Hi, I am currently collecting Widow's Divorced Survivors Benefits, and I plan to file for my retirement social security benefits in May of 2018 when I turn 65. Will I be able to collect both benefits at the same time? Thank you.

Hi,

No. Whenever you file for your retirement benefits you'll only receive the higher of your two benefit rates. If your retirement rate is lower than your survivor rate, Social Security will pay you your retirement benefit plus a partial survivor benefit equal to the difference in the two rates. That would simply result in a combined benefit rate equal to the higher survivor rate.

It sounds like it would probably be more advantageous for you to wait until age 70 to file for your retirement benefits, but I don't have enough details about your case to say for sure. You may want to run the maximization software available on this website in order to be sure that you choose the best possible filing strategy.

Best, Jerry