My husband took social security at age 62. My birthday is in Aug. of 1953. I plan to wait to file at age 66 on my husbands benefit and wait until 70 to file against mine. What will my husband receive in social security benefits if I die: (1) before receiving benefits; (2) after age 70?

Hi,

In the event of your death, your husband could receive the higher of his own benefit rate or your full benefit rate. Your husband's potential unreduced widower's rate would be calculated as your full retirement age rate (PIA) augmented by any delayed retirement credits (DRC) that you accumulate prior to your death, minus his own benefit rate. Assuming your rate is higher than his and he is at least full retirement age (FRA)at the time of your death, he would then continue to be paid his benefit plus the excess widower's rate as described above.

If you die before FRA without having filed for benefits, your husband could receive up to your full PIA. If you die at age 70 without having received benefits, or if you start receiving your benefits at age 70 and subsequently die, your husband could receive up to 132% of your PIA. If you die between FRA and age 70 without having received benefits, your husband could receive up to the amount that you would have been paid had you started drawing benefits effective with the month of your death.

It sounds like your plan for filing is a good one, but you may still want to consider using the maximization software available on this website to make sure that you choose the optimal strategy for claiming benefits.

Best, Jerry