I’m a widow. My husband was 53 when he died. He was gathering Social Safety incapacity for about two years previous his demise.
I’m nearing retirement age and was planning on taking his Social Safety after I attain my full retirement age, after which switching to mine after I flip 70.
Is this selection nonetheless accessible? Would I be eligible for 100% of his? Once I known as Social Safety, the girl stated, “It will likely be a shock.” Shock, my foot! I must know.
I additionally might have a troublesome time proving we had been married. Our marriage ceremony license burned up in a latest home fireplace. We had been married within the Bahamas, and I doubt they maintain data. I is perhaps OK in that I had the wedding license on the time of his demise and used it to gather the one-time $255 demise profit, so it might be within the system. Which may be my solely salvation.
I’ve acquired so many conflicting solutions concerning with the ability to change from his to mine after I’m 70.
-S.
Pricey S.,
I don’t suppose you’re in for any large surprises. So long as you’re eligible to your late husband’s survivor advantages, you’re allowed to start out survivor advantages, then change to your personal increased Social Safety profit in a while. And even with out the precise marriage license, it is best to have the ability to show that you just had been married.
Let’s begin with the primary problem, although. I believe that the confusion you’re working into stems from the truth that the foundations have modified for spousal advantages, that are paid to spouses and ex-spouses primarily based on the work document of somebody who’s nonetheless alive.
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Up to now, married {couples} typically used what was often known as a restricted utility. One partner would file an utility for spousal advantages solely as early as age 62. Then, they’d change to their very own retirement in a while. This was a well-liked solution to maximize advantages as a result of the longer you wait to take Social Safety, the larger your checks can be.
However a 2015 legislation ended this technique for anybody born after Jan. 1, 1954. Nevertheless, there are exceptions for spouses who qualify for incapacity advantages or are caring for a kid who’s youthful than 16 or disabled.
The vital factor to know is that this transformation doesn’t apply to survivor advantages. You may declare survivor advantages as early as 60 or age 50 for those who’re disabled. Then you may change over to your personal profit as early as 62 or as late as age 70 if you need the utmost profit.
Not like retirement advantages, survivor advantages cap out at full retirement age. You’ll get 100% of your late husband’s profit at that time. So that you’ll get the largest Social Safety checks doable by doing what you’re planning.
In case you don’t need to take my phrase for it, right here’s what Social Safety’s web site says: In case you’re eligible for each survivor and retirement advantages however haven’t but utilized, “You may apply for retirement or survivors advantages now and change to the opposite (increased) profit later.” For all the foundations on this matter, try Social Safety’s publication “If You Are the Survivor,” which is accessible on-line.
You also needs to have the ability to doc that your marriage did, actually, exist even when it’s a must to leap via just a few extra hoops. I don’t know if Social Safety would have the ability to use the one-time $255 cost you acquired when your husband died as proof. However within the absence of a wedding certificates, you should still have the ability to acquire an authorized copy of your marriage paperwork by contacting the U.S. embassy within the Bahamas.
When official paperwork aren’t accessible, Social Safety may even settle for different proof, like witness statements or images from the ceremony. You most likely have proof of the home fireplace that you possibly can use as proof of why you don’t have the unique marriage certificates. I’m guessing you’ve different paperwork, like tax returns or property data for those who owned a house collectively, that you possibly can use as further proof.
Typically when you’ve a sophisticated state of affairs, you gained’t get good info by calling Social Safety. There are such a lot of difficult guidelines, and it’s unimaginable for one individual to have the correct reply for each state of affairs. However you may typically discover the data you want on Social Safety’s web site, ssa.gov.
Attempt to discover as a lot info as doable earlier than you name. If what you’re informed conflicts with official Social Safety info, level out the discrepancy. Ask them to refer you to the precise rule they’re citing. It could even be useful to take notes throughout every telephone name. Doc the time and date of the telephone name and the title of the worker you converse with.
Coping with any forms could be a headache. However it feels like you’ve a wise technique for maximizing your Social Safety. In case you do a little bit of prep work, I don’t suppose you’ll encounter any main hurdles in claiming the advantages you’re entitled to.
Robin Hartill is an authorized monetary planner and a senior author at The Penny Hoarder. Ship your difficult cash inquiries to [email protected].
