This has got me so confused. I really think I will have to call SS to find out my options and the VA to see just what benefits I now receive will be cut. I have collected DIC for the last almost 3 years. My main concern is that I don't lose my Tri-care or I will not have insurance coverage at all. I will be 60 in October. I guess I had better get started on this....

I am going to be turning 60 in Aug. Last year when talking with SS after my husband passed, they told me to call them back 4 months before I turned 60, which will be in April. They said I could collect 71 and 1/2 percent of my husbands SS under widow's benefits. I will be looking into to collecting his SS benefits. My SS benefits do not amount to much.
Just got a letter from Aetna, my health insurance, which is an individual advantage plan, it is going up to $589.00 in May. Looking into seeing if i can bring it down.
Hope things work out for you cieodoggie, insurance rocks me.
Both pictures of each of your doggies are cute.
recentwidow

Cleodoggie, try getting info directly from the VA. I'm not sure if you're familiar with this website or not, but it's answered a lot of my questions. http://www.dfas.mil/retiredmilitary.html

Good luck!

Zakki-If I collect social security widows pension I lose DIC that I know. I want to know if I would lose Tri-care...nothing even mentioned in that website. I also wonder if my SBP benefit that I get little for because of DIC would go up. I will talk to my Veteran's Service officer. He is the one that had a fit when I mentioned widow's pension. Well I could wait it out....we'll see

If you make more than $14,000 a year the widows benefits are reduced. I don't feel like I make that much (I will stop paying my mortgage soon because I cannot afford it) - and yet I qualify for ZERO when I turn 60.

It depends on how much you make and how much SS you are entitled to. If you are entitled to $1,000 a month in social security and you make $38,000 a year or more - you will get nothing until the age of 66.

hmm, sorry there was nothing about tricare on there. Maybe militiarytimes.com will help, or you can call tricare direct.

Zakki-I have a great deal of trust in my Veteran's service officer. He helped Jim with his disability and when he died he helped me. He's a great guy and i am sure he will put me on the right path. he's right here in town. hugs for caring, Chris

I am collecting my husbands benefits and I will until I turn 70. I get his pention until 70 and SS. When I turn 70 the amount of benefit I can draw on mine will be much higher and I will need the larger amount then.

I was advised to apply three months before my 60th birthday even though I am still working and may not qualify for much if anything right off the bat. It gets you in the system and if your income decreases you can start drawing immediately. I know you can draw on his SS as long as you're working--at full retirement age (which is 66 for me) you can start drawing his full SS benefit no matter what you are making and continue to draw that amount as long as you are still working. Once you retire you will have to choose to either draw his SS or yours-whichever is higher. I work for a large hospital in the business area and have worked with Tricare/Champus for years. I believe you will retain your medical benefits as a surviving spouse until you are eligible for Medicare--once you are eligible for Medicare you should flow over to Tricare for Life as a medicare supplement.