My brother in law died a very successful man. My sister only worked about ten years in her life. I'm sure she's very glad to collect his SS and not her own.
@@hollieweller7051 Do you buy car or health insurance? If so, then SSA is based on similar principles. With a positive difference. Those who are married, their spouse benefits from their contrib when they become eligible (62 early withdrawal)
@@percyfaith11yes... But it's also something you've paid into the majority of your life. You can pay 90% of your life, and die three months in, and your spouse has none to limited benefits to what you contributed.
@@hollieweller7051 That's the system set up by Congress Hollie. Lobby them to change it. As you well know you are not contributing to your retirement when you are paying SS payroll tax deductions in the same way you contribute to a 401K or a Roth IRA. You are not vested in the SS fund. You have benefits, only so long as you live. You don't own the rights to the benefits.
The spousal is kinda gift in itself in the first place. So dropping back to one benefit just seems fair to me. It’s not like they changed the rules midstream. Everyone should know going into SS how the game is played.
Maybe it’s not fair to be able to take somebody else’s SS that is worth more than yours. Think of it that way and it will help widows/widowers feel more grateful. The good news is that all other retirement savings can be handed on. 😊
@@lindavogt9173 she would have to return the amounts she received from early withdrawal (62) and there's a window for that as well. It can be done once in a lifetime and within 12-18 months of starting payment at 62. I went through this process but don't recall the time lines. It's *best* to consult a SSA officer at your local SSA office.
NO, she can collect on her own at any age between 62-70 and switch when he passes. Unless he passes before she turns 62, in which case she can draw his as a survivor, at age 60 PRE 62 and allow her account to accrue credits
Draw your own starting anywhere 62-70. Or draw survivors starting 60- full retirement age. Each one grows until you choose to start it. You need to decide when is right for you. You can switch one time only without it reducing your benefits.
Linda Let me correct the context in answers here, if the couple is on social security when he passes then yes, my original answer covers the actual rules, regardless of filings status.
Not quite, she is trading up in the insurance system. Her payments fund the same insurance which she draws insurance from. If she funded a $2,200PIA and opted to collect his $3,200PIA even though he may have collected that $3,200/month for 10 years or more, thus draining his FICA payments. She is dollars ahead.
depends, if married or actively drawing spousal yes, however divorced ladies on their own account are not connected so they have to find out and refile
You are very clear,but to me its overwhelming. My husband died at 49. He was a pharmacist. I will be 60 in a year in a half. Im nearly making it. Is there any hope. I dont understand how that works for me. I know you cant answer everything. I will be contacting you when im 60. Im just scared.
Plan now. Here is the question which is better for Nancy: File survivors between the 60th but before the 62 birthday, leaving her benefit to grow or plan on survivor benefits only which are 71% at age 60 but grow every month delayed until age 67.
Run the numbers both ways. Your husband was a professional, good salary. You did not mention what you did so perhaps yours is lower. Think your pain through. You can start survivors as early as 60 and let your own grow to 70 if yours will be higher. You can take your own at 62 and switch to survivors at 67 and maybe that one will be higher. Check both out do what is best for you. You can switch one time only.
Ohhhh dear!!! I thought i could receive widows ss until i am ready to draw mine!! Thar could have been a big mistake!! Yikes! I have spoken to the ss office on both accounts, but this has not been mentioned!!
If you were married the 10 years and have not remaried you can draw spousal or survivors from a spouse, x spouse account. Does not matter if they are married or not.
So after years and years of paying into ss when he dies it's just gone, somewhat unfair to the widow even 25% might make a lot of difference to her survival.
@@georgiann6412 looks like you are not following the discussion. The surviving spouse is eligible to draw the SSA even if he/she did *not* contribute to SSA in her/his lifetime
@whatsup3270 I've worked and payed into ss for 45 years full time and part time before that it just dosen't seem fair to me that a widow would not be qualified for her husbands benefit she is more qualified for it than anyone else it goes to after he dies, it goes somewhere.
@@georgiann6412 Lets look at an example; She is 74 and gets $1,200 off her own account, he is 81 and drawing $2,300. He passes. She changes to $2,300/month because he passed, okay? Now here is the thing, he already drew more out than he paid in, but his account stays active for her. If she draws 15 more years, passing at 89. she drew way, way more out then they paid in.
@@georgiann6412 If her social security check is $1,650, when he passes and she changes to a survivor benefit of $2,350. She is actually drawing both his and hers.
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My brother in law died a very successful man. My sister only worked about ten years in her life. I'm sure she's very glad to collect his SS and not her own.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
I love the different hats you wear.
Thanks for your kind comments!
Drawing the higher of the two numbers is fair IMO. Getting the sum of both would be unfair to people who don't have a spouse or never married.
Often he has already drawn what he paid in.
And many have never even retired and started to draw. @@whatsup3270
I will have 53 years of income when I retire, SS only takes the top 35 years so the money I paid in for 18 years is just gone.
Love channels like this. People pay into something they only sometimes benefit from. People need to know where the screw is being tightened
@@hollieweller7051 Do you buy car or health insurance? If so, then SSA is based on similar principles. With a positive difference. Those who are married, their spouse benefits from their contrib when they become eligible (62 early withdrawal)
There is no screw. SS is not an annuity that you can pass on to your heirs.
@@percyfaith11yes... But it's also something you've paid into the majority of your life. You can pay 90% of your life, and die three months in, and your spouse has none to limited benefits to what you contributed.
