My Wife Doesn’t Have Enough Work to Qualify for Social Security or Medicare. Can She Qualify on My Record?
Yes, The question you’ve raised applies to husbands as well as wives. Even if he or she has never worked under Social Security, your spouse at full retirement age can receive a benefit equal to one-half of your full retirement amount. (If your spouse will receive a pension for work not covered by Social Security [...]
How Much Is a Widow Allowed to Earn without Losing Any Social Security Widow’s Benefits?
Only earnings before the month you reach full retirement age (FRA) count towards your annual limit. If you work the entire year, we will use this formula to determine how much your benefit must be reduced: If you are under FRA when you start getting your Social Security payments, $1 in benefits will be deducted [...]
Can My Spouse Qualify for Social Security or Medicare on My Record?
Yes. Even if he or she has never worked under Social Security, your spouse at full retirement age can receive a benefit equal to one-half of your full retirement amount. (If your spouse will receive a pension for work not covered by Social Security such as government foreign employment, the amount of his or her [...]
Am I Eligible for Medicare If I Receive Spouses Benefits?
Most people must wait until age 65 to qualify for Medicare benefits. Some people can get Medicare at any age. This includes people who: Have been getting Social Security disability benefits for 24 months; Have kidney failure and require dialysis; Have had a kidney transplant; or Receive disability benefits because they suffer from amyotrophic lateral [...]
How Much Will a Widow or Widower Receive?
Widow(er)’s benefits are paid based on percentages of the deceased worker’s basic benefit amount. These percentages vary depending on the widow(er)’s age at the time of retirement. Here are the most typical situations: A widow or widower, at full retirement age or older, generally receives 100 percent of the worker’s basic benefit amount; A widow [...]
What Is the Effect of Marriage on Survivors Benefits?
“My two children and I have been receiving survivors benefits since my wife died. Will these benefits continue if I remarry?” Your remarriage would have no effect on the benefits being paid to your children. If you get benefits only because you are caring for your children, your benefits would end at the time of [...]
If I Remarry, After Being Married 10 Years, Which Spouse Receives Benefits?
A former spouse can receive benefits under the same circumstances as a current spouse or widow/widower if the marriage lasted 10 years or more. Benefits paid to a surviving divorced spouse will not affect the benefit rates for other beneficiaries. Please note that in general, a person applying as a widow/widower cannot receive benefits if [...]
Both My Spouse and I Work and Pay Social Security Taxes. Whose Record Will My Benefits Be Based on?
You will receive benefits based on your work record if you have worked long enough under Social Security (usually 10 years) to be entitled to benefits. However, if the benefit you can receive as a spouse is higher than your own Social Security benefit, you will receive a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse [...]
Can My Spouse Collect Benefits at Age 62 from Her Work and Earnings and Then Receive a Combined Total up to 50 Percent from My Account When I Start Receiving Benefits at Age 65?
Your wife can start receiving reduced retirement benefits on her record at age 62. If the amount she receives on her record is less than what she would be entitled to as a spouse, she would receive a higher spouse’s benefit when you start receiving benefits. However, because she began receiving Social Security before reaching full retirement age, [...]