Community Chat

[tansy]

An attorney had told me I would need to return my mother's last SS check so I wasn't taken by surprise.  She died towards the end of the month.

My condolences to you on the death of your husband.

[qvcaddition]

Yesterday I Went to a seminar about cremation , cost and plans and I was telling the women there about what you are posting here.  None of them had any idea about this including the person giving the seminar.

How uncanny to see this post today.

[RedTop]

Thank you for sharing this experience, as it is indeed a very challenging process for those of us who do not understand how this system works.   

[chrystaltree]

Let me extend my sympathy to you on the loss of your husband.  Perhaps, this obsession with a check that will eventually be reissued to you is your way of taking your mind off your loss.  It really doesn't make much sense to me.  If that is how SSA handles it, that's it.  Fill out the paper work and let it go.  Why give something you can't change so much thought?

[tansy]

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@chrystaltree wrote:

Let me extend my sympathy to you on the loss of your husband.  Perhaps, this obsession with a check that will eventually be reissued to you is your way of taking your mind off your loss.  It really doesn't make much sense to me.  If that is how SSA handles it, that's it.  Fill out the paper work and let it go.  Why give something you can't change so much thought?

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It's helpful information for other people.  Most people don't know what to expect when a spouse dies.

[halfpint1]

Sorry to hear about your husband. Mine died this Valentines Day so I will have to see what happens in March. I was on the phone waiting for an hour for someone to talk too.

[Moonchilde]

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@chrystaltree wrote:

Let me extend my sympathy to you on the loss of your husband.  Perhaps, this obsession with a check that will eventually be reissued to you is your way of taking your mind off your loss.  It really doesn't make much sense to me.  If that is how SSA handles it, that's it.  Fill out the paper work and let it go.  Why give something you can't change so much thought?

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Because it's not necessarily All About Her, but about letting others know, and perhaps discussion of others' experiences. It's called sharing, whether it's grief or information.

[SeaMaiden]

Question. If your husband dies while on SS, does his wife continue to receive his benefits? Is it the full amount? And for how long? It is all so confusing....

[151949]

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@SeaMaiden wrote:

Question. If your husband dies while on SS, does his wife continue to receive his benefits? Is it the full amount? And for how long? It is all so confusing....

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When a spouse dies the remaining spouse can choose if she wants to continue to get her own SS benefit or her husbands - whichever is higher. However you only will get one , never both.For my DH & I it is a wash as we get essentially the same amount - he gets $4.16 more than I do. But, for instance if the man gets $2000 and the wife gets $1500 each month and he died the wife could opt to get the $2000.

[Moonchilde]

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@SeaMaiden wrote:

Question. If your husband dies while on SS, does his wife continue to receive his benefits? Is it the full amount? And for how long? It is all so confusing....

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https://www.ssa.gov/planners/survivors/onyourown5.html