“My wife passed away in 2018 at age 56 and I am now 63. I read recently that I may be eligible for widowers social security benefits from her account. Is this true? I don’t plan on drawing social security until I reach full retirement age of 66 and a half or possibly 70 years old. If I were to receive my wife’s social security benefits now would this affect the amount of social security I would draw at full retirement age?”
I am so sorry you lost your wife at such a young age.
You are eligible for widower’s benefits based on your wife’s income history. You can draw that amount now and continue it right up until you decide to retire. At that point you would switch to your own social security benefit. At age 70, your benefit is at its maximum. Drawing your widower’s benefits would only affect your social security payments in a positive way. If using those benefits allows you to postpone your benefits until age 70, you would then receive the maximum for the rest of your life. This is a very good idea.
Gene answers your neighbors financial questions on More than Money.
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