I purchased your social security software but have not been able to figure out how to create the following scenario since my husband is not actually receiving SSDI yet. I turned 62 in May 2017. My husband will be 65 in Jan 2018 and was planning to retire then, but he became disabled with terminal cancer in Feb 2017. He just began receiving long term disability benefits in May and will be required by the LTD insurance carrier to file for SSDI in the next several months. I am planning to retire in Dec 2017 to be able to better care for him in the final stages of his life. My expected SS benefit at my FRA is just slightly more than 1/2 of either his expected disability benefit or his retirement benefit if he had waited to his FRA (they are nearly equal amounts). Can I file for my SS benefit at 62 1/2 and postpone filing for my survivor benefit until my own FRA at 66 and 2 mos? My understanding is that I will be entitled to 100% of my survivor benefit at that time. Or will my survivor benefit be penalized because I filed for my own benefit early? Thank you.

Hi PKC,

Thank you for your purchase. I'm sorry to hear about your husband's diagnosis.

I should explain that I answer the questions on this forum, and I don't have access to the data that you entered into the maximization software. For questions about use of the software and your results, you'll need to submit an online contact form in the help center.

I can tell you that if you file for reduced retirement benefits and your husband dies before you reach full retirement age (FRA), you could still receive an unreduced widow's benefit if you wait until FRA to file. That assumes, though, that your husband will only receive disability benefits and not reduced retirement benefits. If he did or does receive reduced retirement benefits prior to becoming eligible for disability benefits, that reduction would carry over to your potential widow's rate.

If your husband dies before you file for retirement benefits, you would then have the option of filing for reduced widow's benefits first, and waiting until age 70 to file for your retirement benefits.

Best, Jerry