Social Security benefits for a widow
I am a retired Chicago, public schools, counselor, and my deceased husband worked for the City Of Chicago. We both worked in the private sector. Due to President Biden‘s Social Security fairness act, I am now able to collect Social Security under my husband‘s record. The letter I received from Social Security states that I “will receive a benefit of $1397.10 as a widow. This is in addition to the benefit of $496 on your own earnings record.” I thought I could only collect under my husband’s record or my own, not both. I called Social Security to be sure, and they said yes I can collect both. I do not want to be told in 10 years that I owe them thousands of dollars.
When I spoke to a Social Security representative regarding this issue, I was informed that my Social Security payments had been inexplicably suspended from January 2024 to June 2024. They did not know why, and my Medicare premium had not been paid either. She stated that when Social Security discovered the error they paid the Medicare premiums but did not charge me since it was their mistake. I did not even notice I was not getting my Social Security benefit since it was only $43 a month. I retired in June 2023, and had been only eligible for a small amount, after subtracting $171 for my Medicare payment. I was receiving $43 a month as my Social Security benefit.
All of this makes me very concerned. I have asked for a letter explaining what happened, but the representative said she didn’t know if that could be sent out. When I called the second time to request some kind of letter and a printout of what benefit benefits I have received so far and premiums have been paid to Medicare, I was told I will receive a statement in 3 to 5 days. Have you come across concerns such as mine, in your experiences with Social Security investigations? I just want to be sure I’m collecting what is due to me and I don’t ever want to owe thousands of dollars like I saw on your investigative report
Terry Says
I can understand your concern. First of all, you do actually get “two” benefits. You get your benefit, and then the difference between your benefit and your late spouse’s benefit! So, bottom line, you get the larger of the two benefits.
Are you getting the correct amount now? The only way to double-check on SS, which frequently makes mistakes, is to go to MaximizeMySocialSecurity.com and pay the $49 to get the correct analysis based on each of your SS accounts. You can trust their calculations– far more than SS!
The other concerning thing is the temporary suspension of your Medicare payments. Are you sure those payments are being made now? Check at Medicare.gov to make sure you are current. And while you’re at it, make sure you have a supplement and Part D. Those are paid separately by you every month.
Don’t hold your breath waiting for a personal letter from SS explaining their previous mistake.
