I earn 100K year and 61 years old. Wife recently died and was receiving SS benefits. Am I entitled to spousal survivor benefits?

Hi. I'm sorry for your loss. It sounds like you would probably meet the requirements for widower's benefits, but due to your earnings you almost certainly couldn't actually be paid any benefits. Based on Social Security earnings test, $1 of your benefits would need to be withheld for each $2 that you earn in excess of $18,960 this year and $19,560 next year (https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/whileworking.html). That would almost certainly require withholding of all of your benefits unless you stop working or reduce your earnings substantially.

The exempt amount is higher in the year you reach full retirement age (FRA), and it goes away altogether once you do reach FRA. So, you'll want to look into the possibility of collecting benefits when you get closer to your FRA or if you reduce your work.

You may want to strongly consider using our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to fully analyze the options available to you in order to determine your best strategy for maximizing your benefits.

Best, Jerry