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The Benefits Blog

The Benefits Blog provides expert insights, updates, and strategies on Social Security and Medicare, tailored for financial professionals looking to enhance their knowledge and better serve their clients. Stay informed with the latest developments and tips to maximize benefits for your clients.

Switching from Retirement Benefits to Survivor Benefits for a Divorced Spouse divorce full retirement age (fra) hey marc! primary insurance amount (pia) surviving divorced spouse benefit Jun 04, 2024

Quick question. I have a client who will be turning 62 in January.  SS retirement benefit is around $750, and she makes around $16,000 a year income. Her ex-husband is deceased. They were married over 30 years. His death PIA is over $3,000 per month. Ex-husband had not filed for SSB before he died. ...

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Can a Divorced Client Claim a Survivor Benefit at Age 62? full retirement age (fra) hey marc! surviving divorced spouse benefit survivor benefit Jan 02, 2024

A divorced client was married to her husband for 25 years. He is 25 years older and neither of them ever remarried. He passed recently and she would like to know if she can claim a “Survivor Benefit”.  She is now 62 and eligible for a benefit of her own of $1,916 at her FRA. 

Your client, who is 62...

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How to Handle Denial of Surviving Spouse Benefits in a Common Law State common law hey marc! surviving divorced spouse benefit Apr 07, 2022

Colorado is a common law state.  Mary and Lee were together for over 30 years until he passed three years ago.  Mary has attempted to get his social security but has had constant push back from the Lakewood, CO Social Security office.   They said she was not entitled because they did not live togeth...

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