Retirement

For most current and future retirees, the social security administration will average your 35 highest years of earnings. Years in which you have low earnings or no earnings may be counted to bring the total years of earnings up to 35.
The Social Security administration has a Benefits Planner which is located at http://www.ssa.gov. The planner is divided into 4 sections including retirement, disability, survivors and calculators. Employees can determine their own social security benefit by using the calculate section.

When the social security administration averaged out your 35 highest years of earnings to estimate your benefits on your social security Statement, it was assumed you would continue to work up to age 62, making the same earnings you made last year.
If, instead, you have zero earnings each year over the next 6 years, your average earnings will probably be less and so will your benefit.
You can use the Social Security Benefits Calculators to see how this will affect your monthly benefit amount. The Social Security Benefits Planner is located at http://www.ssa.gov. In addition to using the SSA website, you can call SSA toll-free at 1-800-772-1213.

When applying for social security Survivors benefits for yourself and your children, you should have your and your spouse's Social Security numbers, your and your children's birth certificates, and the children's Social Security numbers.
You will also need to provide evidence of your wife's death (death certificate) and your marriage. (Marriage certificate).
The documents need to be originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. Uncertified photocopies are not acceptable.
The social security administration will return the original documents to you. It is best to call the Social Security's toll free phone number first to set up an appointment so you will not have to wait. The telephone number is 1-800-772-1213.

If you and your wife both worked and contributed to Social Security then you can each get your own benefits or she can get half the amount of yours, whichever is greater.
If your wife's own benefit is more than one half of your amount, you will each get your own benefit.,
If your wife's own benefit were less than half of yours she would receive her amount plus enough on your record to bring it up to the half amount.

Social Security benefit records do not have the ability to name specific beneficiaries. The Social Security Act specifies which family members can receive benefits on your record when you retire, die or become disabled.
The social security administration cannot pay benefits to people who do not meet the requirements of the law, nor can they refuse to pay benefits to people who do meet those requirements.
This is true even if you ask the social security administration not to. Any payments made to your former spouse based on your record will not affect the amounts that can be paid to a subsequent spouse or your children.

You can go to the SSA website at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/AdultListings.htm or get the SSA Publication.
Disability Evaluation Under Social Security (SSA Pub. No. 64-039) contains the medical criteria that Social Security uses to determine disability. It is intended primarily for physicians and other health professionals.
You can fax a request to the Social Security Administartion Fax Number, 410-965-0696. You can also write or call: Social Security Administration Public Information Distribution Center P.O. Box 17743 Baltimore, MD 21235-6401 Phone 410-965-0945.

Unless you are disabled, you are not eligible for monthly survivors benefits based on your husband's earnings record until you reach the age of 60.
At that age, your benefit would be about 71.5% of your husband's basic benefit amount.
If you wait until you reach your full retirement age, you will receive 100% of his amount. Disabled widows or widowers can receive benefits as early as age 50.

If you receive Social Security Disability benefits, you will become eligible for Medicare after the date Social Security decides your disability began. Speak to the Medicare Administration via e-mail at www.hcfa.gov. There also is a Medicare website at www.medicare.gov. for more details.

If you qualify, you will continue to receive your social security Disability benefits as long as your condition keeps you from working. Your case will be reviewed periodically to see if there has been any improvement in your condition and whether you are still eligible for benefits. If you are still disabled when you reach full retirement age, your disability benefit will be automatically converted to a retirement benefit of the same amount.