SS Surviving Spouse Question

[phil1ben]

My inlaws are both 85 years old. Father in Law (FIL) receives $1,096.00 per month from SS and Mother in Law (MIL) receives $1,196.00 per month from SS. MIL handles all the couples finances but FIL is unable to do so. It would appear that my wife and I will need to help FIL if MIL predeceases him. I was asked what happens to MIL SS benefits in the event that MIL predeceases FIL.

Do her benefits simply end and FIL keeps drawing his current benefit or are his benefits raised slightly?

Thank you.

 

[finnski1]

It should be raised to $1196(her benefit) as the higher survivor benefit that he would then receive . Technically he doesn't receive hers but they just adjust the difference to make it so that he would get that number.