March 4th, 2019 FREE Elder Law Guides Download
our in-depth guides on elder law topics. Get your Guide
Social Security doesn't just pay retirement benefits to retired
workers; in some circumstances, it also provides benefits to a worker's spouse
or ex-spouse and to a deceased worker's surviving spouse. Here are the ins and
outs of spouse and survivor benefits.
Spousal Benefits
Spouses are entitled to benefits if they are least 62 years of
age or any age and caring for a child who is under 16 years old. The
spouse choosing to collect at full retirement age is entitled to an amount
equal to one-half of the worker's full retirement benefit, even if the
spouse has not worked or does not have enough Social Security credits to
qualify for his or her own Social Security benefits. If the spouse files before
his or her full retirement age, the amount will be reduced. In addition, the
worker must have filed for Social Security retirement benefits and be receiving
them in order for the spouse to collect benefits on the worker's record.
If you could receive more from Social Security based on your own
earnings record than through the spousal benefit, the Social Security
Administration will automatically provide you with the larger benefit. If you
have reached your full retirement age (and turned 62 before January 2, 2019),
you may also elect to receive spousal benefits and delay taking your benefits,
allowing your own delayed retirement credits to accrue, and switch to your own
benefit at a later date. However, you cannot elect to receive spousal benefits
below your retirement age and later switch to your own benefits. Individuals
who turn 62 on or after January 2, 2019, will not be able to choose to take
spousal benefits at their full retirement age.
If you begin collecting your spousal benefit before your full
retirement age, your spousal benefit will be permanently reduced. But if
your spouse retires early, but you wait until your full retirement age, you
will still receive benefits based on one-half of his or her full retirement
benefit.
For more from the Social Security Administration on spousal
benefits, click here and here.
Divorced spouses
An ex-spouse is also entitled to receive one half of the
worker's full retirement benefit as long as the marriage lasted at least 10
years. A remarried spouse cannot collect a former spouse's benefits unless the
later marriage also ends (whether by death, divorce or annulment). In
addition, the former spouse's benefit must be more than the divorced spouse
would receive on his or her own record.
Unlike a current spouse, a divorced spouse can begin receiving
benefits even before the worker has applied for benefits. The worker must be at
least 62 years old and the divorce must have been final for at least two years.
For more from the Social Security Administration on qualifying
for divorced spouse benefits, click here.
Survivor Benefits
If you are the spouse of a worker who has died, you are entitled
to the worker's full retirement benefits once you reach your full retirement
age. If the worker delayed retirement, the survivor's benefit will be higher.
Survivors are entitled to benefits even if they are divorced as long as they
had been married for at least 10 years. If you file for benefits after age 60
but below your full retirement age, you will receive a reduced percentage of
the worker's benefits. Surviving spouses who are younger than 60 receive
benefits only in limited circumstances, such as cases of disability or caring
for a disabled child.
For more from the Social Security Administration on the
requirements for survivor benefits, click here.
No comments:
Post a Comment