my late husband and I were married for 40 years. He just died at age 64. I am 62. He was still working, not collecting any Social Security benefits. I currently earn about $45,000 per anum. Because his care prior to his passing has cleaned us out, I cannot hope to keep our newly purchased (last 3 years, no real equity) on my salary alone. Do my earnings disqualify me from collecting any immediate survivor benefits?

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

The answer to your question depends on your potential benefit rate as well as the exact amount of your earnings. Social Security would withhold $1 of your benefits for every $2 that your earnings exceed $16,920 this year, so if you earn $45,000 this year then $14,040 (i.e. ($45000 - $16920)/2) of your benefits would need to be withheld before you would be due any benefits. It's very unlikely that you would be eligible for that much in benefits over the remaining months of this year, so unless you stop or reduce your work and earnings you probably wouldn't be eligible for any benefits at least until next year. However, there is a one time death benefit of $255 that you would likely qualify for regardless of your earnings (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/survivors/ifyou7.html). You'll probably want to contact Social Security to apply for that payment if you haven't already done so.

It sounds like your best filing strategy is likely be one of the following:
1) File for reduced widow's benefits as soon as your earnings will permit benefits to be paid, then switch to your own record at age 70; or,
2) File for reduced retirement benefits on your own record as soon as your earnings will permit benefits to be paid, then file for unreduced widow's benefits at full retirement age.

Our maximization software can help you determine which of the above filing strategies is best in your case, as well as when to apply for each type of benefit.

Best, Jerry