I am 68 and started my social security benefits at FRA when I turned 66. My wife will turn 66 in January and plans to work until age 67, but delay starting social security benefits until age 70. Her benefit will be considerably more than mine, so my understanding is that my benefit will bump up to one half of her FRA when she starts taking her benefits at age 70. My question concerns what happens if she passes away before starting her benefits at age 70? Can I delay taking her higher spousal benefit until she would have been age 70, or do I have to switch over to her higher spousal benefit immediately upon her death? Thank you very much for your help.

Hi,

Well, you could delay filing for widower's benefits in the event of your wife's death, but it wouldn't be advantageous for you to do so. If your wife dies after reaching full retirement age (FRA) and before filing for Social Security benefits, your potential widower's benefit rate would be calculated based on what your wife would have received if she had started drawing her benefits in her month of death. However, you could not be paid both your own benefit rate and your full widower's rate, just the higher of the two rates.

Your widower's rate would not grow if you waited to claim benefits until your wife would have been age 70. The only way that you could qualify for your wife's full age 70 rate as a widower is if she lives until at least age 70 and she waits until age 70 to claim her benefits. Since you have already reached your FRA, if your wife's benefit rate is higher than yours you would want to claim widower's benefits starting effective with your wife's month of death.

Best, Jerry