Octogenarian Asks About Wife’s Spousal and Survivor Bene ts
wife’s case, she is now (while you are both living) receiving her own earned Social Security benefit plus a “spousal boost” to make her payment equal to what she’s due as your spouse. Your wife’s spousal boost was not taken from your benefit payment you still get your own retirement benefit but her spousal boost amount was computed by compar- ing the amount she was entitled to at her full retirement age (FRA) to 50 percent of your FRA benefit amount and then reducing her spousal boost amount because she claimed at age 62 (all Social Security benefits, except disability benefits, taken before FRA are reduced). Regarding your wife’s benefit as your survivor, since her own SS retirement benefit is smaller, if you die first, the added “spousal boost” amount your wife now gets will stop and be replaced by a higher supple- ment that brings her total payment up to what she is entitled to as your surviving widow. As your spouse while you are still living, the most your wife could have gotten was 50 percent of the benefit amount you were entitled to at your full retirement age (FRA) of 66, but she gets less than that because she claimed at age 62. However, if you
die, your wife will get a higher total amount consisting of her personally earned age-62 benefit, plus a supple- mental amount to make her payment equal to 100 percent of the amount you were receiving when you died. In fact, her benefit amount at your death may even be more than you were getting when you died, because she will get at least 82.5 percent of your “primary insurance amount” or “PIA”, which is the benefit you were due at age 66 (your FRA). Think of it this way as your surviv- ing spouse, your wife’s total benefit payment amount will be either 100 percent of the benefit you were receiving when you died or 82.5 percent of the benefit you were enti- tled to at age 66, whichever amount is higher. And that will replace the smaller amount your wife is now getting as your spouse while you are both living. Of course, your wife will need to notify Social Security of your death and should do so in a timely manner to get the higher benefit she is entitled to as your surviving spouse flowing as soon as possible. Signed, Russell Gloor This article presents the opinions of the AMAC Foundation Staff and is intended for informa- tion purposes only. It does not represent legal or financial guidance.
Dear Rusty, I am now 80 and my wife is 76, and we both took early Social Security benefits at age 62. When my wife took her Social Security, it was a lot smaller than mine, so they took a portion of mine and added it to hers. How does that work? Also, when I die, will my wife get all of mine Dear Curious, Social Security’s standard process is to pay a beneficiary’s personally earned retirement benefit first and then add an additional amount as necessary to bring the payment up to what they are entitled to as a spouse or as a surviving spouse. So, in your or just a percentage? Signed, Curious Senior
Have a Social Security question? Contact us at SSAdvisor@AMACFoundation.org or 888-750-2622
16 • AMAC Magazine
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