|
 Few
people realize that their Social Security survivors' insurance
is probably worth more than any life insurance they have
through work or a private insurance company. And, it is
insurance protection that almost every American worker who
pays into Social Security has. Your spouse and dependent
children would have a base of financial protection should
something happen to you, and it is important to know about it.
The following questions are designed to help you find out how
much you know about your Social Security survivors insurance
protection:
1. If you die before reaching retirement
age, your child(ren) can
receive Social Security survivors'
benefits until age:
A. 21
B. 18, or 19 if still in secondary
school full time
C. 16
2. If your spouse dies and you are
childless or your children are
grown, you can receive a survivor's
benefits at age:
A. 60, or age 50 if disabled
B. 62, or age 60 if disabled
C. 65, or age 62 if disabled
3. If you are divorced and your exhusband
or ex-wife dies, you
can receive survivors' benefit on
your ex-spouse's earnings
record if:
A. The marriage lasted 20
years
B. The marriage lasted 10
years
C. The marriage lasted 5 years
4. If your surviving spouse remarries,
benefit payments would
stop unless he/she is:
A. Age 60 or older
B. Age 55 or older
C. Age 62 or older
5. The average monthly Social
Security survivors' benefit payment
for a widow or widower
with two children is:
A. About $1,000
B. About $1,500
C. About $2,000
ANSWERS 1. B-A surviving
child could receive benefits up to age 18, or 19 if still in
secondary school full time, or longer if disabled. A child who
is disabled before age 22 could receive child's benefits as
long as he or she remains disabled and does not marry. 2. A-A
widow(er) can receive benefits at age 60, or age 50 if
disabled. Widow(er)s disabled at age 50 or later may qualify
for a disability benefit on their deceased spouse's earnings.
3. B-Surviving divorced spouses who have been married 10 years
have the same benefit rights and receive the same basic
benefit amount as current surviving spouses. (The benefit of
the surviving divorced spouse will not affect those of the
current spouse.) 4. A-At age 60, a surviving spouse can
remarry and not lose eligibility for Social Security benefits.
5. C-In 2006, the average monthly survivors benefit payment
for a widow/widower with two children is $2,074.
For more information about Social Security
survivors benefits visit www.socialsecurity.gov/planners/
index.htm or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY,
1-800-325-0778) and ask for the publication, Survivors
Benefits.
(SeniorARK adds that the
listed link appears to have changed. The correct link is:
http://www.ssa.gov/survivorplan/index.htm
)
Chuck Stovall is assistant manager for the
Social Security Administration, New Albany, Ind.
If you have questions about Social Security,
e-mail him at charlesjstovall@ ssa.gov. Or, call your
local Social Security Office.
|
