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The week's question
In December 2024, in the thread "Re: BRK: Why Not XOM?", BreckHutHigh asked the members: "What about the long road trips with kids?" This week it is put to everyone again. The button below opens the small thread re-asking it - read what others have said so far, then give your own answer as an ordinary reply.
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Personal Finance / Retirement Investing
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Author: hardwaterruss   😊 😞
Number: of 1281 
Subject: Re: New York Times -- Social Security at age 70?
Date: 12/08/25 11:55 AM
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Concerning "social security for spouse after death"

From Google....
How does spousal Social Security work?
AI Overview
Spousal Social Security benefits let a lower-earning spouse (or ex-spouse) claim up to 50% of the higher-earning spouse's monthly Social Security payment at their own full retirement age, providing income when one partner's earnings history is limited. You must be 62+, married for over a year (or divorced after 10+ years), and the primary spouse must be receiving benefits (unless divorced). You get the higher of your own benefit or the spousal benefit, never both; claiming early reduces payments, and benefits don't grow past full retirement age like personal benefits do.

Can I collect my deceased spouse's Social Security and my own at the same time?
AI Overview
No, you can't collect both your own Social Security and your deceased spouse's survivor benefits simultaneously as two separate payments; the Social Security Administration (SSA) will pay you only one benefit, which will be the higher of the two amounts you're eligible for. However, you can strategically choose to receive survivor benefits first and then switch to your own retirement benefit later (or vice versa) to maximize your total payout, often by waiting until age 70 for your own higher benefit, says T. Rowe Price and SmartAsset.

HardwaterRuss
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This community has written 1,207 posts about Retirement Investing. The article-length ones it recommended most:
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