Social Security Survivor Benefits
My wife was receiving regular SS payments which she started at age 62. For the same period, she has been receiving SS dependent benefits for our adopted daughter. My wife has just recently passed away at age 66. I am 58 and still working and of course not receiving any SS benefit yet.
My question is this. Am I entitled to a survivor benefit? Will there still be dependent payments for my daughter (current age16) or will she get survivor benefits instead? Or neither?
Thanks for your help.
Terry Says
This is a truly tricky situation and I’m going to suggest you read this article at the Social Security website.
Basically, it says that a surviving spouse can collect on a deceased spouse’s record, once the survivor has reached age 60 OR if caring for the deceased’s child — UNDER AGE 16!
So as I read it you are out of luck right now — until you reach age 60 and can claim on her record.
BUT your daughter may be eligible to claim benefits up until age 18!
So be sure to contact SS immediately to verify the correctness of my advice, AND to register your daughter if she is under age 18.
