My husband begain drawing social security disability benefits in September, 2017 at the age of 61He passed away early this year. I am 62 and have a meeting scheduled with social security next month. I spoke with them earlier and was told that I would receive survivors benefits equal to what my husband was receiving at the time of his death and this amount would not increase if I waited so there was no reason not to draw on it now. I consulted a financial planner who told me also that I could draw on his full amount , and it would not be subject to the income limits. Thirdly, a widowed friend told be she was told by social security that she could not switch to the higher benefit at FRA, (neither she nor her husband were at FRA before he passed). It seems to me that some of this information is incorrect. My understanding is that I will take a reduction of benefits if I draw before age 66 no matter if it is survivor benefits or my own , that I will have benefits further reduced by my income if over $17,040 and that I can chose to switch at FRA to the higher benefit. My husband's benefit was $2447. Mine is estimated at $1416 at FRA. Am I correct or am I missing something here? If I have benefits reduced due to wages do I get any of that money back at full retirement? Thank you for any further clarification you can offer.

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

If you start drawing widow's benefits prior to your full retirement age (FRA) your benefit rate will be reduced for age. The only way you can receive your husband's full rate is if you wait until FRA to start drawing your widow's benefits.

If you file for either retirement benefits on your own record or widow's benefits prior to FRA your benefits could be subject to full or partial withholding based on the Social Security earnings test (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/whileworking.html). Benefits withheld due to the earnings test are not refunded after you reach FRA, but your benefit rate can be adjusted at that time to remove the reduction that was applied to your benefit rate for any months that you didn't end up receiving payments. Over time, that could result in effectively recouping some or all of the benefits lost due to the earnings test.

Based on the information cited in your question it appears as though your best strategy would likely be to file for reduced retirement benefits on your own record now or as soon as your earnings will permit at least some benefits to be paid and then file for unreduced widow's benefits effective with the month you reach your full retirement age (which would be at age 66 for widow's benefits if you were born in 1955 or 1956). It sounds like that would enable you to receive your highest possible monthly benefit rate starting at FRA and continuing for the rest of your life. However, you may want to consider using our maximization software to compare all of your options so that you can decide for yourself which filing strategy you feel is best.

Best, Jerry