Ask Larry

Can I Collect My Own Benefit And Widow's Benefits?

I am collecting survivor's benefits as a widow at age 60. Will I be able to collect my own social security in addition or will it be a combo of both?

Hi,

You can't draw both benefits at the same time, just the higher of the two. However, if your own benefit rate is higher than your widow's rate, you can switch to retirement benefits on your own record at a later age. If that's the case, you will likely want to wait until age 70 to file on your own record, since your own benefit rate will continue to increase up to that time. If your own benefit rate would not be higher than your widow's rate, even at age 70, there would be no advantage to ever filing on your own record.

Best, Jerry

Category: 
Posted: 
Dec 25 2016 - 8:00am
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