By Rusty Gloor, National Social Security Advisor at the AMAC Foundation, the non-profit arm of the Association of Mature American Citizens
Dear Rusty: I have a question regarding Social Security. I’m 54 and applying for disability. I’ve had rheumatoid arthritis since I was 19. My son, 16 years old, receives survivor benefits from my deceased ex-husband. We were married for 20 years. I was told by Social Security that my monthly payments, if they found me eligible for disability, would be $1418 a month. When would I be eligible to collect my ex-husband’s Social Security benefit? He made considerably more income over the years and his benefit will be a good deal more than my projected $1418. Signed: Disabled Widow
Dear Disabled Widow: Your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefit is based upon your own lifetime work record up to the point you became disabled. If awarded, the $1418 amount would be equal to the benefit you would have been entitled to on your own at your full retirement age (FRA) of 67. At your FRA, your SSDI benefit will automatically convert to your SS retirement benefit at the same amount. However, if your SSDI is awarded you will be also eligible to apply for your survivor benefit at any time.
Normally, age 60 is the earliest a survivor benefit can be claimed, but those who are disabled can apply for survivor benefits as early as age 50. Whether to apply for your survivor benefit from your ex-husband this early is a question you should carefully consider, because the amount of your survivor benefit will be reduced by 28.5% if you claim it now. And to be clear, if you have remarried and remain married you are not eligible for a survivor benefit from your deceased ex-husband (even though your minor son is).
Your survivor benefit from your ex-husband will not reach maximum until you have reached your full retirement age. At your FRA you would be entitled to 100% of the benefit your ex-husband was receiving (or entitled to receive) when he died but taken at any age earlier than your FRA your survivor benefit will be permanently reduced. The reduction is 4.75% for each full year earlier than your FRA that the survivor benefit is claimed to a maximum reduction of 28.5%.
So, if your SSDI is awarded you will have a choice – to take your smaller SSDI benefit and allow your survivor benefit to continue to grow, or to take your survivor benefit early and accept the permanent 28.5% reduction to that survivor benefit. You will need to compare those two benefit amounts to decide which course to take. For clarity, you can switch to your higher survivor benefit at any later time, but you shouldn’t wait beyond your FRA (when the survivor benefit reaches maximum) to claim it.
This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity. To submit a question, visit our website (amacfoundation.org/programs/social-security-advisory) or email us at ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org.
Everyone wants free money. This is what’s wrong with our country today!! Free money just for being disabled?!?! If you want the government to take care of you, go move to a SOCIALIST country! #voteOutIncumbents #SupportYourself
So you want people who can’t work to starve? How heartless.
You want the public to take care of you? You must be a Dem Lib!!!! Move to a SOCIALIST society and pay for “the greater good.” Here in America, we value SELF-sufficiency — not hand outs!
Nope, I’m neither a Democrat or a liberal. I take it you don’t care about your neighbors? You’d rather someone die because they should work for their money despite living in a wheelchair with other health issues that are out of their control? Amazing.
There are private and religious organizations that folks can use (that’s the whole reason they’re tax-exempt). But using GOVERNMENT money for SOCIAL(ism) welfare programs is WRONG — all true GOP Conservatives know this. We want SMALLER government and LESS intrusion.
I am 65 yrs old and I’ve worked since I was 15. I am currently on Social Security Disability based on the money I put in when I was working. I feel no shame in getting this money but make no mistake IT IS NOT FREE MONEY. I can no longer work, so I should not have to explain myself to some conservative blockhead like you. Get educated before you start running your mouth. Also God forbid if you are ever out of work and you have to depend on one of these ”social” programs.