How To Maximize Your Social Security Benefits Whether You’re Married, Divorced or Widowed

Social Security isn’t one-size-fits-all. Learn how timing and personal circumstances affect payouts and what steps can lead ...
The Motley Fool

What Happens to Your Social Security Benefit When Your Spouse Dies? Every Retired Couple Needs to Know.

Workers and spouses become eligible for Social Security retirement benefits at age 62, but widow(er)s are eligible for survivors' benefits at age 60. Survivors' benefits let widow(er)s inherit their ...

My husband died suddenly last year after a short illness — can I collect his Social Security and my own at the same time or would that cause problems?

Janice’s husband died suddenly last year after having a stroke. The couple were a few years away from retirement. Janice, 62, ...
Phys.org

Single, divorced, widowed? Social security rules may be working against you

Social Security is one of the most successful social programs in U.S. history, lifting millions of retirees out of poverty. But for lifelong single, divorced and prematurely widowed women, their ...

I’ve never contributed to Social Security — but now that my husband has died, am I entitled to his benefits?

In such cases, the question of whether Social Security can help cover living expenses becomes critical. Consider the case of ...
The Motley Fool

Got a Spouse and Kids? Don't Sign Up for Social Security Without Doing These 2 Things First

Your claiming age affects the size of your benefits -- and, sometimes, your family's benefits too. Claiming early will reduce your monthly benefit by up to 30%. Your family members can't claim Social ...