As I was sitting here navigating the social security website trying to figure out whether my mom is entitled to some of my father’s social security benefits, it occurred to me that maybe someone out there has had some experience with this situation and might have some suggestions.
- Situation:
- Father: 67
- Mother: 62 and still working
- Father was receiving social security benefits (no retirement or pension income)
From what I can gather, my mother is entitled to a $255 death benefit and is also entitled to some level of my father’s social security benefits. It looks like she’ll get a reduced amount because she is younger than 65 and is still working. If this is the case, it would be the difference between just sneaking by on her income/expenses to having a little wiggle room. The best information I could find was at: http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/deathbenefits.htm .
Anyone have any experience in this area?
Thanks!!
Hazzard,
I am not an expert on these matters, so the usual disclaimers apply. Scrolling down the page of the link that you provided above, it says, “A widow or widower, age 60 or older, but under full retirement age, receives about 71-99 percent of the worker’s basic benefit amount.” That is what your mother qualifies for. Again, not an expert, but I believe it is a pro-rated amount from age 60-67. So, at 62, my rough calculations say that she should qualify for appx 79% of your Father’s full benefits. I definitely advise speaking to someone in SS admin.
I second what LAMoneyGuy said about talking to SS admin. We just went through this in that I filed the paperwork for my mother-in-law when her husband died 2 months ago. She will receive about 80% of his SS money and she is 62. This leaves her with a good chunk of change coming in every month. I don’t know if there are other factors that they take into consideration, but that is what she will be receiving. Good luck.
Good luck with dealing with the SS admin.
I have no advice to offer, but I hope someone in the pf community or the SS admin can come through for you!