Hello! I am 61, presently collecting Social Security Disability for cancer diagnosis with 3-5 years anticipated lifespan. My husband is considering collecting SS on his record beginning at age 62. Our earnings records are comparable with his projected full retirement benefit about $100 more/month than mine. If he collects on his own record at 62, how would his benefit change when I die since I'm receiving SSD payment equal to my full retirement amount? Thanks for the help!

Hi,

I'm sorry to hear of your diagnosis. Hopefully, you'll prove your doctors wrong and live a very long life.

If your husband files for his retirement benefits at age 62 and you die after that, he could only get additional benefits from your record if your benefit rate is higher than his. And, if that's the case and if you die before he reaches full retirement age (FRA), it would likely be best for him to wait until his FRA to file for unreduced widower's benefits. What he would then receive is his own reduced retirement benefits plus a widower's benefit equal to the difference between your benefit rates, or in other words he would get a combined benefit equal to your full rate.

If you were to die before your husband files on his own record, then it sounds like it would probably be best for him to file for widower's benefits first and wait until age 70 to switch to his own record. Before filing, your husband may want to consider using our maximization software to compare his filing options and determine his best strategy.

Best, Jerry