Ask the Experts: Whose Benefits Are Best?

Q: I’m a recent widow. Can I choose between my Social Security benefits and the benefits of my deceased husband? And if I choose his, do I get his full benefit or a percentage of it, and what might that be?

A: You can apply for a widow’s benefit as early as age 60 (50 if you’re disabled). Starting at age 62, you can choose between the widow’s benefit or the benefit based on your work record. If you start receiving your widow’s benefit before you reach full retirement age (66 for widows born from 1945 to 1956), you can expect to receive between 71.5 percent and 99 percent of your deceased spouse’s benefit amount. If you’re already full retirement age, you receive 100 percent. To view a chart showing survivor benefits, go to the Social Security Administration.

Source: Stan Hinden