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Would I Be Able To Receive Survivor Benefits And Still Work?

My husband passed away 4 years ago. I will be 60 years old in August. I still work full time. Would I be able to receive survivor benefits and still work? Is there a certain amount that you can have as income? I have to work full time to get my medical insurance.

Hi. I'm sorry for your loss. If you file for benefits this year, Social Security would need to withhold $1 of your benefits for every $2 that you earn in excess of $19,560 (https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/whileworking.html). So, whether or not you could collect benefits once you reach age 60 depends on your benefit rate and how much you're earning.

It sounds like your best strategy for claiming benefits would likely 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).

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. Our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) could help sort all of this out for you so that you can determine the best strategy for maximizing your benefits.

Best, Jerry

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Posted: 
Feb 23 2022 - 5:43pm
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