Hi, I am very sorry for your loss. If you are at or above your Full Retirement Age, you can collect 100% of your wife’s benefit. If you take it early, the benefit will be reduced. However, you cannot collect both benefits (your benefit and widow/survivor benefits). You can will collect the higher of the…

Hi there, It depends. Your ex-wife is eligible to collect ex-spousal benefits if she is currently single, you are both at least 62 years old, and you were married for at least 10 years. Best, Martha Do you have a question about Social Security? Ask Martha your own question here.

Hello, I am so sorry for your loss. In most cases, a funeral home will report a death to the Social Security Administration. You should provide the funeral home with your husband’s Social Security number. You cannot report a death or apply for survivor’s benefits online. You should call 1-800-772-1213 to speak with Social Security…

Hi, This year’s (2020) average monthly benefit is $1,503. Last year’s (2019) monthly benefit was $1,461. Back in 1960, the average benefit was approximately $80 per month! Take care, Martha Do you have a question about Social Security? Ask Martha your own question here.

Hello, To qualify for Social Security benefits, you must first be a U.S. citizen or lawfully living in the United States. Then, you must have earned a total of 40 or more “credits.” These credits are legally known as Quarters of Coverage. A credit is the basic unit to determine whether one is insured under…

Hello, If you were born in 1953 or earlier, then yes you may. This is a couple’s filing strategy known as filing a restricted application and it is in the process of being phased out by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015. The name comes from the fact that a person restricts their application to…