Ask Larry

Can I Draw Just Widow's Benefits Starting At FRA And Delay My Retirement Benefits Until Age 70?

I was collecting SSD more than 6 years when my husband passed and I’m now collecting both my SSD and my reduced widow benefit.
I know at FRA the reduction is removed from the widow benefit. According to the SocSec website at FRA you can delay your own benefits until age 70 to earn the delayed credits and collect just the widow benefit until age 70.
My question is do I qualify for this because I’m already collecting my own SSD on my record and a reduced widow benefit on my deceased husbands record?? I am 65 now and trying to prepare financially for when I turn 66.8 in 18 months and again when I turn 70. Thank you!

Hi. No. Your Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits will automatically convert to Social Security retirement benefits when you reach full retirement age (FRA). You could voluntarily suspend your retirement benefits from FRA until age 70 to earn delayed retirement credits (DRC), but you could not be paid widow's benefits while your own benefits are suspended.

The only way you could delay your retirement benefits until age 70 and collect widow's benefits from FRA until age 70 is if you withdraw your claim for SSDI benefits. Doing that would require you to repay all of the SSDI benefits you've been paid, which would almost certainly not be an advantageous option.

Best, Jerry

Category: 
Posted: 
Nov 2 2022 - 2:57pm
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