widows

Social Security Updates Rules for Widows and Divorced Spouses—Potentially Boosting Benefits by Thousands

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Social Security Updates Rules for Widows and Divorced Spouses—Potentially Boosting Benefits by Thousands

The Social Security Administration has quietly introduced a rule change that could put thousands of additional dollars into the hands of many retired divorcees and widows. This update primarily affects widows and divorced spouses whose partners were employed in the public sector and did not consistently contribute to Social Security through payroll taxes. Such situations … Read more

Social Security Mistake Impacted Payments to Thousands—Who’s Affected?

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Social Security Mistake Impacted Payments to Thousands—Who’s Affected?

Thousands of widows and widowers may have received less Social Security money than they were entitled to after a calculation mistake affected survivor benefit payments. According to a federal watchdog report, the Social Security Administration incorrectly processed certain survivor claims, leading to more than $50 million in combined underpayments. The report estimated that around 8,618 … Read more

Social Security Restriction Repeal Raises Some Benefits by $1K or More

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Social Security Restriction Repeal Raises Some Benefits by $1K or More

Certain Social Security beneficiaries are receiving increased payments this year due to changes in how benefits are calculated. The removal of two key restrictions has led to higher payments for eligible widows and divorced spouses, affecting about 28 percent of state and local public workers, according to the Social Security Administration. The Congressional Budget Office … Read more