Ex-husband died in 2021 - What survivor benefits can my 92-year-old mother claim from Social Security?

Yes, your mother likely qualifies for survivor benefits based on her ex-husband's record! Since they were married for more than 10 years, and she hasn't remarried before age 60, she can claim divorced survivor benefits. She should contact SSA immediately because there might be retroactive benefits available, but they're usually limited to 6 months. She would receive the higher of either her current benefit or up to 100% of what her ex was receiving. Don't wait - the sooner she applies, the better!

my aunt was in simillar situation. she got exhusbands benefits but had to prove they were married. bring marrige certificate and divorce papers when u go to appointment. they gave her back pay for 6 month i think

Be aware that at 92, if your mother is collecting on her own work record, she'll only get survivor benefits if they're HIGHER than what she currently receives. SSA doesn't add them together - they'll pay whichever amount is greater. So if her ex-husband's benefit would give her $1,500 instead of her current $1,250, she'd get the $1,500 (not $2,750). Also, make sure to check if she's entitled to any lump-sum death payment, though there are strict time limits on claiming that.

Your mother absolutely needs to contact SSA right away. The most important thing to understand is that survivor benefits are time-sensitive. There's a limit on retroactive benefits (6 months), so every month she waits potentially means lost money that she can't recover. Don't waste time trying to call the main SSA number - you'll be on hold forever. I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a real SSA agent in under 10 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU For documentation, she'll need: - Her own Social Security card - Birth certificate - Marriage certificate - Divorce decree - Death certificate of ex-husband - Her banking information for direct deposit If she can't find some documents, SSA can often help locate them, especially if she knows when and where events happened.

Does your mom know how much her ex was getting? My mom got survivor benefits from her ex and it increased her monthly check by almost $600! But my neighbor's mom only got like $75 more. Depends on how much he paid into the system during his working years.

Everyone here is giving good advice but missing something important - there's a HUGE BACKLOG at SSA right now because of budget cuts. My mom applied for survivor benefits in January and didn't get approved until May! And retroactive payments took another month to arrive. So set your expectations accordingly. Your mother should apply ASAP but be prepared for a potentially long wait for processing. Also, when you finally get an appointment, don't let them talk you into applying online - INSIST on applying in person or via phone with a representative who can make sure everything is filed correctly. The online system misses nuances for survivor benefits.

i went thru this with my mother last year!!! the SSA people told her she wasnt eligible but that was WRONG!! we had to talk to a supervisor to get it fixed. they kept saying she remarried but she NEVER did. if they give u trouble, ask for supervisor right away dont take no for answer.

One more thing to consider - if your mother is receiving any SSI (Supplemental Security Income) or other means-tested benefits in addition to her Social Security retirement, the increased income from survivor benefits could affect her eligibility for those programs. It's almost certainly still worth applying for the higher survivor benefit, but be aware there might be effects on other benefits she receives.