Hi, Larrry

My husband of 13 years passed away March 8, 2022. He retired with Social Security at full retirement age as far as I know. He was retired from the Navy after 20+ years of service. He drew a pension, VA disability benefits, and Social Security disability benefits.He was 73 when he passed. I will be 60 March 2023. According to a lady at our local Social Security office, I can draw $1,400 per month beginning in April 2023 (or wait to draw adding $6 per month that I defer widows benefits up to my FRA). However, I currently work full time and any benefits from SSA would be taken back from them because of my earnings.

I tried your program, but as he died after I had set it up, I couldn’t add his death into the record for him.

I don’t know if the lady told me correctly or not that my widow benefits would never be more than the $1,800 a month he drew (even if I postpone drawing on him until 70 and draw my own benefit first))

I know if I wait until 70 to draw my own benefit (which would be over $2K/mo) that my benefit value grows at about 8% per Year between my FRA and 70. Would my husbands benefit also grow if I took mine first and drew his at 70?. My FRA benefit would be over $1700/mo per last years SSA report.

How do I plan for retirement income or what if I can’t work? I don’t know truly what my SSA options are.

I don’t want to make a costly mistake.

Thank you for listening and for any assistance you can provide.

Sincerely,

Grieving and stressed

Hi. I'm sorry for your loss. I answer questions submitted to the 'Ask Larry' forum, but I don't have access to our software customer records. So, I don't know whether or not you are a current subscriber to our software. What I will do, though, is forward your question to our software people who I'm sure will get back to you with more information. Or, you can resubmit your question using an online contact form available by clicking the help menu popup in the lower right hand corner of our home page.

Here is what I can tell you. It sounds like your best filing strategy would almost certainly be one of the following:
1) File for reduced widow's benefits at age 60 or 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 full retirement age (FRA). Widow's benefits DO NOT increase if you wait past FRA to claim them.

Normally, you would want to start out drawing the lower benefit first and then switch to the higher benefit when it reaches its highest potential rate. So, if the benefit estimates in your question are accurate, you'd probably want to start collecting widow's benefits as soon as your earnings are low enough to allow you to be paid at least some benefits, then switch to your own record at age 70. Our software should be able to help you sort this all of this out for you so that you can determine the best strategy for maximizing your benefits.

Best, Jerry