My husband died at age 35, I collected his social security along with my 2 children until they reached the age 16. Someone told me I could collect on his social security at age 60 until I retired at age 67. Is this true ? I have never remarried

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

Yes, it sounds like you could potentially file for reduced widow's benefits starting at age 60, but your benefits could be subject to full or partial withholding if you're still working and earn more than Social Security's earnings test exempt amount (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/whileworking.html).

Whether or not filing for widow's benefits at age 60 would be a good strategy depends on the relative benefit rates that you could draw as a widow or on your own record, and how much you'll be earning between age 60 and your full retirement age. Your optimal filing strategy would likely be one of the following:
1) File for reduced widow's benefits at age 60 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 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 your full retirement age (FRA).

Normally, you would want to start out drawing the lower benefit first and then switch to the higher record when it reaches it's highest potential rate. Our maximization software could sort all of this out for you and help you determine your optimal strategy.

Best, Jerry