Ask Me Help Desk - My Friend has a Question

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedball1

Quote:

[My friend and neighbor asked me to post this question

My husband was told he has less than six months to live last Nov.
He at that time took short term disability from work then in June, we married, he changed it to long term disability which he may receive for 2 yrs. But when he dies that money will not be coming in to help me with the mortgage or any bill whatsoever.
My question is, We live in the state of KS in Sumner Co. since he will not beable to ever go back to work and the cancer is now starting to take over. If my husband would retire would I receiver his pention after he dies?
How long do we have to be married to receive his SS check as his widow?

First, please tell your friend how sorry and sympathetic I am. I was once in her shoes.

And I'll now address her directly.

I realize you didn't ask, but has he collected long or short term disability? There is often a clause about pre-existing conditions. My husband had a LOT of difficulty collecting both short and long term benefits on a private policy.

You would have to look at the terms of his pension. In most cases, yes, he can take his pension in at least two ways - the full payment to him now, benefits ending at his death; partial payment to him now, partial payment to you upon his death until your death. I have seen one or two pensions which also will pay a smaller amount to both of you now, the combination of the two to you when he passes, until your death. How are you listed on his pension plan? Which option did he (or will he) choose - or is another option available?

Widows receive SS benefits, irrespective of the length of the marriage (it's different if there's a divorce).

"The benefit amount is based on the earnings of the person who died. The more the worker paid into Social Security, the greater your benefits will be. Social Security uses the deceased worker's basic benefit amount and calculates what percentage survivors are entitled to. The percentage depends on the survivors' ages and relationship to the worker. If the person who died was receiving reduced benefits, your survivor's benefit is based on that amount. Here are the most typical situations:

•A widow or widower, at full retirement age or older, generally receives 100 percent of the worker's basic benefit amount;
•A widow or widower, age 60 or older, but under full retirement age, receives about 71-99 percent of the worker's basic benefit amount; or
•A widow or widower, any age, with a child younger than age 16, receives 75 percent of the worker's benefit amount." Survivors Benefits - Social Security Publication 05-10084

Your husband also is eligible to receive SS Disability benefits. I would suggest that you begin gathering the paperwork now with an eye for the future. I keep hearing how difficult it is to receive benefits BUT my late husband received benefits the first time he replied, within 5 weeks BUT he also had all of the paperwork, including Physicians' statements in perfect order.

And, again, I'm so sorry - it's difficult to watch someone you love suffer and have to think about finances at the same time.