We were married for more than 10 years, and I have not remarried.
I have consulted a couple of Social Security planners.
-K.
Dear K.,
I wouldnt count on Social Security connecting the dots here.
Usually, the funeral home alerts Social Security when someone dies.
The difference can be substantial.
But this isnt about rooting for your former husbands demise.
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The logic is that both spouses contribute economically, even if one spouse doesnt work or earns significantly less.
That infuriates a lot of people.
But it really shouldnt.
Social Security reviews its records annually to see if beneficiaries qualify for higher widow or widowers benefits.
But a lot of people fall through the cracks.
So how do you confirm that youre not one of them?
One option would be to set up a Google Alert for your ex-husbands name.
If an online obituary were to be published, youd get a notification.
This isnt foolproof, and it may not prove practical if he has a super common name.
Another good solution is to call Social Security every six months.
Theres no way to apply for survivor benefits online.
Hold onto the documents you have, as youll need to provide proof that you were married.
Ultimately, Im not so concerned about how youll find out about your ex-husbands death.
That kind of information tends to spread quickly in this digital age.
What worries me more is your plan to take benefits as soon as you turn 62.
Statistically, yes, youre likely to outlive your ex-husband.
But you cant make such important financial decisions solely on the basis of a life expectancy table.
Your ex-husband could live to be 95 or 100.
Are you prepared to live off your own lower benefit for two decades or more?
I wouldnt make any decisions on the assumption that youll get a higher survivor benefit at some point.
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Robin Hartill is a certified financial planner and a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.
Send your tricky money questions to[email protected].
