Larry, here is my situation. I am divorced and 62 years of age. My former husband of 13 years passed Feb, 2020. My question as a divorced/widow can I claim his SS benefit now and defer my own claim until 70 years of age? My benefit would be higher than his and I am only asking for his benefit from 62-70 years of age. Does income play into the equation? Thanks, Kathleen

Hi Kathleen,

Yes, you can, but only if you're currently unmarried or if your current marriage occurred when you were age 60 or older. But, if you're working then your benefits could be partially or fully withheld until you reach full retirement age (FRA) depending on how much you earn (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/whileworking.html).

If you're correct that your own benefit rate would be higher than your ex's rate, then your best filing strategy would likely be to claim survivor benefits either now or as soon as your earnings would allow at least some benefits to be paid, then switch to your own higher benefit rate when you reach age 70.

Our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) could analyze your situation and help you determine your optimal filing strategy, so you may want to strongly consider using it especially if you'll be working between now and your FRA.

Best, Jerry