Essential Information About Social Security Widow’s Benefits

When I turned 62, I chose to retire earlier than planned. Fortunately, I was able to rely on my husband’s pension and health insurance from his retirement account, which made this decision feasible. Now, I’m able to support my mom by taking her to all her medical appointments, and I’ve relieved myself of the stress of juggling full-time work with household chores and shopping. Still, figuring out how to deal with government agencies can be overwhelming. Here are some key things I discovered, along with helpful links to official information.

• You cannot apply for Widow’s Benefits online. You have to speak personally to someone a
• You can begin receiving Social Security Widow’s Benefits at age 60, but the monthly amount will be reduced compared to waiting until your full retirement age. Importantly, claiming Widow’s Benefits won’t impact your own Social Security—you can switch to your personal benefits at full value as late as age 70.
• You also have choices: you might start your own Social Security at 62 and delay Widow’s Benefits until age 67 or 70, or do the reverse, depending on which strategy better fits your needs.
• Widow’s Benefits applications can’t be completed online. To apply, you’ll need to call Social Security for an in-person or phone appointment, and you’ll be asked to provide your marriage license.
• Remember to complete the form to have taxes withheld from your Social Security payments. Failing to do so could result in penalties unless you opt to pay taxes quarterly.
• You can create a login at https://www.ssa.gov, which gives you access to calculators estimating your Social Security benefits based on your earnings and planned retirement. However, keep in mind that the site’s calculators do not estimate your own survivor’s benefits—just what your survivors might receive from you.