@@hollieweller7051 That's the system set up by Congress Hollie. Lobby them to change it. As you well know you are not contributing to your retirement when you are paying SS payroll tax deductions in the same way you contribute to a 401K or a Roth IRA. You are not vested in the SS fund. You have benefits, only so long as you live. You don't own the rights to the benefits.
@@percyfaith11 projecting is great. Thanks!
The spousal is kinda gift in itself in the first place. So dropping back to one benefit just seems fair to me. It’s not like they changed the rules midstream. Everyone should know going into SS how the game is played.
Survivor benefits put in for it
In a way is fair. You pay for your retirement, not someone else. We are lucky to have the opportunity to draw the higher one.
Maybe it’s not fair to be able to take somebody else’s SS that is worth more than yours. Think of it that way and it will help widows/widowers feel more grateful. The good news is that all other retirement savings can be handed on. 😊
Please clarify if a widow can claim the lower retirement benefit at 62 yr and switch to the higher benefit at her full retirement age. Thank you.
@@lindavogt9173 she would have to return the amounts she received from early withdrawal (62) and there's a window for that as well. It can be done once in a lifetime and within 12-18 months of starting payment at 62.
I went through this process but don't recall the time lines.
It's *best* to consult a SSA officer at your local SSA office.
NO, she can collect on her own at any age between 62-70 and switch when he passes. Unless he passes before she turns 62, in which case she can draw his as a survivor, at age 60 PRE 62 and allow her account to accrue credits
Draw your own starting anywhere 62-70. Or draw survivors starting 60- full retirement age. Each one grows until you choose to start it. You need to decide when is right for you. You can switch one time only without it reducing your benefits.
yes
Linda
Let me correct the context in answers here, if the couple is on social security when he passes then yes, my original answer covers the actual rules, regardless of filings status.
Not quite, she is trading up in the insurance system. Her payments fund the same insurance which she draws insurance from. If she funded a $2,200PIA and opted to collect his $3,200PIA even though he may have collected that $3,200/month for 10 years or more, thus draining his FICA payments. She is dollars ahead.
Do you have to apply for the higher amount OR is it automatically given to you?
depends, if married or actively drawing spousal yes, however divorced ladies on their own account are not connected so they have to find out and refile
You are very clear,but to me its overwhelming. My husband died at 49. He was a pharmacist. I will be 60 in a year in a half. Im nearly making it. Is there any hope. I dont understand how that works for me. I know you cant answer everything. I will be contacting you when im 60. Im just scared.
Plan now. Here is the question which is better for Nancy: File survivors between the 60th but before the 62 birthday, leaving her benefit to grow or plan on survivor benefits only which are 71% at age 60 but grow every month delayed until age 67.
Run the numbers both ways. Your husband was a professional, good salary. You did not mention what you did so perhaps yours is lower. Think your pain through. You can start survivors as early as 60 and let your own grow to 70 if yours will be higher. You can take your own at 62 and switch to survivors at 67 and maybe that one will be higher. Check both out do what is best for you. You can switch one time only.
LOL! Love you and the info you provide us with.
Thanks for your kind comments!
What if your spouse that passed was receiving disability social security- can his widow receive that or just his regular spouse
This is the product of Lobbying
Why should you get both? SS is on a slippery slope financially anyway and may not be there for workers contributing today.
Ohhhh dear!!! I thought i could receive widows ss until i am ready to draw mine!! Thar could have been a big mistake!!
Yikes! I have spoken to the ss office on both accounts, but this has not been mentioned!!
Ok so at 60 can I collect widows benefits and when I turn 67 can I stop his to collect mine?
What If your ex spouse is currently married when he dies? Then who gets what please
If you were married the 10 years and have not remaried you can draw spousal or survivors from a spouse, x spouse account. Does not matter if they are married or not.
yes
both can
That's not true ,when old enough you can draw your social security if it's higher you don't lose benefit
It could be so you just draw your lower right
That is s fair
Such a freaking scam…we BOTH PAID OUR WHOLE LIVES…it’s so unbelievably wrong
So after years and years of paying into ss when he dies it's just gone, somewhat unfair to the widow even 25% might make a lot of difference to her survival.
She gets more than she earned.
@@georgiann6412 looks like you are not following the discussion. The surviving spouse is eligible to draw the SSA even if he/she did *not* contribute to SSA in her/his lifetime
@whatsup3270 I've worked and payed into ss for 45 years full time and part time before that it just dosen't seem fair to me that a widow would not be qualified for her husbands benefit she is more qualified for it than anyone else it goes to after he dies, it goes somewhere.
@@georgiann6412 Lets look at an example; She is 74 and gets $1,200 off her own account, he is 81 and drawing $2,300. He passes. She changes to $2,300/month because he passed, okay? Now here is the thing, he already drew more out than he paid in, but his account stays active for her. If she draws 15 more years, passing at 89. she drew way, way more out then they paid in.
@@georgiann6412 If her social security check is $1,650, when he passes and she changes to a survivor benefit of $2,350. She is actually drawing both his and hers.
It's not fair! And you don't know this when you are presented with the problem! WE WERE NOT INFORMED IF ALL THIS ROBERY😡
@@susanlong8978 can you clarify what you mean by "robbery" ?
@@susanlong8978 a survivor is getting the higher of the two amounts. Are you expecting the sum of both amounts? 🤔
Widows tax trap? Household social security goes down, and tax status goes up.