Can I collect social security benefits if my husband didn’t sign up for them?
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Can I collect social security benefits if my husband didn’t sign up for them?
My husband was 64 and wanted to wait until he was 65 to draw social security to get the full benefits. He recently passed away. Is there anyway I can apply for them? He paid in for 30 years. And we have two minor grandchildren we have raised since birth that may not get to go to college without some help
Asked on August 4, 2019 under Estate Planning, Texas
Answers:
B.H.F., Member, Texas State Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 4 years ago | Contributor
Yes, you should be able to file for social security benefits based on your husband's income. You cannot file an application for him as he has already passed. However, you can file your own application based on his income to receive your benefit package. (It's a matter of semantics....but it's important semantics) Any good retirement financial adviser should be able to help walk you through this process and assist you with some additional financial planning to help your grandchildren as well.
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