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Personal Finance and Investing

MLAA

(19,515 posts)

4. From Google

Reply to 3Hotdogs (Original post)

Sat Sep 13, 2025, 09:12 PM

Sep 13

Widows cannot collect both their own retirement benefit and their deceased spouse's Social Security benefit. Instead, the Social Security Administration (SSA) pays the higher of the two benefits. A surviving spouse is entitled to their own retirement benefit, or a survivor benefit up to 100% of the deceased's benefit (if claimed at their full retirement age), but never both. The choice depends on which benefit amount is higher and the timing of claiming.

***My personal tip is to make sure your will reflects your current wishes. ❤️

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Easterncedar 2naSalit No Vested Interest

13 replies

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Highlight:

We live together. Not married but care for each other. She is 79. I am 82. [View all] 3Hotdogs Sep 13 OP

If one of you owns the home you live in, better have some discussions bucolic_frolic Sep 13 #1

This is a question for an attorney who specializes markodochartaigh Sep 13 #2

THX. This seems to have the answer. 3Hotdogs Sep 13 #3

From Google MLAA Sep 13 #4

Catch is you have to be married like 10 years IbogaProject Sep 13 #8

I'm 75 and my significant other is 79. We've been together for 20 years. We met online. The only time ... marble falls Sep 13 #5

My friend and her partner have been together coming up on 25 years..they are not married Deuxcents Sep 13 #6

In the event you are a same-sex couple TommyT139 Sep 13 #7

we're not same sex. 3Hotdogs Sep 13 #9

That would have been my guess TommyT139 Sep 14 #11

One year. Or 9 months? progree Sep 14 #10

I was married for 36 years CountAllVotes Thursday #12

I asked my friend about the documents she and her partner have it's called Domestic Partnership Deuxcents Friday #13