If your mom has a federal civil service pension, any social security (based on her own earnings or dad's) is reduced or may actually be $0, depending on the amount of her federal pension. It's called the government pension offset and is explained very clearly here: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10007.pdf Just an excerpt from that page:
"We’ll reduce your Social Security benefits by two-thirds of your government pension. In other words, if you get a monthly civil service pension of $600, two-thirds of that, or $400, must be deducted from your Social Security benefits. For example, if you’re eligible for a $500 spouses, widows, or widowers benefit from Social Security, you’ll get $100 a month from Social Security ($500 – $400 = 100). If two-thirds of your government pension is more than your Social Security benefit, your benefit could be reduced to zero."
It's certainly worth going to a social security office to inquire, or perhaps an initial phone call so they can start a file and then your mom can send any documents needed or bring them in. Funeral homes generally notify social security about the death, so most likely they already have that information. Social Security doesn't automatically provide the widow's or widower's benefit--you have to fill out an application and provide documentation. I have a state pension and social security and my social security amount was reduced based on my state pension. My husband's local security benefit was higher than mine, and after he died, I checked to see if I was eligible for any widow's benefit. I found I was, though at a reduced rate. It was worth doing because my monthly social security payment went up by close to $200, even with the government pension offset reduction.
This is something to take up with social security itself. Have your mom with you and all the facts within reach. Call Social Security. A long wait time, so have a checkers board by you while you wait. They are very nice once you get them.
You can also accompany mom to your local SS office. Wait time there is really something, as well, I can tell you as someone who did it twice in the last 5 years. However, it IS entertaining! At least in my fair city.
I wish you the very best of luck and hope you will update us. Take EVERYTHNG with you from marriage certificates to your mom's papers to your father's death certificate. EVERYTHING. You don't want to have to go back!
"We’ll reduce your Social Security benefits by two-thirds of your government pension. In other words, if you get a monthly civil service pension of $600, two-thirds of that, or $400, must be deducted from your Social Security benefits. For
example, if you’re eligible for a $500 spouses, widows, or widowers benefit from Social Security, you’ll get $100 a month from Social Security ($500 – $400 = 100). If two-thirds of your government pension is more than your Social Security benefit, your benefit could be reduced to zero."
It's certainly worth going to a social security office to inquire, or perhaps an initial phone call so they can start a file and then your mom can send any documents needed or bring them in. Funeral homes generally notify social security about the death, so most likely they already have that information. Social Security doesn't automatically provide the widow's or widower's benefit--you have to fill out an application and provide documentation. I have a state pension and social security and my social security amount was reduced based on my state pension. My husband's local security benefit was higher than mine, and after he died, I checked to see if I was eligible for any widow's benefit. I found I was, though at a reduced rate. It was worth doing because my monthly social security payment went up by close to $200, even with the government pension offset reduction.
Have your mom with you and all the facts within reach.
Call Social Security. A long wait time, so have a checkers board by you while you wait.
They are very nice once you get them.
You can also accompany mom to your local SS office. Wait time there is really something, as well, I can tell you as someone who did it twice in the last 5 years. However, it IS entertaining! At least in my fair city.
I wish you the very best of luck and hope you will update us.
Take EVERYTHNG with you from marriage certificates to your mom's papers to your father's death certificate. EVERYTHING. You don't want to have to go back!