Hello. I'm currently 60, retired but working part-time.. I'm thinking of applying for my deceased ex-spouse's benefit at 62 (at which time I do not plan on working my part-time job) and then switching to my own record at 70. Will taking my deceased ex-husband's benefit at 62 reduce my lifetime benefit amount when I switch to my own record at 70? Thanks.

Hi,

No, collecting surviving divorced spousal benefits would have no adverse effect on your own benefits in the future. Furthermore, if your own benefit rate will be higher than your survivor rate, it sounds like it may be more advantageous for you to apply for the survivor benefits now instead of waiting until age 62.

Your best filing strategy depends on how much you're earning, and the comparative amounts of your own benefit and your survivor benefit. Normally, you would want to start out drawing the lower benefit as soon as your earnings would permit at least some benefits to be paid, and then switch to the higher benefit when it reaches it's highest possible 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