Social Security: 7 Things Every Woman Should Know About

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Do you know how Social Security actually works? Well, if you’re a woman there are a couple of things you should know about retirement and Social Security.

According to the latest Center for Disease Control report, women tend to live longer than men. More exactly, the average American man lives to about 76, while the average woman in America will live to age 81. This means that women spend more time in retirement. So, understanding the Social Security benefits might give you the answers you were looking for.

Can I retire early and if so, how does that affect me? Can widows receive their husband’s social security benefits? This article helps women to highlight the most important things about Social Security they should know about. Keep reading to find out about them!

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24 thoughts on “Social Security: 7 Things Every Woman Should Know About”

  1. Why do teacher who have retired under California social security rules don’t qualify for social security benefit’s?

    1. When I lived in Columbus, Ohio I worked for the State. We paid into pension but not Social Security. I remember someone telling me that 10 years before I retire, I should get a job where I pay into Social Security as I wouldn’t be able to collect it. That may be the same in California. Where I live now, if you work for the Board of Education you pay into pension and social security.

  2. i AM 90 YRS OLD, FEMALE
    i START DRAWING MY S.S. AT 62 YRS . mY HUSBAND ID STILL LIVING AND 90YRS OLD. cAN i DRAW 1/3 OR 1/2 OF HIS SS

  3. I am a widow I made more than my husband so I had to retire under my earnings, Is there anyway of any other ss for me since he passed six years ago? I am almost 73/

  4. Dinah Tallman-Wright

    My husband passed in 2017. He would be 65 June 2023. I am his wife. I will be 60 Nov. 11 2022. Can I start collect his ssa in 2023 when he is 65?

    1. You can file for survivors benefits at age 60. You don’t have to wait. I was going to begin drawing ss and keep working at 62. They came back to me and offered survivors benefits which were more than mine. My husband died at 55 in 2015. I could have been collecting for the last 2 years had I known. File for it baby!

    2. I worked for Social Security for 37 1/2 years and retired in 2006. You can begin collecting widow’s benefits at age 60 if you are not working and earning more than the allowable limit. Check with your Social Security office – depending upon how much you and your husband each earned, you may want to switch from the widow’s rate to your own Social Security rate when you reach full retirement age or when you reach age 70.

      1. I remember when my mother started collecting social security they told her she had to collect from my father’s. He had died in 1969 and she had been working for many years before that. By collecting my father’s she got less than if she had collected from her own. It took her about 5 years to finally get someone who would listen. Yes, her social security was more and they would only pay her back about 6 months of the difference. Make sure yours is not more than your husbands.

      2. I was told I could get my surviving spouse benefits at age 60 and take my own benefits later. I made more than my husband so I was excited about that. It is time for me to take my own benefit and I was told it was DEEMED that when I took my husbands benefit I was forfeiting my own. I could use some help with that if anyone has had that happen and managed to receive the benefits they worked for.

  5. I was married for 24 years and now divorced and
    never remarried. Can I get social security from my ex husband. ? I collect STRS but never paid into social security.

    1. According to SSA Widows May Be Due Their Husband’s Social Security Benefits

      At 60 years old, a widow is eligible to receive 70% of what her husband received before his death. Once a widow reaches full retirement age, this number rises to 100%. You can also receive a $255 lump sum payment if you were living with your spouse when they died.
      That is, SSA must pay your own retirement benefit first, then add it with whatever additional benefits you are due as a widow. Keep in mind that, if your husband takes his benefits early, say at age 62 instead of waiting until his full retirement age, your widow’s benefit can be reduced by up to 30% for the remainder of your life.

    2. My ex husband recently passed in another state. I was his first wife married almost 10 years but we divorce in two years of the marriage. Allegedly he is married but was separated from his alleged wife, they were together married maybe five or less years. Who is entitled to his ss? Can I apply? Ty

  6. I’m 72 my first husband died at the age of 60. I drew widows pay, then started drawing my SS at age 64. I have remarried, my first husband’s SS is more than mine can I draw his SS?

  7. On pg 6 it says if you take SS at your full retirement age all that you earn after that is yours, non- taxable. WRONG. I make just over the $25,000 limit and get taxed on part of my benefit. So wrong to do that! I’m still working because SS alone won’t pay the rent, utilities, food, car insurance/ maintenance, a monthly specialist visit. Not EXTRAS. Just the stuff of living.

  8. 65 I still have work because my Social Security, SSI, widows, pension, or too small for me to live on my health is not well. I’m getting sicker and sicker but I have to work. What can I do?

  9. I am forced to retire due to medical reasons .I am 68 years old. And have not started full SS yet how does this affect

  10. Sailin Barban Rodriguez

    Después del huracán,,estu w en la calle,y producto a eso y muchas cosas que pase,que asta ganas de quitarme la vida me pasó por la cabeza,padesco de depresión severa bipolaridad y esquizofrenia,no tengo seguro médico no tengo casa,estoy decesperada, necesito ayuda porfabor,gracias,espero su respuesta lo antes posible

  11. I tired going online to register for social security,I couldn’t get anywhere with it!, asked if they could mail the information to me I haven’t received anything

  12. I am 80 years old drawing survivors benefits I draw 2713 a month will I be able to get the extra money on my social security check they are talking about in July.

  13. Pamela Chattergoon

    My mother worked her whole life as did my dad. She had to leave her job to care for my dad when they were around 56. My dad died at 58. My mother was unable to get any of my dad’s social security. My mom worked for the state so she didn’t pay into it. She wasn’t old enough to retire so when my dad died she was left with nothing. This was in the 80s. She was told it was a new law. She was left with nothing. Both her and my dad were active duty in the Korean war. VA was useless.

  14. I have just retired but is in the process of getting my benefits from where I work my husband is still alive but has strict MS he can’t really do anything for himself and that’s the reason why I retired to stay home and take care of him he is 66 and I am 62 this October 17 I need to know if I am qualified fo social Security just wanted to find out of curiosity

  15. Hi, I lost my husband January 2019 I was 58 and I started receiving my spouses benefits in 2021. I get paid for 2 days 8.5 hours between both days. I am 63 now. When I decide to retire will I get my benefits and my spouses benefits too? What happens to my late spouses benefits?

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