Martha Shedden, President and Co-Founder of RSSA, answers your Social Security questions.

Full question: Hi!!! My first husband passed away in 2006 and my children received survivor benefits until they were 18. I remarried, but am now divorced from my second husband. He is not deceased. Can I receive my first husband’s social security. It is higher than mine. I just turned 61. My benefits would be…

Full question: Can a widow who is past FRA and still working apply for widows benefits retroactive to the day she reached FRA? Hello, You may be entitled to monthly survivor benefits retroactively for up to 6 months. Retroactive benefits for months prior to attainment of FRA are not payable to a widow(er) if this…

Hi, The answer is maybe, but not yet. Age 62 is the earliest you are able to collect Social Security retirement and spousal benefits. If you are entitled to collect each of these, you will only collect the higher of the two amounts. Your husband must be collecting his retirement benefit for you to be…

Hi there, This is a very common question and unfortunately, I can’t give you an exact answer without doing a thorough analysis. Choosing  the optimal age to file for Social Security benefits is dependent on many factors including, but not limited to your current finances, your life expectancy, and your family.  I suggest reading this…

Hello there, It is recommended you apply three months prior to starting benefits. Therefore, if you plan on retiring at 62, you should apply for Social Security when you are 61 years and 9 months. Here is more information about how to apply. Take care, Martha Do you have a question about Social Security? Ask…