Social Security payments can sometimes be a significant portion of a couple’s retirement income. If your spouse passes away unexpectedly, it can have a dramatic impact on your financial wellbeing in retirement. This is especially true if there was a big income difference between you and your spouse. In this article we will review:

– Who is eligible to receive the Social Security Survivor Benefit

– How the benefit is calculated

– Electing to take the benefit early vs. delaying the benefit

– Filing strategies that allow the surviving spouse to receive more from Social Security

– Social Security Earned Income Penalty
– Social Security filing strategies that married couples should consider to preserve the Survivor Benefit

– Divorce: 2 Ex-spouses & 1 Current Spouse: All receiving the same Survivor Benefit