Social Security Survivor benefits for long time spouses.
My husband is 79, I am 77, married 56 years. He took his Social Security benefits at age 67, I took mine at 62. Friends are saying that since we live in Illinois the surviving spouse (who receives less money from SS) does not get any benefits if their higher paid spouse dies. They say that is true in 12 other states also. Not only do I think that is wrong but I was under the impression the lower paid surviving spouse in any state, can receive a portion of the deceased higher benefits. Lets say my husband who might get $2000 in benefits monthly dies and I, his spouse, who only receives $1000 per month, might get approximately $1500. What is the Savage truth? Thank you.
Terry Says
I don’t know where that load of baloney came from! SS rules are the same no matter what the state of residence. Tell your friends!
Unless you have a WEP –an offset because your own benefit was from a public service job — you will receive the higher of your benefit or your spouse’s benefit that he was collecting at the date of death.
But to see exactly what you will collect, go to www.MaximizemySocialSecurity.com and run the numbers. Tell your friends to do that!
