I am 57. My late husband died nine years ago and before he passed he drew Social Security Disability. I understand as his widow that I can file on his benefits when I turn 60? I was wondering will the fact that he was on disability for five or six years affect the amount that I receive as a widow? We were married 18 years. Also, I work part time, so would the amount I earn affect the widow's benefits? Also would I be better off drawing the widow's benefits until I am 70 and then filing on my own benefits? Is there anyway that I can find out in advance an estimate of how much widow's benefits I would receive? I'm trying to plan for the future.

Thanks,

Teresa

Hi Teresa,

Yes, it sounds like you would qualify for reduced widow's benefits at age 60, but that may not be the best filing strategy for you. And, the Social Security earnings test (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/whileworking2.html) could limit the amount of benefits you can draw prior to full retirement age, which for you is somewhere between ages 66 & 67 depending on your year of birth.

The fact that your husband drew disability benefits prior to his death will have no adverse affect on your potential widow's benefits. If you start your widow's benefits at full retirement age, they will be at least as much as your husband's full benefit rate (i.e. his disability rate plus all cost of living increases since his death), and possibly even higher. You may be able to get an estimate of your potential widow's benefit by contacting Social Security, but the actual amount can't be calculated until you reach age 60. This is due to one of the computational methods used in the calculation of widow's benefits.

Your best filing strategy is almost certainly one of the following 2 options:
1) File for reduced retirement benefits on your own record at age 62, then file for unreduced widow's benefits at full retirement age; or,
2) File for reduced widow's benefits at age 60, then switch to your own record at age 70.

Basically, you will likely want to start the lower benefit first, and save the higher benefit rate for last. You may wish to consider running the maximization software available on this website. It should be able to help you determine which of these options would be best in your case.

Best, Jerry