I am a widow I never earned more than $20,000 a year and many years I didn't earn anything cause I was raising my kids. I was 44 when he passed in 2005 and left me with a lot of debt I didn't know about, do I claim my widows benefit when I turn 60 and just keep working? Right now I make about $15.800 a year.

Jo,
Your best strategy depends on the relative amount of your widow's benefit compared to your retirement benefit. It might be best to take your widow's benefit early at age 60 and delay your retirement benefit until age 70. However, if you take your widow's benefit at age 60, it will be permanently reduced by 28.5%. Alternatively, it might be best to take your reduced retirement benefit at age 62 and your widow's benefit at your full retirement age of 67. If you take either your widow's or retirement benefit before your FRA, they will be subject to the earnings test and reduced if you earn more than the annual exempt amount, which is currently $15,720. Our software, MaximizeMySocialSecurity, can determine the filing strategy that gives you the maximum lifetime Social Security benefits and it will also allow you to explore alternative "What-If" I do this instead strategies.

Thanks,
Mike