I was married for 17 years.. and now divorced for more years than that. My ex passed 5 years ago at age of 60.. I am 66 years and 1 month old. I am planning to retire from my full time job at the end of June 2023. I was planning to draw my retirement benefits beginning in April at 66 and 4 months. Right now now his benefit is $1300/mo and mine is $2100/mo. If I can swing it with a part time job, my 401k and other savings, am I able to draw his benefits beginning in April and allow mine to accrue until I am 70? If I am contributing much less working part time, will mine still grow at a rate of approximately 8% year over year? So .. what to do and when to do it? Please and thank you!

Hi. Yes, you could. But, you'd probably be able to start drawing your survivor benefits sooner than April, which would almost certainly be more advantageous. For one thing, if you were born in 1956 your full retirement age (FRA) for surviving divorced spousal benefits is age 66, even though your FRA for retirement benefits is 66 and 4 months (https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/404/404-0409.htm). Therefore, your survivor rate won't be reduced for age if you can start collecting benefits prior to April.

However, the Social Security earnings test still applies until you reach your FRA for retirement benefits even if you're FRA for survivor benefits is earlier. But, if you reach your FRA for retirement benefits in 2023, then you could be paid benefits starting with January 2023 as long as you won't earn more than $56,520 in the months prior to the month you reach FRA (https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/whileworking.html).

And yes, you'd accrue the 8% annual increase in your own benefit rate from delayed retirement credits (DRC) up to age 70 even if you're collecting survivor benefits and regardless of whether or not you continue working.

Assuming your benefit estimates are accurate it sounds like you should start drawing survivor benefits as soon as possible and then switch to your own benefits at age 70. However, you may want to consider using our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to fully compare and analyze all of your options so that you can be sure to choose the optimal filing strategy for maximizing your benefits.

Best, Jerry