Hi there, Widows and Widowers may be eligible for survivor benefits from a previous marriage; however, the answer is not a simple one. In cases like this it is not always a one size fits all answer. Ex-spousal survivor benefits depend on the age you begin taking them, what your own benefit is, how long…

Full question: Martha, is it better if I wait until I’m 60 to collect off deceased ex-husband’s survivor benefits if I’m caring for our disabled adult son while I’m 59 years of age? Hi there, A survivor benefit can be taken as early as age 60. Deciding when to collect survivor benefits and your own…

Full question: If I switch from survivors benefits to my retirement benefits (age 67), what happens to the remaining unused survivor benefits? Hi there, When a retiree switches from a survivor benefit to their own retirement benefit, the survivor benefit will no longer be paid unless it is higher than the retirement benefit. If that…

Full question: I have a client who is taking his Social Security at 70, this May. He has worked in the STRS system in Ohio, along with paying into Social Security in the private sector. His statement says $3788/month. He is currently receiving $7600/month from STRS. His wife has not accumulated her 40 quarters. Will…

Full question: Having worked 32 years France and 7 years in the US, I am getting small US Social Security benefits ($600) and my foreign pension from France. Can my wife apply for SSA benefits as a spouse (which means she could get up to 50% my benefits, or $300), and would my French pension…

Hi there, Yes, you can work past the age of 70 to supplement your Social Security income. Working past age 70 may or may not affect your Social Security income. Depending on your income, your Social Security could be subject to federal (and state, depending on where you live) taxation. Your future income even has…