Aug
03
2012
By Guest (not verified)
My wife passed away several weeks ago. She passed away before she was old enough to draw her SSI by one year.
I am 56yrs old and still working. I will have my own SSI when I reach the eligible age to start drawing it. Am I entitled to any of my wife's SSI or just the $255 one time death benefit?
Survivor benefits
Hi. First, for your case, you probably want to not use the term "SSI". SSI is intended for disabled or elderly folks with low incomes. SSI is available irrespective of work record. You're probably interested in "Social Security Retirement" or "Social Security Survivor" benefits -- not SSI.
Social Security survivor monthly benefits are available to qualified widows / widowers who are age 60 or higher. Widow(ers) 50 and higher may qualify for benefits if they are disabled.
Taking benefits early (before your full retirement age of 66) will result in smaller monthly payments. This applies to survivor or retirement benefits.
Generally, you will receive the higher of available benefits (survivor on her record or retirement on your record). Contact the SSA directly for help with this.
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10084.html
http://www.ssa.gov/survivorplan/ifyou5.htm
http://www.ssa.gov/survivorplan/survivorchartred.htm
Disabled women husband deceased also disabled
I am 50yrs old disabled i have applied for SSI but it is pending but i am a widow but me and my husband and i was separated at the time of his death he also was disabled collecting SSI am i entitled to any of his money
Disabled widow benefits
It sounds like you are a disabled widow and you were separated from your husband at the time of his passing.
If you husband has enough work credits, you may qualify for widow (survivor) benefits on his work record. Normally, surviving spouses (with no minor children) need to wait until age 60 before collecting survivor benefits. However, if you are judged to be disabled you can qualify for widow benefits at age 50.
Contact the SSA for your particular case.
http://www.ssa.gov/survivorplan/ifyou2.htm