My husband passed in 2011, at age 59. He was receiving SSDI. I am currently age 60, and wonder if I would receive widow benefits with colas and even delayed retirement credits? I am currently receiving SSDI, and thinking of just taking his if it might be higher, and can I stop mine before age 62 and allow for increases such as delayed ret. Credits? Ty!

Hi. I'm sorry for your loss. Delayed retirement credits (DRC) wouldn't be applied to your widow's benefit rate, but you would get credit for any Social Security cost of living (COLA) increases that have been added since your husband's death. DRCs only apply to widow's benefits if the deceased worker lived past their full retirement age (FRA) and chose not to collect Social Security retirement benefits for at least some of the months between their FRA and age 70.

There are actually 2 different methods of calculating widow's benefits, and when you apply for widow's benefits whichever calculation method yields the highest benefit rate will be used. And, since you are collecting Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits, if you can qualify for additional widow's benefits you should almost certainly claim them as soon as possible. You'll need to Social Security to make an appointment to file an application.

You'll only qualify for widow's benefits, though, if your unreduced widow's rate is higher than your full SSDI benefit rate. If it is, then you could be paid a percentage of the difference in the two amounts. Your widow's rate would be reduced for age if you start drawing prior to your FRA, but since you became entitled to SSDI benefits prior to claiming widow's benefits any reduction for age applied to your widow's rate would be removed effective with the month you reach FRA. Therefore, there's usually no downside for a widow to claim widow's benefits as soon as possible if they're already collecting SSDI benefits.

Best, Jerry