08 Mar Can my grandma get retroactive Social Security benefits?

Q. Is there any way to qualify for retroactive Social Security widow benefit back to the date of a spouse’s death? My grandmother is 91 and Social Security waited 10 years after my grandfather’s death to mail a letter saying she may qualify for a widow’s benefit. They are saying they can only pay six months retroactive, when she lost 120 months of increased revenue. It’s more than $30,000 she lost.
— Trying to help

A. Unfortunately, many people rely on Social Security to reach out to them to tell them what they should do.

For the most part, that’s not how it works.

You can visit a local Social Security office to get answers. The key is asking the right questions, said Jeanne Kane, a certified financial planner with JFL Total Wealth Management in Boonton.

She said in terms of getting six months retroactive, that’s correct.

“I think what is critical here is to know what you don’t know,” she said. “Many people are not knowledgeable of the process around the death of a loved one.”

She said her office actually has a “workflow” that they use when someone dies.

“Often the estate attorney, CPA or financial advisor should be helpful in this area to point out what has to happen,” she said. “No insurance or investment company that I have worked with — or government agency — is proactively reaching out to people who qualify for money. You need to ask for it.”

To be sure for your grandmother, it may make sense to consult with an attorney who specializes in Social Security matters to see if there are other options for her.

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This story was originally published on March 8, 2021.

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