I think you have to file to receive them. If you're working full-time, you'll receive reduced benefits. Also if you marry before age 60 you will not be able to receive your spouses benifits at all. If you are disabled you can collect earlier.

Hi,

I have two kids I took over guardianship of from my late partner. They are older teens. I recently discovered that the benefits will stop for the kids (from their Mom's SS retirement-work benefits). Not just at age 18, but when they finish high school, or age 18, whichever comes first!! Hard to help kids(if they have no jobs yet) when those benefits get cut so suddenly, esp. when I wasn't prepared! So find out in advance if you can!

As far as when you will get SS benefits? I'm fairly certain you will have to go apply when you reach the correct age to start receiving benefits. & And/or as someone else said here, unless you need Disability & then you apply for that anytime if needed. Good luck! & I am so sorry for your loss......

Blessings,
Jess

You will not automatically receive benefits..you have to apply for them...and it will be from 50 to 71% of your husband's full benefit. You can only earn $14,000 in income to collect that amount. You will pay a penalty for earnings above the scale.

A note to those receiving benefits for children...they will still be paid if the child is over 18 and still in high school.

Maggie

I know about the $14,000 limit - that is for women under the age of 60. I'm talking about after I turn 60. I'm just wondering if the amount of money will be similar to what I am getting currently for my daughter.

There are so many changes in Social Security, that by then the amount will not be the same as it is now.
I had been told that I could collect 2 thirds of my husband's SS after he died. I am actually getting more than that. I think that each case is handled differently, depending on circumstances. I am over 65. I started collecting SS when I was 62 under my own name. It wasn't very much.
See if you can get a statement from SS. They may provide one. Judith

It is very important to have a personal face-to-face consultation with your local SS office. I am 66 and receive no SS because of my federal retirement income. This is because my spouse was also the same kind of retiree and his SS was a very small amount. There are many, many rules and each person is different. The SS people are well trained and my representative checked out every possible option.
You never know unless you ask...make a list of your questions and just do it!

I thought the $14,000 was for women under 70 or until the year your spouse would have reached 70...whichever comes first.

My mother began collecting her SS at age 65. She was also working and had to pay taxes on the amount over $14,000 for 2 years because that was when my father would have turned 70.

Go to a local office - make an appointment. My friends ''took'' me there, and sat with me, when Jerry first died. They also ''took'' me to my bank to talk to the bank officer - like a baby opening her first account! I have to say, in the end, it was comforting, getting a straight , from the ''horses mouth'' answer. The people at the Social Security office are NOT friendly, are very bureaucratic, but efficient. We still joke about the lady who helped me, she was reading from a computer script - after 5 or 6 questions, she said (reading from the computer screen, and not looking at me) ''We are very sorry for your loss'' in a non-feeling voice, and then went back to more questions! We turned it into a joke. Don't get insulted if they are ''all business''. BUT - you'll get it straight, and documented, and they will go over your options. Good luck - may the ''Uncle Samuel'' gods be with you. Vicki

The 14K limit is from 60 to 65 after 65 you can earn more without it affecting the benefit amount.

I remarried to Roger, SS office gave me his SS death benefits to me his widow at age 60. Once I reach age 62 I can apply for my benefits IF they are more than under him, I was also told I can apply for under my EX husbands as doing so would be the larger of the amount because we were married for X number of years I think its over 10 years. With that said when I reach age 62 I believe I will go in a reapply to receive the larger amount of benefits. I can make $14,000 a yr and no more untl age 65 I can make any amount I want.

Funny story about exes! When I went to SS(the lady was very kind and extremely helpful, by the way) the rep explained that I couldn't qualify under Mac since his payments were so small and I had "too much" retirement. Then she said, let's check out your ex. I just laughed and said that wasn't gonna happen. Well, she did check and said if he were to die, I would be able to get 500-700 a month. I started laughing and said if he knew that he would have a heart attack... so there are all sorts of options. It never hurts to ask.

What are the percentages of what you will receive? I have been told when I turn 60 I can draw 70% of my late husbands SS...and is this 70% of what he would have drawn at his full retirement age??? I am right there with you and also was told you can draw on your child till 19, as long as they were still in high school (or homeschooled)... Good luck!

You can draw benefits on a 19 year old as long as they are not out of high school...and must be attending class 20 hours per week.

Some of us are not entitled to benefits at 65....for us younger ones it is 67 1/2.

I'm going to go into SS on Wednesday when I have the day off. I know I can get SS for my dtr till HS - I'm getting it - my question is with regard to how much I can get at age 60. I had been assuming it was a good amount - but since I work - now I'm getting worried.

So - missmydannyboy and anyone else interested I'll report back on Weds. I'm just surprised there is no one else on this site currently getting SS who works full time (over $14,000) who knows how it works.

@mgould...you should get back payments from the month your husband died.

Maggie