Social Security Hits 1st Wave of Boomers

[Oldbabe]

Originally Posted by old woman

I didn't kill my ex so he lived long enough for me to divorce him, he married two more and they divorced him then he died, am I a widow? I will be 60 in April. We were married more than 10 years now divorced for 23 widowed for 13 if I am a widow at all. I really wanted to be a widow instead of divorcing him but the law is you can't kill them even if they need killing.

LOL! You're divorced, old woman. Can't be a widow unless you were married at the time of his death. Too bad. I feel for ya!

[Wags]

In the Christian Science Monitor there is an article "Social Security in Crisis? Hardly?", from 3 Dec 2007 that sees the Social Security issue from a different viewpoint.

Social Security in crisis? Hardly. | csmonitor.com

It is an interesting read.

GOD BLESS

[Moemg]

Originally Posted by Oldbabe

LOL! You're divorced, old woman. Can't be a widow unless you were married at the time of his death. Too bad. I feel for ya!

I'm not so sure about this . You may not be a widow but you are a surviving divorced spouse and may be eligible for survivor benefit thru social security at 60 .It only takes a phone call to find out .

[TickTock]

Social Security Online has a bunch of resources as well.

[two4theroad]

Old woman,
My mother is in almost the same situation. Married 16 years then divorced. The SS office told her that when my father dies she can collect either his SS or hers. His is larger so she is hoping he kicks it soon. (It was not a friendly parting)
2fer

[Want2retire]

Originally Posted by TickTock

Social Security Online has a bunch of resources as well.

Interesting!!! At that that link, I clicked on something and found this, here:

Social Security survivors benefits can be paid to: A widow or widower -- full benefits at full retirement age, or reduced benefits as early as age 60

If your divorced spouse dies, you can receive benefits as a widow/widower if the marriage lasted 10 years or longer and you are age 60 or older (or age 50 if you are disabled.) Benefits paid to a surviving divorced spouse who is 60 or older (age 50 if disabled) will not affect the benefit rates for other survivors receiving benefits.

I was married for 23 years, and don't plan to apply for SS until 66. My ex will be getting probably twice the SS I would get, and (while he is alive) at age 66 I could only get mine or half his, which makes it "six of one, half a dozen of the other" so to speak. But if he croaks, this says I could get his full benefit!!! I hope he doesn't (no reason to think he will), but it's an interesting tidbit.

[TeeRuh]

Originally Posted by Want2retire

My ex will be getting probably twice the SS I would get, and (while he is alive) at age 66 I could only get mine or half his, which makes it "six of one, half a dozen of the other" so to speak. But if he croaks, this says I could get his full benefit!!!

Oh boy, another thing to worry about. (He says, while looking over his shoulder for XDW.)

[Want2retire]

Originally Posted by TeeRuh

Oh boy, another thing to worry about. (He says, while looking over his shoulder for XDW.)

[Moemg]

I took a reduced survivor benefit at 60 and I'm switching to my benefit at 66 since my benefit is slightly higher.