Survivor Benefit

[schernof]

I am currently 72. My FRA was 66. I'm receiving SS benefits. I retired at 67 and 5 months.

My wife is currently 61. She is a legal permanent resident and has never worked in the US. She is not disabled nor has ever been. She has never received any US benefits.

When I die, and assuming my wife has reached her FRA, is she eligible to receive 100% of the benefit I was receiving, including all the COLAs I've received? Or, does she receive 100% of the basic retirement benefit I would have received at my FRA?

[GailL1]

@schernof wrote asked . . . . . When I die, and assuming my wife has reached her FRA, is she eligible to receive 100% of the benefit I was receiving, including all the COLAs I've received? Or, does she receive 100% of the basic retirement benefit I would have received at my FRA?

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She will get the benefit that you were receiving at the time of your death and if she waits until HER full retirement age to file, she will get 100% of that benefit amount.  It will be reduced if she files any earlier than HER full retirement age.

She would also get the death benefit of $255 if she files for that too.

She will have to present validation documents - the link below has a list.  You two should make sure that these document are available now, except for the death certificate, of course.

SSA.gov - Form SSA-10 | Information You Need to Apply for Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Divorced S... 

Make sure you click on the embedded link that is next to the “Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status if you were not born in the United States”

It will list the documents she will need to show for her immigration status - LPR.

Here is also the link for the $ 255 one time death benefit

SSA.gov - Form SSA-8 | Information You Need To Apply For Lump Sum Death Benefit 

Here are the forms for the application but they may be updated by the time that she will need them so I am only posting them so both of you can see these forms and what will be needed to file for Survivors  Benefits - Widow.

SSA.gov Form SSA-10 To File for Widows Survivors Benefits 

SSA.gov - FORM SSA-8 - Application for Lump-Sum Death Benefit 

Remember she also can get SPOUSAL benefits off of your record too.  So when she reaches her full retirement age she can file for 100% of SPOUSAL benefits which is 50% of your benefit.  If she file for SPOUSAL benefits earlier than her FRA (62 to FRA) she would get a reduced amount, meaning less than 50% of your benefit. 

SSA.gov Benefits for Spouses - Spousal Benefits 

SSA.gov - Form SSA-2 | Information You Need to Apply for Spouse's or Divorced Spouse's Benefits 

SSA.gov FORM SSA-2 BK - Application for Wife’s or Husband”s Retirement Insurance Benefit