I am a widow 61 years old I made 20.000 last year can I still draw a widow's penion and still continue to work

Hi,

The Social Security earnings test requires withholding of $1 of benefits for each $2 that you earn in excess of the annual exempt amount (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/whileworking2.html). Therefore, it sounds like you could probably draw partial benefits if you filed for reduced widow's benefits. Before filing, though, you'll want to make sure that you determine your best filing strategy.

Your best filing strategy is likely one of the following:
1) File for reduced widow's benefits now or 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 at age 62 or as soon as your earnings will permit benefits to be paid, then file for unreduced widow's benefits at full retirement age. However, if your husband received reduced retirement benefits prior to his death, then it would likely be optimal to file on his record sooner than when you reach full retirement age.

Our maximization software can factor in all of the above variables and 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