In the February 10, 2010 issue of Retirement Income Journal, we erred in reporting that “When a husband in a retired couple (both at least age 62) dies, his widow’s Social Security benefit, if lower, rises to match his own.”
According to Steven Sass, director of Boston College’s Center for Financial Literacy and co-author of The Social Security Claiming Guide, the surviving spouse’s benefit doesn’t always match the benefit of the deceased spouse.
Under current regulations, he said, “The survivor benefit is reduced if the survivor claims the benefit before her Full Retirement Age, though she’s guaranteed 71.5% of her husband’s Full Retirement Age benefit. If the survivor claims the benefit after her Full Retirement Age, she’s guaranteed at least 82.5% of her husband’s Full Retirement Age benefit.”
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