I'm getting widow's benefit now, husband died 2010. will apply for my own in sept. when i turn 70, will I still receive any thing as a widow from my deceased husband's social security?

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

If your own retirement benefit rate ends up being higher than your widow's rate, then your widow's benefits will terminate when you start getting your retirement benefits. However, if your retirement rate is lower than your widow's rate you would be paid your retirement benefit plus an additional partial widow's benefit equal to the difference between your widow's rate and your retirement benefit rate. That would just leave you with the same total benefit amount, and could in fact even drop your monthly payment by $1 due to dollar down rounding of each benefit.

In other words, you will only be able to receive the higher of your widow's rate or your age 70 retirement rate, and you should probably only file for your retirement benefits if the amount of those benefits is higher than your widow's rate.

Best, Jerry