Q&A

When I die will my wife get my Social Security benefits?

When I die will my wife get my Social Security benefits?

When a retired worker dies, the surviving spouse gets an amount equal to the worker’s full retirement benefit. Example: John Smith has a $1,200-a-month retirement benefit. His wife Jane gets $600 as a 50 percent spousal benefit. Total family income from Social Security is $1,800 a month.

Does Social Security take back money when you die?

If the deceased was receiving Social Security benefits, you must return the benefit received for the month of death and any later months. For example, if the person died in July, you must return the benefits paid in August. Request that any funds received for the month of death or later be returned to Social Security.

What happens when one spouse dies and the other dies?

Typically, a joint will provides that: when one spouse dies, the survivor will inherit everything, and when the second spouse dies, everything will go to the children.

Do you get widow’s benefits if your spouse dies before you turn 60?

Also, if your spouse died young enough that you remarried before you turned 60, you won’t be able to collect a widow/widowers benefit. If you wait until after you turn 60, you can get the benefits. This rule also applies if you were married for at least ten years and get divorced, even if your spouse remarries.

What happens if surviving spouse does not receive 50 percent of will?

That means if a surviving spouse doesn’t receive at least 50 percent of the marital property in the decedent’s will, the spouse may contest the will and make a claim in court for his or her outstanding statutory share.

When do DIC benefits end for surviving spouse?

DIC benefits are permanent for surviving spouses. It lasts the entire life of the surviving spouse except in the case of remarriage. For surviving children, DIC benefits last until the age of 18. If the child is still in school, these benefits might go until age 23.

What happens if a husband dies without a will?

If the husband made a will before he married, then the surviving spouse will receive the share of the estate to which she would have been entitled if the husband had died without a will, unless the will gives her a larger share, or unless it appears from the will that it was made in contemplation of the marriage.

What happens to your estate when your spouse dies?

In other states, the surviving spouse only inherits some of the estate and surviving children inherit the remainder. The portion allocated to the surviving spouse may differ if the deceased spouse had descendants from a previous relationship.

What happens to Social Security benefits if a spouse dies before full retirement age?

If the deceased spouse never filed for benefits, but died on or before their full retirement age, the calculation is relatively easy. The survivor receives the deceased’s full retirement age benefit, adjusted for the survivor’s filing age (see chart below).

Can a widow get Social Security if she remarries before age 50?

If you receive benefits as a widow, divorced widow, widower, or divorced widower, you cannot get benefits if you remarry before age 60 or if you are disabled and remarry before age 50. If you remarry before you turn 50, you will not be entitled to survivor’s benefits, unless the marriage