Losing your husband or wife presents great challenges. Life, however, goes on for the survivor. Finances remain as critical as always. Many seniors ask, “When should I claim survivors benefits?”

Widow and widower benefits can begin as early as age 60. Yet, there are risks to claiming these benefits before Full Retirement Age. You will receive the benefits for a longer period. But benefits will be reduced based on your year of birth.

The Social Security Administration provides clarification and a chart. Visit Receiving Survivors Benefits Early at the SSA.

At NORA, we believe every retired American should receive the benefits they have earned. Recent cost-of-living-adjustments have not kept up with rising prices. Some COLAs have been entirely absent at 0%!

A permanent COLA of 3% is only fair. America’s retirees shouldn’t guess each year what their COLA will be! Furthermore, we believe this permanent COLA should be retroactive to 2010. These additional funds will compensate seniors for low or missing COLAs.

Please sign our Benefit Reimbursement Petition to Congress. This is an historic opportunity to call on Congress to act!

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