I will be 60 in January and am still working making about $40,000/year. My spouse passed away 6 years ago at age 62 and made significantly more money than me. Should I start taking his social security when I turn 60? I am so confused having read so many different articles about what to do. I also have a Milford, CT city pension once I retire.

Thank you so much, Amy

Hi Amy,

I'm sorry for your loss.

I don't know anything about Milford CT's pension plan, but if your salary there is exempt from Social Security taxes it could affect your strategy with regard to filing for Social Security benefits. If you receive a pension based on your earnings that were exempt from Social Security taxes, your Social Security retirement benefits would likely be lower due to the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), and your widow's benefits would likely be subject to at least partial offset due to the Government Pension Offset (GPO) provision. For more information on these provisions, refer to Social Security's website: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10045.pdf & https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10007.pdf.

However, assuming that your wages are subject to Social Security taxes, then your best strategy is likely one of the following:
1) File for reduced widow's benefits at age 60 or as soon as your earnings will permit 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 benefits to be paid, then file for unreduced widow's benefits at full retirement age. However, if your spouse received reduced retirement benefits prior to his death, then it would likely be optimal to file on his record sooner than when you reach full retirement age.

Our maximization software can factor in all of the above variables, including WEP & GPO if applicable, and determine which of the above filing strategies is best in your case as well as when to apply for each type of benefit.

Best, Jerry