Dec
04
2010
By Guest (not verified)
Can I receive benefits from my deceased spouse? He was killed in a car accident 35 years ago. He was in the Army and spent 1 year in Vietnam. I am 63 and receive my own SS but thought his might be higher.
Survivor (widow) benefits versus personal retirement benefits
Yes, this is worth looking into. Based on the cursory information you provided, I suspect your retirement benefits based on your work history would be greater, but it's worth exploring.
It sounds like most of your husband's work history was with the military. Earnings for active duty military service or active duty training have been covered under Social Security since 1957. If he served in the military before 1957, he did not pay Social Security taxes, but he will get special credit for some of his service.
Note a widow or widower can receive full benefits at full retirement age, or reduced survivor benefits as early as age 60. A disabled widow or widower can get survivor benefits as early as age 50.
In general, you cannot receive survivors benefits if you remarry before the age of 60 unless the latter marriage ends, whether by death, divorce, or annulment.
Here's a calculator which you can try to use to estimate what the survivor benefit night be. Best would be to contact the SSA directly :
http://www.ssa.gov/retire2/AnypiaApplet.html