My husband pass away 2 months ago. He received SS disability benefits for the last 30 years. We were born a day apart. I am now 63.5 years old and currently working and plan to continue to work at least until I am 66. My estimated SS benefit at full retirement age is about the same that his SS disability will be. I was informed that I can apply for my husband benefits at age 66 and allow my own benefits to grow until age 70 and than start receiving my own benefits. But somebody told me that it can only work if my own benefits are smaller than my husband benefits. Is this true? Can I use my husband benefits and suspend my own even if my own benefits amount is bigger? thanks.

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

No, what you were told is not correct. You could apply for widow's benefits first, and then file for your own retirement benefits later regardless of which rate is higher. But, you'll likely want to file for the lower benefit rate first and then switch to the higher benefit when it reaches it's highest possible rate. Widow's benefits would top out when your reach your full retirement age (FRA), whereas retirement benefits on your own account would continue to grow until age 70 as long as you don't file for them until then. One thing you wouldn't want to do is file for and suspend your own retirement benefits, because that would prevent you from receiving widow's benefits.

You can definitely start drawing widow's benefits at your full retirement age (FRA), but depending on how much you're earning it may be advantageous for you to file even before FRA. Either way, though, you could still allow your own retirement rate to grow until age 70.

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Best, Jerry