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Can my wife collect my Social Security while I'm alive?

Yes, you can collect Social Security's on a spouse's earnings record. You may be able to do this in the form of spousal benefits, or as survivor benefits if you are a widow or widower.

aarp.org - Collecting Social Security Benefits As A Spouse - AARP

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Yes, you can collect Social Security's on a spouse's earnings record. You may be able to do this in the form of spousal benefits, or as survivor benefits if you are a widow or widower. Depending on your age upon claiming, spousal benefits can range from 32.5 percent to 50 percent of your husband’s or wife’s primary insurance amount — the retirement benefit to which he or she is entitled at full retirement age, or FRA. Regardless of the amount of the spousal benefit, it does not affect the amount of your mate’s retirement payment. AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Join Now

You qualify for spousal benefits if:

Your spouse is already collecting retirement benefits.

You have been married for at least a year.

You are at least 62 years old (unless you are caring for a child who is under 16 or disabled, in which case the age rule does not apply). You can collect benefits on a spouse’s work record regardless of whether you also worked. If you are eligible for both your own retirement benefit and a spousal benefit, Social Security will pay you the higher of the two amounts.

The chief criteria to qualify for survivor benefits are:

You were married to the deceased for at least nine months (unless the death is accidental or occurs in the line of military duty, in which case there is no minimum time period). You are at least age 60, unless you are disabled (then it’s 50) or caring for a child of the deceased who is under 16 or disabled (in which case there's no age minimum). How to Get More Out of Your Medicare & Social Security AARP’s free event on Medicare and Social Security benefits is now available on demand! Get answers to many of your questions on Medicare enrollment and coverage, Social Security claiming strategies and much more. Highlights include: Keynote by AARP Financial Ambassador Jean Chatzky

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In most cases, survivor benefits are based on the benefit amount the late spouse was receiving, or was eligible to receive, when he or she died. How much of that amount you are entitled to depends on your age when you file. The proportion rises from 71.5 percent if you claim survivor benefits at 60 (50 if you are disabled) to 100 percent if you wait until your full retirement age (which is currently 66 for survivors but will gradually rise to 67 over the next several years). If the survivor benefit is based on your caring for a child, you receive 75 percent of the deceased’s benefit, regardless of your own age when you file.

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What do you call something that is hard to break?

If something is strong enough to last for a long time without being damaged or broken, you can say that it is hard-wearing, durable, or robust.

dictionary.cambridge.org - not breaking easily - Cambridge English Thesaurus article page

These are all words for describing things that do not break easily.

The most commonly used word for this is strong.

You will need a strong cardboard box to carry all those books.

The opposite of strong is fragile.

Don't sit on that table - it's fragile and will break.

For more opposites of strong, see the article at weak.

Strong materials, or things made from strong materials, can be described as tough.

Ceramic tiles are tougher than plastic shower inserts.

Something that is strong because it is made of a thick heavy material and has been well-made is sturdy.

You'll need sturdy boots for this weather.

If something is strong because it is hard or firm, and has no holes or spaces, you can say that it is solid.

You will need to build a good solid base for your shed.

If something is strong enough to last for a long time without being damaged or broken, you can say that it is hard-wearing, durable, or robust. Hard-wearing is used most often of clothes or things you wear. Robust is slightly more formal than hard-wearing or durable. Cotton canvas is the most hard-wearing fabric. Stainless steel pans are very durable. The camera is robust enough to be used by younger children. If something is so strong that it is impossible to damage it, you can say that it is indestructible.

Titanium is virtually indestructible.

You can use the word heavy-duty to refer to a product or material that is a strong type or version of that product or material.

Oil a large piece of heavy-duty foil.

To refer to plants that are strong enough to live through cold weather without protection use the word hardy.

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