If your spouse is older than you and draws or will draw a bigger SS check than you and will probably die before you, it makes sense to get your Social Security as soon as you can. When one spouse dies and both are on SS, the surviving spouse gets the larger of the two checks.
My father was disabled due to triple bypass in his fifties. He drew a larger check than a regular SS check. (BTW, why does SS disability pay more?) My mother, 8 years younger and healthier than my father, started drawing her Social security at 62. It was a wise decision. When Dad died, Mom got his larger check, so her reduced benefits check no longer mattered.
Thanks for the info.
“(BTW, why does SS disability pay more?)”
It does not pay more. SS disability pays what one would have received if had drawn benefits at age 65 or 66 based upon what had been paid in at the time.
If your spouse is older than you and draws or will draw a bigger SS check than you and will probably die before you, it makes sense to get your Social Security as soon as you can. When one spouse dies and both are on SS, the surviving spouse gets the larger of the two checks.
My father was disabled due to triple bypass in his fifties. He drew a larger check than a regular SS check. (BTW, why does SS disability pay more?) My mother, 8 years younger and healthier than my father, started drawing her Social security at 62. It was a wise decision. When Dad died, Mom got his larger check, so her reduced benefits check no longer mattered.
I thought that if both husband and wife are collecting SS, that if husband dies earlier, surviving spouse will get her own SS or 1/2 of husbands which ever is larger.
Sorry for verry long sentence (pain meds..knee surgery today)