Ask Terry Questions Social Security

Social Security

By Terry Savage on January 21, 2025 | Social Security

Hi Miss Terry, My wife passed away May 30, 2023. Our children are 20 and 21. Are they able to collect my wife’s social security? If not should I? Not sure if it matters but my wife was 54.
I am 59. Thank you in advance,

Terry Says

Your children cannot collect survivor’s benefits, since they are over age 16.
You could collect survivor’s benefits starting at age 60– but it would be a reduced benefit.

What should you do? Read this from SS first: https://www-origin.ssa.gov/benefits/survivors/survivorchartred.html

If you really need the money, you could collect a reduced benefit at age 60, and then switch to your own benefit later. The article says you should contact SS, but my advice is to spend $49 and get the advice here: https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/
Then you know it will be correct!

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