By Martin Coffey
Q: Mrs. V. writes: “Both my husband and myself receive monthly benefits from Social Security. Upon my husband’s death (hopefully in the very, very, long, long future), would I receive (1) my benefit amount, (2) half of what my husband receives, (3) the benefit amount my husband is receiving at the time?”
A: Dear Mrs. V, a widow who has reached full retirement age is entitled to receive the amount of her spouse’s monthly benefit unless he began receiving retirement benefits at age 62. If the spouse began receiving benefits at age 62, his widow is entitled to 82.5 percent of what his full benefit rate would have been if he had waited until full retirement age to file.
What will occur is this: Social Security will continue to pay the widow her own benefit, plus the difference up to the amount of her spouse’s benefit or the 82.5 percent of his full retirement rate.
Further reference for this question and many others can be found at
our website: www.socialsecu rity.gov under the questions segment in the right column. Select “benefits,” then hit GO. Search by keyword.
Q: “I’ve decided I want to retire. How do I begin?”
AThe fastest and easiest way to apply for retirement benefits is to go to www.socialsecurity.gov/applyonline. To use our online application to apply for Social Security retirement or spouse’s benefits, you must:
– Be at least 61 years and 9 months old;
– Want to start your benefits in the next four months; and
– Live in the United States or one of its commonwealths or territories.
If you are already 62, your benefits could start as early as this month. If you are almost 65, your application for benefits will include Medicare. Just visit www.socialsecurity.gov/applyonline.
Q: Does where I live affect the amount of my supplemental security income benefits?”
A: It might. First, where you live might affect your benefit amount because some states add a supplement to the federal payment. If you live in your own place and pay your own food and shelter costs, regardless of whether you own or rent, you may get up to the maximum SSI amount payable in your state.
You also can get up to the maximum if you live in someone else’s household, as long as you pay your food and shelter costs. If you live in someone else’s household and don’t pay your food and shelter costs or pay only part of them, your SSI benefit may be reduced by up to a third of the SSI federal benefit rate. To learn more, read “Supplemental Security Income” at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/11000.html.
Get answers to your Social Security questions each Thursday from the Social Security District Director Martin Coffey. Submit questions by writing to Business Editor John Vass Jr., Chattanooga Times Free Press, P.O. Box 1447, Chattanooga, TN 37401-1447, or by e-mailing him at jvass@timesfreepress.com.