I took my husband's social security years ago after he passed because my children were little. When can I start collecting my social security?

[AnonymousUser]

I took my husband’s social security years ago after he passed because my children were little. When can I start collecting my social security?

[Mark-Smith]

I would need to know more specifics, but here are some general guidelines.  If you received benefits after your husband's death because your children were little, then your children received survivor's benefits and you received Child in Care benefits.  When your youngest child aged out of those benefits, yours stopped as well (this assumes none of your children had a disability).

Assuming you are now 60 or older and unmarried, you will have the option of collecting survivor benefits and/or your own benefits.  Survivor benefits can begin at age 60, but will be reduced because you are taking them earlier than your full retirement age (FRA).  Your benefits can be claimed at 62, but again will be reduced because you are taking them prior to FRA.

Both of these benefits may be available to you, but you can't collect them at the same time, they have to be coordinated.  You will want to get advice from a knowledgeable planner on how to best determine which benefits you can collect and how to best coordinate them.  This depends on a number of factors so it would be impossible to say what would be best without knowing all of your details.

Good luck!

[Johanna-Fox-Turner]

You can begin collecting your own benefits beginning as early as age 62, but that may not be the best choice for you. Annual benefits are raised 8% for every year you wait between age 62 and age 70 and they are set for life, so consider carefully before you decide to begin collecting early. You may not need a financial planner to get the information you need. Go to your local Social Security office and meet with one of the advisors there. Your visit will be free and, in my experience, the folks who give benefits advice are usually very knowledgeable.

Good luck and I hope this helps!

[J-R-Robinson]

Mr. Smith provided an excellent answer to your question.  As he succinctly stated, you are not restricted to claiming social security retirement benefits under your own earnings history.  In all likelihood your optimal claiming strategy will involve a staggered approach of claiming either under your earnings history or your husband’s first and then the other at either FRA or age 70.  For further introductory insight, see the following article links:

Widowed Before Retirement:  Social Security Benefit Claiming Strategies (Journal of Financial Planning)

Social Security Strategies If You Are Widowed-Kiplinger’s

Social Security for Widows and Widowers - Money Over 55

What Social Security's Survivors Planner won't tell you about ... (PBS)

As all of these articles note, the claiming strategies are complicated, but the difference between picking the most optimal and the least optimal can be tens of thousands of dollars over your lifetime.  Best advice is to find a planner who his extremely knowledgeable about this topic in your area.  For guidance on how to choose a planner, see the following piece I wrote for Nerd Wallet –

Dig a Little Deeper When Choosing a Financial Planner.

I hope this information is helpful.

Aloha,

JR

[Guy-Baker]

This is from the SS website. http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10084

Who can get survivors benefits based on your work? • Your widow or widower may be able to receive full benefits at full retirement age. The full retirement age for survivors is age 66 for people born in 1945-1956 and will gradually increase to age 67 for people born in 1962 or later. Reduced widow or widower benefits can be received as early as age 60. If your surviving spouse is disabled, benefits can begin as early as age 50. For more information on widows, widowers and other survivors, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/survivorplan. • Your widow or widower can receive benefits at any age if she or he takes care of your child who is receiving Social Security benefits and younger than age 16 or disabled. • Your unmarried children who are younger than age 18 (or up to age 19 if they are attending elementary or secondary school full time) also can receive benefits. Your children can get benefits at any age if they were disabled before age 22 and remain disabled. Under certain circumstances, benefits also can be paid to your stepchildren, grandchildren, stepgrandchildren or adopted children.  

Sorry for your loss. Your benefits are still intact and available when you reach age 62. But I would let them grow as long as you can. They will grow 8% a year until age 70. So if you can postpone taking it, it usually is to your advantage.

Blessings to you and your children.

[nerdbot]

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