06 Feb Can someone on disability also get Social Security survivor benefits?

Q. My sister recently died unexpectedly at age 62. She was married for 8 years. Her husband has been collecting disability benefits for years. He is 68. Can he apply for survivor benefits on her work record?
— Curious

A. We’re sorry to hear about your sister.

As for her husband and Social Security benefits, there is no double dipping.

You cannot collect on both the full amount of a widower’s benefit from Social Security and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), said Jody D’Agostini, a certified financial planner with Equitable Advisors/The Falcon Financial Group in Morristown.

If he’s eligible, he could collect the higher of the two payments.

“Depending upon his work history and that of his wife, it might be wise to collect her benefit at his full retirement age and let his retirement benefits continue to grow at 8% until he is age 70, and then he would collect his maximal benefit,” D’Agostini said.

He can contact Social Security to see the options and what monthly benefits he might receive under different scenarios.

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This story was originally published on Feb. 6, 2023.

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