My husband just passed away at 681/2. He was working up until September 2020. He had suspended his SS and was planning to take it at 70. I just called SS to switch to his SS and drop my own. I'm 67. The person I talked to told me I would only be able to draw what he would have received at full retirement age. We were told the advantage of waiting until 70 would benefit us both. So my question is do I receive 100% of what he would have received or is it reduced to his amount at 66?? Thank you.

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

What the Social Security representative told you is wrong. Your widow's benefit rate would include credit for all of the delayed retirement credits (DRC) that your husband earned by deferring his benefits from full retirement age (FRA) up until the month of his death.

Just to clarify, though, you can't actually stop drawing your own benefits and collect just widow's benefits instead. What will actually happen, assuming that your husband's benefit rate is higher than yours, is that you'll continue collecting your own benefit plus a partial widow's benefit equal to the difference between your benefit rate and the benefit rate that your husband would have received if he'd started drawing his benefits effective with the month of his death. Your combined benefit rate will then add up to your husband's higher benefit rate, including his DRCs.

If you've only been drawing your own benefit and you haven't been receiving any spousal benefits, you'll need to file an application in order to become entitled to widow's benefits. You'd want to claim the widow's benefits starting with the month of your husband's death, since your widow's rate wouldn't get any higher if you wait until later than then to claim them.

Best, Jerry