I’m turning 62 next month my husband passed away three years ago can I collect part of his ss , and still work, and then when I am ready to retire can I collect my ss?

Hi. I'm sorry for your loss. You can apply for widow's benefits now and wait until later to apply for your own benefits, but whether or not you can be paid benefits prior to your full retirement age (FRA) depends on how much you're earning. Social Security would need to withhold $1 of your benefits for each $2 that you earn in excess of $19,560 this year.

It sounds like your best strategy for claiming benefits would likely be one of the following:
1) File for reduced widow's benefits now or as soon as your earnings will permit at least some benefits to be paid, then switch to your own record at age 70; or,
2) File for reduced retirement benefits on your own record at age 62 or as soon as your earnings will permit at least some benefits to be paid, then file for unreduced widow's benefits at 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.

Best, Jerry