I have inquired with my local Social Security Office concerning receiving Widow Benefits at age 60. My husband died at age 54 nine years ago. I was 51 at the time and will be 60 within the next two weeks. I gave the representative at the Social Security Office the information requested ,which was my husband's social security number and mine as well. She asked if I was still working and my annual gross salary which is 62,000. She informed me I made too much to draw any of the social security widow benefits under my husband. I will of course continue to work since I am the only one taking care of my finances. Just seems so unfair not to be able to receive any of the benefits my husband worked all those years and accumulated. Just wanted to make sure this is the correct information.
Your guidance will be appreciated.
Thanks
Hi,
I can't tell you whether or not the information you received is correct without knowing your potential widow's benefit rate and the amount that you will earn this year. Due to the Social Security earnings test (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/whileworking.html), $1 of your benefits would be withheld for each $2 that you earn in excess of $17,040 this year. The result could be either a full or partial withholding of your benefits depending on your benefit rate and earnings level.
It sounds like your best strategy for claiming benefits would be one of the following:
1) File for reduced widow's benefits as soon as your earnings will permit at least some 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 at least some benefits to be paid, then file for unreduced widow's benefits at your full retirement age.
Generally, you would want to start out drawing the lower benefit first and then switch to the higher record when it reaches it's highest potential rate. Our maximization software should be able to sort all of this out for you and help you determine your optimal filing strategy.
Best, Jerry
