I am currently receiving widows benefits and have so since the age of 60. I have worked all my life and am now 71 years of age. As I received I reduced amount of my husbands pension because I was 60 , I want to know if I am entitled to any of the money of my social security. When I inquired last year I was told that mine was lower than what I was receiving of my husbands...but my question is am I entitled to my husbands as well as mine at all. I really struggle to live on what I am receiving from social security with just my husbands reduced amount. Thank you for your consideration in this matter

Hi,

No. You could only receive the higher of a) the reduced widow's rate that you currently receive, or b) your own retirement benefit rate inclusive of the delayed retirement credits that you would be due for not claiming the benefits until age 70.

If you filed for your own benefits, Social Security would pay you those benefits but they would subtract that amount from your widow's benefits. So, it would likely only be advantageous to file for your own retirement benefits if they would be higher than your widow's rate.

Best, Jerry