Completing the SSA-1724

[cassiesa]

I need help completing the form for claiming amounts due in the case of a deceased beneficiary.

Question #1...name of surviving widow - that's me...I entered my SS#, I answered "yes" to living in the same household with the deceased at the time of death...my question is with the last part: "Was he or she entitled to a monthly benefit on the same earnings record as the deceased at the time of death?" 

Yes or No?

We were both over 70 and were claiming our own SS benefit based on our own earnings records. His is a larger amount...so I am awaiting an appointment with my local SS office to switch that over...but in the meanwhile I am confused by the "entitled". I think the right answer is NO...because I have my own earnings record...but i don't want to mess this up.

Thank you in advance.

[GailL1]

@cassiesa wrote

Was he or she entitled to a monthly benefit on the same earnings record as the deceased at the time of death?" 

Yes or No?

We were both over 70 and were claiming our own SS benefit based on our own earnings records. 

I think the right answer is NO..

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1st off, Sorry for your loss.

You are right - the right answer is no - he had his benefits and you had your benefits based on different work records.

[GeorgeB335835]

I have a similar situation.  My wife died and we were both drawing on our own records, so I get that No is the correct response.  It is the wording of these two instructions that confuses me. The instructions for the first question says to skip items 2, 3, 4, 5 and sign at the bottom of page 2, which seems reasonable.  However if I check No on the second question I'm directed to go to item 2.  It seems reasonable to me to skip 2, 3, 4, 5 and sign on page 2.  What is the proper procedure?