Social Security survivor benefits - will my wife get my full $55K yearly benefit if I die before her?

Yes, your wife would receive your full benefit amount as a survivor benefit. When a spouse dies, the surviving spouse is entitled to the higher of either their own benefit or their deceased spouse's benefit (including any delayed retirement credits). Since your benefit is $55,000 per year and that's more than what she's currently receiving as a spousal benefit, she would start receiving your full amount after your death. There's no reduction based on her age at that point - she's already past her FRA so she would get 100% of your benefit amount.

my mom went thru this 2 yrs ago. dad died and she got his full amount the next month. they switched her over pretty quick actually. one thing tho - make sure your wife CALLS ssa when you die (sorry to be blunt). they don't automatically know!!

The SSA is TERRIBLE about explaining this stuff clearly! I spent HOURS on their website trying to figure out survivor benefits when my husband passed and still had to call them. And good luck getting through on the phone - I tried for THREE WEEKS!!! Kept getting disconnected or told the wait time was over 2 hours. So frustrating when you're already dealing with grief.

To answer your specific question: Your wife will receive your full benefit amount as her survivor benefit. This is officially called the Widow's Insurance Benefit (WIB). The survivor benefit equals 100% of the deceased spouse's benefit amount if the surviving spouse has reached full retirement age. Since your wife is 74, she's well past her FRA. Important details to know: 1. She needs to report your death to SSA (they don't automatically know) 2. She cannot receive both spousal benefits AND survivor benefits - it's one or the other 3. The transition isn't completely automatic - she'll need to apply for survivor benefits 4. She should bring your death certificate, marriage certificate, both SSNs, and birth certificates when applying Something to consider: If your benefit included delayed retirement credits from waiting until 70, those credits are included in what she'll receive.

I'm confused about something similar... does this mean when either spouse dies, the survivor ALWAYS gets the higher benefit amount? My husband and I both worked, but his benefit is about 70% higher than mine. So if he dies first, I'd get his full amount instead of mine?

i think u need 2 be careful about the AMOUNT ur talking about... social security doesnt usually pay $55k a year to anybody... the max benefit for someone retiring at 70 in 2025 is around $4,800/month (like $57,600/year). so if ur getting $55k, ur at the absolute maximum. most people dont get anywhere near that much. just wanting to make sure ur numbers r right.

also theres a one-time death benefit of $255 they pay when someone dies... not much but every little bit helps with funeral expenses

One additional point that might be relevant for your situation: If your wife reports your death to SSA within the same month that you pass away, they may withhold your final monthly payment. However, if she reports it in the month after your death, your final payment is generally allowed to remain. This can make a difference of an entire month's benefit amount. The rules around this can be complex, so it's something to discuss with SSA when the time comes.

Just wanted to add something important that I learned when helping my aunt navigate this situation last year - make sure your wife keeps detailed records of all her communications with SSA regarding the survivor benefits application. The process can sometimes take a few months to complete, and having documentation of what was submitted and when can be really helpful if there are any delays or issues. Also, if she's comfortable with technology, she can check the status of her application online through her my Social Security account, which saved my aunt from making multiple phone calls during the waiting period.