Born 5/10/52 and a widow. Earnings of 107,000/yr and wondering if I should collect on my husband and suspend my own until age 70.

Hi,

Most likely, what you want to do is file a restricted application for widow's benefits only at age 66, or sooner than that if you stop or reduce your work, or if your husband received reduced Social Security benefits. You can then switch to your own account at age 70, at which time the benefit amount payable on your own record will be 32% higher than at age 66, which is your full retirement age (FRA). Even if you don't reduce your earnings prior to age 66, you should probably file for widow's benefits no later than January 2018. This is due to the fact that Social Security's earnings test (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/whileworking.html) would likely permit you to receive reduced widow's benefits at that point, and the reduction in the rate of your widow's benefit would not carry over to your own benefit when you switch to that at age 70.

The above mentioned strategy is likely best for you assuming that your own benefit amount at age 70 is higher than your full widow's benefit. You would never want to file and suspend on your own account, because that would prevent you from receiving widow's benefits. Instead, you simply file a separate application for benefits on your own account when you reach age 70. You may want to consider running the maximization software available on this website in order to be sure you make the best possible choice.

Best, Jerry