I am trying to make sure that we understand the different scenarios. Local SS office is not much help.
Scenario:
John does a "file and suspend' at age 64.
Mary takes her reduced spousal benefit while John continues to suspend his SS. Mary (age 64) gets 41.7%of John's FRA benefit. Total = $1008/mo
At age 66, John starts collecting at FRA of 66. John gets $2426/mo
Mary will then always have a reduced spousal benefit.
Oooops ---- John dies at age 80.
Now is Mary's widow's benefit permanently reduced because of taking early S.S., OR does Mary receive all of John's benefit? Would Mary's widow's benefit be $2426/month?
The math might be off but you can get the basic premise of my question.
I "think" that Mary gets $2426/mo as a widow but am not sure? Her "widow's benefit is not reduced because she took a spousal benefit early?
Scenario:
John does a "file and suspend' at age 64.
Mary takes her reduced spousal benefit while John continues to suspend his SS. Mary (age 64) gets 41.7%of John's FRA benefit. Total = $1008/mo
At age 66, John starts collecting at FRA of 66. John gets $2426/mo
Mary will then always have a reduced spousal benefit.
Oooops ---- John dies at age 80.
Now is Mary's widow's benefit permanently reduced because of taking early S.S., OR does Mary receive all of John's benefit? Would Mary's widow's benefit be $2426/month?
The math might be off but you can get the basic premise of my question.
I "think" that Mary gets $2426/mo as a widow but am not sure? Her "widow's benefit is not reduced because she took a spousal benefit early?