Social Security death benefits for spouse
My wife and I are both 70 years old. I received spousal benefits from her until I reached age 70 and now I have my full benefits. To make numbers round my wife receives $1500 per month and I now receive $3500.
Yesterday on the John Williams show my wife thought she heard that after I die she wouldn’t get the $3500 per month, rather, whatever my benefit would have been at my age 67. Is that correct? I understood she would get $3500, not less.
Terry Says
Your widow will only get the amount of your benefits you would have received at Full Retirement Age, not the excess you got by waiting til 70. And only to the extend your benefit exceeds hers.
