My husband passed away in 2004. I am going to retire in 2022. Can I freeze my SS and collect his until I turn 66 1/2.

Thank you

Hi. I'm sorry for your loss. I don't know what you mean by 'freezing your SS', but the only type of freeze that Social Security allows is a disability freeze (https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0410105005). What it sounds like you're referring to is applying for widow's benefits while delaying applying for you own benefits, which you're allowed to do as early as age 60. However, your benefits could be subject to at least partial withholding until you reach full retirement age (FRA) if you work and earn more than the Social Security earnings test exempt amount. The current earnings test exempt amount for 2021 is $18,960.

I don't know if the strategy you propose is your best plan, though, without knowing more about your potential benefit rates. It sounds like your best strategy for claiming benefits would likely be one of the following:
1) File for reduced widow's benefits at age 60 or as soon as your earnings will permit at least some benefits to be paid, then switch to your own record at age 70; or,
2) File for reduced retirement benefits on your own record at age 62 or as soon as your earnings will permit at least some benefits to be paid, then file for unreduced widow's benefits at your full retirement age (FRA).

Normally, you would want to start out drawing the lower benefit first and then switch to the higher benefit when it reaches it's highest potential 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