ASK RUSTY (cont.)

a bit less than 75%, but any such reduction for the 14 year old will disappear when the 17 year old turns 18 and becomes ineligible for child survivor benefits). The children’s mother should contact Social Security as soon as possible (at her local SS office or at the national service center number – 1.800.772.1213) to apply for survivor benefits for her children. She may need to provide their father’s death certificate (although SS may have already received that from the funeral director) as well as the children’s birth certificates.

If your nephew’s ex-wife doesn’t remarry before age 60, at that time she will become eligible to collect a survivor benefit from her deceased ex-husband. But claimed at age 60 that survivor benefit will be reduced by 28.5% from what it would be if she waits until her full retirement age (FRA) to claim it (a survivor benefit reaches maximum at the survivor’s FRA but is reduced if claimed earlier). If she claims her survivor benefit prior to reaching her FRA and she is working, Social Security will impose an earnings limit which, if exceeded, could result in the loss of some of her survivor benefits. Earnings limits for future years aren’t yet known, but the 2022 earnings limit is $19,560. The earnings limit will no longer affect her Social Security benefits after she reaches her full retirement age.

This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent ASK RUSTY (cont.)

legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity. To submit a question, visit our website (amacfoundation.org/programs/ social-security-advisory)

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