Should I collect SS widow pay or my own SS benefit and still work until 67? My husband died about 5 years ago when I was 60. I’m now 65. What is the best strategy for me to collect my maximum benefits? I want to travel and enjoy the rest of my life while I still can and still be able to pay my bills. My bills include school loans ($300) rent $1,500, food, auto maintenance, clothes, cell phone, utilities.

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

If your earnings will be low enough to permit you to draw at least some benefits under Social Security's earnings test (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/whileworking.html), then you should probably file for one of those benefits (i.e. widow's or retirement benefits on your own record) as soon as you can draw at least some benefits. When a person is potentially eligible for either Social Security retirements benefits on their own record or widow's benefits, it's generally best to draw the lower of the 2 benefits as soon as possible and then file for the higher benefit when it reaches its maximum rate.

Therefore, if your retirement benefit rate will be higher than your widow's benefit it would likely be best to file for your widow's benefits now or as soon as your earnings will allow you to draw at least some benefits, then switch to your own retirement benefits at age 70. But, if your widow's rate would be higher than your retirement benefit rate even if you waited until age 70 to file for your own retirement benefits, it would likely be best to file for your retirement benefits now or as soon as your earnings will allow you to draw at least some benefits, then file for your widow's benefits no later than when you reach your full retirement age (FRA).

One factor that could affect your optimal strategy is if your husband drew reduced retirement benefits prior to his death. In that case your widow's benefit amount would reach its maximum rate sometime before you reach FRA, in which case you almost certainly wouldn't want to wait until FRA to file for widow's benefits.

Our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) could help sort all of this out for you so that you can determine your optimal filing strategy.

Best, Jerry