Illinois Newly Widowed Individuals Package

Be at least age 60. Be the widow or widower of a fully insured worker. Meet the marriage duration requirement. Be unmarried, unless the marriage can be disregarded.

Employees may also be eligible to receive Medicare benefits through a deceased spouse if that spouse had earned 40 credits prior to their death and they were married to them at the time of the spouse's death.

Widow Or Widower Receive full benefits at full retirement age for survivors or reduced benefits as early as age 60.Begin receiving benefits as early as age 50 if you are disabled and the disability started before or within seven years of the worker's death.

For Your Widow Or WidowerWidows and widowers can receive: Reduced benefits as early as age 60 or full benefits at full retirement age or older. If widows or widowers qualify for retirement benefits on their own record, they can switch to their own retirement benefit as early as age 62.

These are examples of the benefits that survivors may receive: Widow or widower, full retirement age or older 100 percent of the deceased worker's benefit amount. Widow or widower, age 60 full retirement age 71½ to 99 percent of the deceased worker's basic amount.

There are two kinds of benefits that loved ones left behind may be entitled to receive after the death of a spouse. These are: Widowed parent's allowance. Bereavement allowance and bereavement payment.

Widows can claim benefits at any time between 60 and their survivor full retirement age.

A surviving spouse can collect 100 percent of the late spouse's benefit if the survivor has reached full retirement age, but the amount will be lower if the deceased spouse claimed benefits before he or she reached full retirement age.

Widows and widowers Generally, spouses and ex-spouses become eligible for survivor benefits at age 60 50 if they are disabled provided they do not remarry before that age. These benefits are payable for life unless the spouse begins collecting a retirement benefit that is greater than the survivor benefit.