Can I switch to my deceased husband's Social Security benefits while receiving his union pension?

I'm very sorry for your loss. Yes, you should be eligible to receive survivor benefits based on your husband's higher benefit amount instead of your own retirement benefit. The fact that you're receiving his union pension doesn't affect your ability to receive his Social Security survivor benefits - they're completely separate systems. You'll want to apply for survivor benefits as soon as possible since they're not automatically awarded. You'll need his death certificate, your marriage certificate, and both your Social Security numbers when you apply. Since you're already collecting your own benefits, they'll just switch you over to the higher survivor benefit amount.

So sorry about your husband. My dad died last year and mom had to go through the same thing. The SS office told her she could get dad's higher benefit instead of hers. I think they call it the survivors benefit? But you gotta schedule an appointment and bring lots of paperwork. The death certificate was the main thing they needed.

First, my condolences on the loss of your husband. When my wife passed I had such a nightmare trying to reach SSA to sort out the survivor benefits. Called for WEEKS and could never get through!!! Eventually I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual SSA agent in less than 10 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU It saved me so much frustration during an already difficult time. Just thought I'd mention it since dealing with SSA right now is nearly impossible with their phone lines.

YES YOU CAN GET HIS HIGHER BENEFIT!!!! But the SSA people WILL NOT automatically give it to you - you HAVE TO ASK FOR IT specifically!!! I went through this exact situation when my husband died and the first SSA rep I talked to didn't even mention I could switch to the higher benefit. Had to go back a second time and insist. They NEVER volunteer the information that benefits you most! Make sure to specifically ask for "surviving spouse benefits" and don't take no for an answer!!!

sorry bout your husband passing. my wife get my ss when i die too. we both 68 so i think about this stuff too. the pension thing dont matter for ss benefits. they separate things. but you gotta call them and tell them you want the survivor benefit. take his death certificate when you go in.

As others have mentioned, you are entitled to receive the higher of either your own benefit or your husband's as a widow. Since you're both past your Full Retirement Age (FRA), you would receive 100% of his benefit amount. The Carpenter Union pension has no effect on this - it's a completely separate retirement system from Social Security. However, there is one important detail: you need to actually apply for survivor benefits, as they aren't automatically awarded. You'll need to contact Social Security directly, and it's best to do this fairly quickly as benefits are only backdated for up to six months from your application date. You'll need: - Your husband's death certificate - Your marriage certificate - Both Social Security numbers - Your bank information for direct deposit You can apply by calling 1-800-772-1213 or visiting your local Social Security office. I recommend making an appointment rather than walking in.

My mom went thru this 2 years ago. The survivor benefit from dad was way higher so she switched. She kept getting tripped up because SS uses all these technical terms but basically tell them you want to switch from your retirement benefit to your husband's survivor benefit. And make sure they tell you when the payments will start! Mom thought it would be the next month but it took almost 3 months!

Thank you all so much for your helpful responses. I'm going to call tomorrow to set up an appointment and make sure I have all the documents ready. It's a relief to know that the pension won't affect my ability to receive my husband's higher SS benefit. I'll specifically ask for survivor benefits and make sure I understand when the payments will start.

When my uncle died my aunt had this same issue but it turned out she got messed up because of some government pension offset or something? Anybody know about that? Does that apply to union pensions too?

One thing I don't think anyone mentioned yet - when you do switch to survivor benefits, you'll need to contact the Treasury Department to return any of your husband's benefits that may have been paid for the month of death or after. SSA benefits are not prorated - if someone dies any day during a month (even the 31st), that month's payment needs to be returned. It's a bit confusing but important to handle properly to avoid overpayment issues later.

If your husband's payment for the month in which he died was directly deposited, the bank should be notified. Typically, Social Security will contact the bank to request the return of the payment. However, if the funds have been spent, Social Security will contact you to arrange repayment. It's best to leave those funds untouched until this is resolved. When you have your appointment about survivor benefits, mention this situation so they can help you handle it correctly.