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Can I Collect On My Deceased Husband's Social Security Now And Wait Until Age 70 To Collect My Own Benefits?

I am 65 and work part-time and will be 66 in 5 months I do not collect social security. My husband age 61 just died and he was still working full-time.We were married for 15 years, Can I collect on his social security and wait until age 70 to collect mine?

Hi. I'm sorry for your loss. Yes, you can apply for widow's benefits now and wait until age 70 to claim your own benefits, but until you reach your full retirement age (FRA) some or all of your benefits might need to be withheld depending on how much you are earning. However, unless you'll be earning more than $51,960 this year, none of your benefits would need be withheld (https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/whileworking.html).

It sounds like your best strategy for claiming benefits would likely be one of the following:
1) File for reduced widow's benefits now and then switch to your own record at age 70; or,
2) File for reduced retirement benefits on your own record now and then file for unreduced widow's benefits at your full retirement age (FRA).

Normally, you would want to start out drawing the lower benefit first and then switch to the higher benefit when it reaches its highest potential rate. Our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) could help sort all of this out for you so that you can determine the best strategy for maximizing your benefits. Whatever you do, though, don't delay contacting Social Security to make an appointment to apply for benefits. Failure to apply for benefits timely could result in a loss of benefits.

Best, Jerry

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Posted: 
Feb 22 2022 - 6:31pm
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