Hello Larry,
I will be 62 in April 2018. My question pertains to my collecting widow benefits now (my husband passed in 2002 at age 58). I am still working and plan to continue until my full retirement age of 66, maybe 70 if I am able. Can I receive widow benefits and then collect my FULL retirement under my record when I reach 66. I think I read the rules that way. Thank you for your help!

Hi,

You can apply for reduced widow's benefits now and then for your own retirement benefits later, but $1 of your benefits will need to be withheld for every $2 that you earn in excess of $17,040 this year. That could result in as much as all of your benefits being withheld depending on your widow's rate and the amount of your earnings.

It sounds like your best strategy for claiming benefits would be one of the following:
1) File for reduced widow's benefits now 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 now 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.

Generally, you would want to start out drawing the lower benefit first and then switch to the higher record when it reaches it's highest potential rate. Our maximization software can sort all of this out for you in order to help you determine your optimal filing strategy.

Best, Jerry