Marvin was widowed at age 38 when his children were 8 and 10 years of age.Assuming his deceased spouse was eligible for Social Security survivor's benefits,how many years would Marvin be in the "blackout period"?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The "blackout period" refers to the time frame during which a surviving spouse is not eligible for Social Security survivor's benefits. In Marvin's case, the earliest he could receive survivor's benefits would be at age 60. This means there would be a period of 22 years where he would not be eligible for these benefits (from age 38 to age 60). However, since his children are still minors, he is eligible to receive benefits on their behalf until they turn 18 (or 19 if still in high school). This means the blackout period is reduced to 12 years, from age 50 (when his youngest child turns 18) to age 60 when he becomes eligible for survivor's benefits. Therefore, the correct answer is C) 12 years.

Marvin Was Widowed at Age 38 When His Children Were