How do I model a scenario for a widower who remarried? Under benefit type there is 1. regular, 2. Ex-spouse benefits and 3. Widow/widower & dependent children benefits. There is no survivor as a benefit type. When I choose 3 it changes the Plan type to single.
My clients are married, husband age 65 and wife 62 and have a child age 14. The ssanalyzer program illustrates that the older of the couple upon filing for retirement benefits at age 66 and suspending triggers a benefit for the minor child based on the parent’s earnings record. Plus it illustrates another benefit; a “Child in Care” benefit for the spouse. I can’t make your program produce a benefit for the child at all.
I would appreciate any help you can give me.
He’s probably not going to get any widower benefits because he remarried before age 60 (50 if disabled).
If a person is eligible to claim Social Security benefits based on the work record of different spouses, he can do so against the record of only one spouse.
Benefits based on the record of a deceased spouse are available to the surviving spouse if the surviving spouse was married to the deceased spouse for more than 9 months at the time of death of the deceased spouse. Dependent children’s benefits are for eligible children from deceased spouse (biological or adopted).
If surviving spouse (widow or widower) remarries before age 60, that would be a disqualification. But if he remarried after age 60, he will have a choice for spousal benefits. In that case you can compare his widower (plan type as “single” and benefit type as “widow/widower”) benefits against the joint benefits with current spouse (plan type as “joint” and benefit type as “regular”).
In Social Security Maximizer™ when you want to claim widow(er) benefits, the benefit type is widow/widower and plan type is single. The plan type should not be confused with the marital status. If the client has remarried, you chose the marital status as married. You choose benefit type as “regular” for normal situations e.g. Social Security planning for an individual who is single or for currently married couples.