Dear Liz: My Social Security is much higher than my husband’s. He started taking his at 62 and I started at my full retirement age of 67. If I die before him, can he start taking my Social Security at some reduced rate? My current payment before any Medicare premiums is about $3,700 and his is about $1,700.
Answer: If your husband has reached his own full retirement age by the time you die, his survivor benefit would equal 100% of what you were receiving. The survivor benefit would not be reduced because he started his own benefit early.
If you should die before he reaches full retirement age and he starts survivor benefits, the amount would be reduced for the early start.
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